Providing Opportunities and Celebrating Friendships

When Bob Byrnes (Pharmacy, Class of 1967) thinks of Ferris State University, he thinks first of his classmates and the friendships formed during years of classes, labs and study. In those days, pharmacy students attended class together at Ferris in Big Rapids every day of the five-year program. Now, pharmacy students disperse across the state and region to internships and advanced pharmacy practice experiences. But back in his day, lifetime friendships were forged.

Bob's years at Ferris changed him dramatically. "I entered Ferris as a 17-year-old kid, and I left as a 22-year-old adult, married and with a child," Bob recalls. "I met my wife, Ande (a College of Business '66 alum), we fell in love and we were married on campus at the Catholic Chapel."

It was attending Ande's 50th class reunion at Ferris in the fall of 2016 that inspired Bob.

A 50th Pharmacy Class Reunion Committee was formed with Bob, Tom Cook, Ken Kirk and Hazel Seaba. And together, they created a plan to drive attendance at the Pharmacy Class of '67 reunion scheduled for the next year. "We wanted to rally the Pharmacy Class of 1967 to get together and rekindle those friendships and really celebrate the time we had at Ferris."

Then, input from Pharmacy Dean Stephen Durst and Ferris Foundation Executive Director Carla Miller made the reunion committee aware of the Ferris Futures Scholarship Challenge; and the committee focus and plans took on an additional purpose. "We decided we would not only celebrate our 50th reunion with memorable events," says Bob, "but we would also attempt to establish a permanent legacy for our class, in the form of an endowed class scholarship for future pharmacy students."

The reunion found new reason. Then came the letter writing campaign—classmates reaching out to old friends and classmates, trying to make sure that word of the September reunion and class scholarship idea reached everyone.

The Ferris Futures Scholarship Challenge is a program that matches gifts to endowed scholarships. The impact of these endowment gifts is doubled, with gifts $1,000 and over matched dollar for dollar. For example, a $12,500 gift plus the match results in a $25,000 scholarship endowment, the minimum required to establish an endowment.

The Pharmacy Class of 1967 began with that $25,000 endowment goal, but blew past it. With over half the living members of the class contributing, they eventually raised $101,000. Their gifts were doubled through the match, creating a $202,000 endowment for the support of deserving future pharmacy students with financial need.

The reunion was also a resounding success with 46 classmates and spouses attending a weekend packed with activities. According to Bob, the reunion took some work, "but it was work of joy, fun and satisfaction for the committee. And we would definitely encourage other classes to do the same."

The Ferris Futures Scholarship Challenge that the Class of 1967 embraced is flourishing. In the past two years, benefactors have contributed $5.5 million toward endowed scholarships, creating over $11 million of endowed funds dedicated to providing opportunities for Ferris students.

At Ferris, opportunity remains an enduring and cherished value. And those whose lives have been informed by that opportunity always look for ways to offer it to others.

To learn more about endowments, or other ways you can provide opportunities for Ferris students, contact The Ferris Foundation at FerrisFoundation@ferris.edu or (231) 591-2365.