March 31, 2021
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The Ferris State Torch NINETY YEARS OF ILLUMINATING THE TRUTH Big Rapids, Michigan Week of March 31 - April 6, 2021 www.fsutorch.com Remembering our female founder A look back at the legacy of the woman pivotal to Ferris’ founding: Helen Ferris Jessica Oakes News Reporter that confront me, I shall ever first began teaching at age 16 ask, ‘What would Mrs. Ferris and later taught at the Industrial suggest or advise, if she were from 1884-1901. While a statue of university at my side?’ Her ideals were the W.N. Ferris is known for being founder Woodbridge Nathan Fer- ideals described in the Sermon socially progressive and always ris stands proudly in front of on the Mount.” showed great pride in his wife’s FLITE library, Helen Ferris Hall Helen Ferris served as vice success. During the school’s was demolished in 2015. president and contributed great- early years, he wrote in a letter Today, her name ornaments ly to the founding of Ferris (then to his parents that Helen Ferris Helen’s Garden in the northeast- known as Big Rapids Industrial was teaching full time while ful- ern corner of campus, which she School) in 1884. W.N. Ferris filling household duties such as would have adored. W.N. Ferris himself often credited Helen raising their children. remembered his wife’s love of Ferris’ efforts in the building of “Mrs. Ferris furnished the natural beauty as “little less the Industrial. sunshine for her husband and than a religion.” “[Helen and Woodbridge] her two boys,” W.N. Ferris stated Still, Helen Francis Gillespie were absolutely partners. She in a tribute to Helen Ferris’ life. Ferris’ story runs deeper than was actually better educated Helen Ferris’ genius was, of the roots of hydrangeas. She than he was. So, she was emi- course, not only impressive to was much more than the found- nently qualified,” History profes- her husband. Michigan’s super- er’s wife. sor Dr. Tracey Busch said. “They intendent of public instruction Students may know W.N. Fer- were life partners, he respected H.R. Pattengill referred to her as ris as the founder and first pres- her greatly. If we were talking the best geometry teacher in the ident of Ferris State University, about a different century, you entire state. Her expertise and as well as 28th Governor of know, I think she could have just degree were used to promote Michigan and eventual sena- as easily been the principal or the university while recruiting tor. He did not, however, carry the founder.” new students. out this work on his own. Helen Ferris was educated in An excerpt from the Ferris In- “For the best service I ren- her home state of New York at dustrial Advertiser published in dered Michigan, Mrs. Ferris de- Mrs. Caldwell’s private school May 1915 shared words of ap- serves a large part of the mer- for girls and Falley Seminary. preciation for Helen Ferris’ work. ited commendation,” W.N. Ferris She met W.N Ferris while attend- “As a teacher, she was thor- wrote. “Her sense of justice, her ing Oswego Normal and Training ough, inspiring, helpful. She purity of motive, her Christian School. From the young age of was never too busy to give democracy illumined my path- 15, Helen Ferris was praised Courtesy of the Ferris State University archive way. In solving the problems for her mathematical wit. She Helen Ferris| see page 2 Despite her enormous controbutions to the university, Helen Ferris’ story is seldom told. New program at Ferris will have eight Ready For (college) Life students in fall of 2021 Trenton Carlson Freelance Reporter Ferris is now the first public universi- ty in Michigan to host Ready for Life, a nonprofit giving students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to attend uni- versities. Ferris is known for its commitment to diversity and education for everyone. This symbolizes Ferris’ next progressive step, welcoming students to a curriculum that aids in preparing them for life on their own as well as six college credits a semester outside of their Ready for Life curriculum. Cole Schepers, Xavier Bailey, Kirk Daum and Evan Bomay are four of the expected eight students that will be en- rolled in this program in the Fall of 2021. Three of the four future Bulldogs, exclud- ing Bomay, who was absent from their Photo by: Trenton Carlson | Freelance Reporter Ready For Life| see page 2 (From left) Xavier Bailey, Kirk Daum and Cole Schepers attended orientation for the Ready For Life program that will start this fall at Ferris. Got news? Let us know. Like us on facebook Follow us on Twitter Add us on instagram Watch us on tiktok Email: [email protected] Ferris state Torch @fsutorch fsutorch FsuTorch Phone: 231.591.5978 