Baseball Legend Jim Abbott to Receive Honorary Degree at the University of Michigan-Flint Commencement March 21, 2008
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21 March 2008, Flint, Michigan:
The University of Michigan Board of Regents voted yesterday to award the Honorary Degree Doctor of Laws to Flint native and former baseball start Jim Abbott. An alumnus from the University of Michigan, Abbott will also be the commencement speaker at the University of Michigan-Flint ceremony on April 27 at Perani Arena and Event Center where the Regents will officially bestow the degree on him.
We are honored to have Jim Abbott as our commencement speaker this spring. Jim’s inspiring story is one our graduates will always remember, adding to the significance of their special day. Despite being born with only one hand, Jim played baseball for the University of Michigan, and went on to lead the Wolverines to Big Ten titles in his freshmen and junior years. He won many college awards and played professionally for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers.
Do You See Orphans? March 20, 2008
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20 March 2008, Flint, Michigan:
Orange t-shirts marked “Orphan” and photos of orphaned children are being used by the University of Michigan-Flint Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) to draw attention to AIDS victims in Africa. For the entire semester the students have worked on what is part of a nationwide campaign sponsored by WorldVision called “Acting on AIDS.” According to IVCF member Kelly Schmiedeknecht:
Acting on AIDS is a movement of students on campuses that are standing up to say that together we do something about the AIDS crisis. We had several major events throughout the week. The first was the Do you see Orphans? campaign in which we put up flyer’s and posters and then sold t-shirts that read “orphan” on them. These are to represent the 6000 children orphaned by AIDS in Africa every day. On Tuesday we had a broken bread meal where we ate the food that they feed to refugees and AIDS victims in Africa and read stories about people affected by AIDS in order to better relate to a crisis so far away from us. We also had a speaker who spoke about the AIDS crisis. Thursday (Today) we are having an AIDS benefit concert to raise money for AIDS victims in Africa. Throughout this week we also had stations in the UCEN asking people if they knew some of the facts surrounding the AIDS pandemic.
I congratulate the students of the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship on the great work they are doing. Although the campus group has ended their campaign, those interested in the national campaign can find information at the Acting on AIDS website. For more information on the IVCF see their website.
Hip Hop Artist Common to Perform at Mfuse April 16 March 18, 2008
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18 March 2008, Clint’s Cafe, University of Michigan-Flint campus, Flint, Michigan:
With student Jermaine Brown at my side to translate my “administrative speak” into hip hop, I was thrilled to announce the artist Common will headline the Mfuse concert, to occur on April 16 on the campus of the University of Michigan-Flint. Festivities kick off at 4 p.m., with Common performing around 6 p.m. The outdoor concert will be free and open to the public. To learn more go to the concert website by pressing here.
We are looking for volunteers to help with everything from security to the information center to distributing t-shirts. You can sign up online by clicking here.
I thank our sponsors: Club 93.7, NBC 25/CW 46, Student Government Council, Student Services and Enrollment Management, the Office of the Chancellor, and the Office of the Provost.
Flint Students Honored at University Honors Convocation March 16, 2008
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16 March 2008, Michigan League and Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan:
I spent five delightful hours in Ann Arbor today, participating in the 85th Annual Honors Convocation and Reception, a celebration for students receiving honors at the three campuses of the University of Michigan. I was proud to see so many students from our Flint campus. Joining the platform party on stage were two University of Michigan-Flint students receiving special recognition. Mariam A. Qureshi was recognized as a James B. Angell Scholar with seven consecutive semesters with all “A’s.” Anna R. Stanczyk was honored for nine consecutive semesters with all “A’s.” Angell Scholars from Flint receiving special recognition but not present included Robert M. Bielby (9 semesters) and Brian D. Wice (7 semesters).
Congratulations to Mariam, Anna, Robert, Brian, and all the other University of Michigan-Flint Angell Scholars, University Honors Students, and Branstrom Freshmen Prizes Honorees. I am proud of you.
The photo above shows University Honors Student Dominique Schwerin posing with President Coleman and me.
If you were at the Convocation or had to miss it, please sign in by adding a comment. I am hoping to have the entire honoree list published on our web site. Stay tuned.
Blog Stats Update March 16, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment16 March 2008, 11:00 p.m. EDST, Flint, Michigan:
My blog is now 35 days old. There have been 1068 unique visitors who have viewed 4103 pages. There have been visitors from the following 16 countries:
ARMENIA
AUSTRIA
CANADA
CHINA
ICELAND
IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
ISRAEL
JAPAN
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
MEXICO
NETHERLANDS
ROMANIA
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SPAIN
SWEDEN
UNITED STATES
Enjoying Flint’s Great Symphony Orchestra March 15, 2008
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15 March 2008, The Whiting, Flint Cultural Center Campus, Flint, Michigan:
I am not one to say that Flint is lucky to have a great symphony orchestra. Rather, I say that Flint, a great cultural and college town, DESERVES to have a great symphony. If you are not a regular patron of the Flint Symphony Orchestra you are missing out. Led by music director and conductor Enrique Diemecke, a world class Maestro, the Flint Symphony Orchestra is an excellent reason to come to Flint.
Tonight at least thirty students from the University of Michigan-Flint and I heard a wonderful performance that garnered several standing ovations. The concert was led by Guest Conductor Francesco Maria Colombo. Guest artist Amir Khosrowpour offered a magnificent piano concerto. The symphony performed selections by Felix Mendelssohn, Edvard Grieg, and Ralph Vaughn Williams. The last selection by Vaughn Williams, the Antarctica Symphony, was brilliantly performed. The unusual and distinctive piece featured a wind machine.
I am delighted that the University of Michigan-Flint joined with the Flint Symphony Orchestra to make tickets available to our students. Thirty tickets to each classical concert are distributed to University of Michigan-Flint students through the Chancellor’s Office, the Department of Music, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management, and the Dean’s Office of the School of Management.
To learn more about the Flint Symphony Orchestra please visit their web site linked here. The Flint Symphony Orchestra is part of the Flint Institute of Music.
About Me-Installment One March 14, 2008
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14 March 2008, Orchard Lake Country Club, Orchard Lake, Michigan:
Several blog lurkers have requested that I share some things about me, asking what I like to do outside of work. I am happy to oblige. I do spend a lot of time at work and doing work on the weekends and during evenings, but there are some great moments when I enjoy family. I have been happily married to Ruth. We will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this month. We have a 14-year-old daughter named Erin. Tonight I took Erin out on a date to her school’s Father Daughter dance (see photo above). I could not do most of the dances that she and her friends did, but I did enjoy one special slow dance. Ah to be that young again!
Founding Faculty Member Gives $6 Million to Support History Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint March 13, 2008
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13 March 2008, Thompson Library Atrium, University of Michigan-Flint Campus, Flint, Michigan:
I had the honor of announcing at a press conference this morning the largest single gift in the history (or should we say “herstory”) of the University of Michigan-Flint by an individual donor.
Dorothea Wyatt, a founding faculty member of the University of Michigan-Flint, passed away July 31, 2007 at the age of 98. Professor Wyatt was an outstanding teacher and scholar, dedicated to building a strong Department of History and and a great university. She was named the first chairperson of the Department of History at the University of Michigan-Flint and in 1974 was the first recipient of the University of Michigan-Flint Outstanding Professorship Award. Dorothea Wyatt believed in the mission of the University of Michigan-Flint, and took the remarkable step of investing in a future she could only imagine. Professor Wyatt’s estate, valued at approximately $6 million dollars, was bequeathed to the University of Michigan-Flint to be used for support of programs in history.
This bequest is truly transformative for the department, college, and university. A portion of the gift will be used to establish the first endowed professorship at the University of Michigan-Flint, named in memory of Professor Wyatt. Other uses include student scholarships, support for faculty research, and the enhancement of connections between the history program, Flint, and surrounding communities.
Dr. Wyatt’s generosity will touch the lives of faculty and students forever.
Your Comments Welcome March 11, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far11 March 2008, Flint, Michigan:
Please do not hesitate to leave comments about my posts. Also, please visit the C-Town (College Town) page and offer your suggestions on what is needed to increase the attractiveness of Flint to young talent. I am serious about the offer of two $25 gift cards selected randomly among the first 100 posters on the C-Town page. Also visit the Ask Me page where you can leave questions for me to answer.
This blog is written by me, not by a ghostwriter, assistant, or information officer.
I look forward to reading your comments. Posting comments is easy. Just select the add a comment or say it tab, enter your comment, put in your name and email address, and send.
Jack Kay
Students Shine at Student Concerns Open Forum March 11, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment11 March 2008, Michigan rooms, University of Michigan-Flint campus, Flint, Michigan:
“Proud” is the best word I know to describe my feeling about the students who participated in today’s annual Student Open Forum, sponsored by the Faculty Student Concerns Committee. Over 200 people attended, posing questions to university administrators and student government/student organization represenatives.
I was quite impressed with the thoughtful and rigorous questions that were asked, the passion behind the questions, the spirit of constructive criticism in which concerns were presented, and the genuine desire shown by those who raised concerns to help make the University of Michigan-Flint a great place to be. The civility was wonderful.
Questions and comments covered a wide field, ranging from support for club sports, disability accommodations, space for student organizations, noise in computer labs and the library, campus safety, to improved class scheduling.
I assure you that the administration of the University of Michign-Flint will examine the questions and concerns and act appropriately and expeditiously. Every Friday the Vice Chancellors and the Interim Chancellor meet. We will reserve time on this Friday’s meeting agenda to review concerns and route the concerns to the areas that can best handle the issue.
Thanks to all who participated. Student involvement is alive and healthy at the University of Michigan-Flint.