Connect with us on social media - Read articles online at www.fsutorch.com 2 News Week of March 31 - April 6, 2021 Ferris State Torch NEWS Noah Kurkjian| News Editor | [email protected] READY FOR LIFE said. “He watched his brother Continued from front page go away to college and this is his chance.” orientation, saw their classroom This opportunity gives Kirk a and their living quarters in North chance to get this college experi- Hall, for the first time on Tuesday, ence without being far from home March 23. Their eyes filled with ex- since the Daum family is part of citement as they saw the multiple the Big Rapids community. Kirk games and lounging areas on the is an alumnus of Big Rapids High main floor of North Hall. School. Family members of the future His father’s hopes for him are students were also shocked at the shared among all parents whose university’s newest hall, admitting children are enrolling in the uni- times had changed since they at- versity. The hope is for them to tended college. A murmur from the become as independent as possi- crowd stated, “I feel like I’m in a ble and be active and productive five-star hotel.” members of the community. Following a brief walk-through What these students get out of of North Hall, the orientation group the program is entirely up to the went to their future classroom lo- skillsets they bring to the table ac- cording to Stakley. They could earn cated on the first floor of the Arts Photo by: Trenton Carlson | Freelance Reporter and Science Commons in room certificates in skillsets or achieve Ready for Life will offically start in the fall of 2021 with an expected class of eight students. 1015. There the group was greet- a bachelor’s degree, but the take- ed by Deedee Stakley, director of away is for them to experience col- es that they are enrolled in as well inclusion means and the differ- Ready for life was inspired secondary school partnerships, lege life, gain living skills and edu- as socially, teaching them the way ence between inclusion and be- by students according to Per- Emily Perton, director of Ready for cate themselves along the way. of college life. longing. Integrating into the univer- ton, launching out of Christian Life, and their instructor, Sandy One parent, Sarah Bailey, moth- “People with disabilities need sity giving these future students Learning Center, when students Baker, a former special education er of Xavier, held back tears as she to be integrated, fully integrated,” equity while being apart of the stopped asking the question, “can teacher who also has a child with expressed that she hopes her son Baker said. According to her Ferris Ferris community, is how they plan I go to college,” and started asking down syndrome. gains many opportunities through has done this with open arms, put- to execute it. “where am I going to college?” The future students walked Ready for Life, even if it means ting their classroom precisely next Baker spoke of her son, Eric “Everyone deserves an educa- the room admiring the seating working hard for them. to the disability’s office. Her hope Baker, stating that after gradu- tion, Perton said, “Diversity goes arrangements and made small “It’s a win-win,” Baker states in is that students will be willing to ating high school, he once asked deeper than skin color and deep- talk with their instructor as family reference to the future students as aid in these future students’ edu- her where the high school quar- er than ethnicity, it includes dis- members, staff and future stu- well as the students actively apart cation in the coming years, acting terback, a friend of his, was cur- abilities. There is a huge push to dents were interviewed for the of the university. This is due to the as mentors. Because Ready for rently. She told him he, like many increase diversity on every college Miranda Show. In this room, stu- fact that students will now get to Life believes people with disabil- high school students, went away to campus, that should include dis- dents will meet regularly before de- share the campus with these new ities should be fully integrated, college. His response, something abilities.” parting to take their other college students, giving them opportuni- they plan to work alongside univer- Sandy stated she would never for- For more information involving courses. ties to work alongside them and sity events, involving themselves, get, “I want to go.” Unfortunately mentorship, or the Ready for Life “It’s perfect for us because it’s even aid in their education. Ready rather than hosting events of their for Eric, he is outside of the age organization, contact Sandy Baker going to allow Kirk to get the col- for Life is in search of volunteers own.