Profile Pre-Retreat Article
- 1. FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY: ONE UNIVERSITY. A WORLD OF EXPERIENCES. H eartbreak following the 2012 death of Bob Norr in a kayaking accident has been transformed into a joyous and fun annual event that honors the Recreation and Parks Management majors memory while supporting future students. W hen the College of Business Student Pride Committee was formed, its members figured that its goal of creating a purely student-led scholarship including raising the $10,000 needed to endow it would take some time. But we got really lucky with it, and we were fortunate enough to raise it in one year, said former committee president and current MBA student Mary Kehoe 15. It speaks a lot to our alumni and the support we got from our faculty. The first College of Business Student Pride Scholarship was awarded for the upcoming academic year to senior India Lacey, who joined the committee to raise funds for the endowment. The eventual goal is a large enough endowment to support a full-ride油scholarship. Yet with the scholarship established, the Student Pride Committee looked for more ways to help the College of Business inspire students to become leaders. They renamed their committee the Student Business Leadership Committee (SBLC) to reflect the new mission. As they were discussing new directions, Kehoe, now the graduate advisor to the group, shared the journey that led her to FSU and the committee. That story formed the backbone of a pitch to convince faculty and students to support SBLCs next venture. Before Kehoe trans- ferred to Frostburg, she had struggled to engage with her studies at two previous institutions. She passed her classes, but she was dispassion- ate. I was just kind of floating around. I was considering everything from the Peace Corps to the Air Force, she said. Her parents con- vinced her to give college another chance first. Drawn by the mountains of Western Maryland, Kehoe transferred to Frostburg as a junior. And that was the best thing Ive ever done. From Kehoes first day on campus, her academic advisor, Carol Gaumer 89/M91, Forrester Gift Supports Academic Programs Col. Ronald G. Forrester 67 and DiannaDee Forrester 67 cut the ribbon on the third-floor break-out area in the Catherine R. Gira Center for Communications and InformationTechnology, as President Jonathan Gibralter assists.The Forresters gift will help to fund an endowment supporting the programs housed in CCIT, which include communications, computer science and information technology, graphic design and mathematics. Opportunities to create a permanent association with a space on the FSU campus may be explored by contacting the FSU Foundation at 301.687.4161. Nearly 200 people enjoyed pool games, laser tag and dodgeball and scaled the rock-climbing wall at the fourth annual I Swim for Bob Day Discover Your Own Adventure this spring. The first such event came together a few months after Norrs death, when students, including classmate Alex Coleman 12, came to Blankenship with the idea to start a scholarship and event in his memory. inspired her. She just believed in me in a way that I did not believe in myself, Kehoe油said. Newly engaged in her education, Kehoe made the Deans List three times. That was something I had never imagined for myself. That completely changed here, and thats because these professors saw the potential in me and really worked and spent the extra time and energy to pull that out. Gaumer and Ryan Kentrus 04/M07, faculty co-advisor to SBLC, encouraged Kehoe to join the group, whose activities are based on three pillars: giving, leadership development and networking with alumni. While considering their next major activity, SBLC members saw the potential to inspire average students to excel by emulating the activities of the Sloop Institute for Excellence in Leadership, an opportunity reserved for top油students. I know there are hundreds of other students that are just kind of coasting along, getting C's and wanting to get out and get on with their lives, Kehoe said. Those students became SBLCs focus. In September, SBLC will host its inaugural Leadership Retreat at Wisp Resort. It will feature activities that combine professional workplace environments and networking opportunities with team-building and leadership activities suited to the Mountain Maryland setting. Craig Bowman 92, vice president of defense and security systems for Adobe Systems, will deliver the keynote油speech. The point of the retreat is to see these students that have the potential to be some- thing better and to tell them, Knock it off, get I Swim for Bob Brings Joy From Heartbreak By Charles Schelle Its Purpose Fulfilled, Student Committee Finds New Direction By Robert Spahr 13 Recreation and Parks majors, we approach life in a very different way. We like to get together and have a good time, said Dr. Diane Blankenship, associate professor of recreation and parks management, one of Norrs instructors. We just felt like, in the spirit of Bob, to have a pool party and all these crazy events. This is how he would want his life celebrated. This years event raised $7,000, and about $47,000 has been raised since 2012 for the Robert A. Norr Presidential Merit Scholarship, Blankenship said. Its now an annual tradition taken on by students who never even knew Norr. They work tirelessly to plan the ongoing event year-round because they see how much it means to the community and campus. Four classes across two semesters help plan, produce and evaluate the event. You can look at Dr. B and you can tell how much he meant to her, and his parents are here, and you can tell how much they care about how we do this, said Brian Bussard, a senior parks and recreation management major. I think that our whole class groups together, and we want to make sure that we油succeed. Norrs roommate, Kevin Neitzey 14, returned to support the event, marvel- ing at all the new faces as he watched a dodgeball油game. I can count about 50 people Ive never seen before in my life. I think its awesome that Dr. B really incorporates this not only in her curriculum but that the kids want to be here, Neitzey said. Norrs parents, Bob and Nancy Norr, are pleased to see the event and scholarship grow Bob Norr and how much it reflects their son. We continue to be amazed that they honor Bob this way, his father said. Its awesome just to hear his name all the time, Coleman said. To support the Robert A. Norr Presidential Merit Scholarship, visit www.frostburg.edu/makeagift or call 301.687.4161. Above, Bob Norrs parents, Bob and Nancy Norr, join their sons classmate, Alex Coleman 12, who was the impetus behind the first I Swim for Bob event.The scholarship fundraiser, now held annually, features a variety of games, including pool volleyball, at left. About $47,000 has been raised since 2012 for the Robert A. Norr Presidential Merit Scholarship. yourself together and do great things, because youre capable of it. Its kind of a retreat for the underdogs. Kehoe sees it as an opportunity to help other students the way Gaumer, Kentrus and the groups other co-advisor Dr. JoAnna Shore 96/M98 helped her. She credits Shore with specific assistance on the retreat and general mentoring otherwise. Not only did she help us stay on track with the process of planning the retreat, but she was always there to help us with the stress of balancing our committee projects with school, work, other organizations and everything else, Kehoe said. We are all so grateful to have our FSU Mom there to guide us along! SBLC hopes to make the Leadership Retreat an annual event, but they will need to raise the money to make that happen. Fortunately, their experience with the Student Pride Scholarship has given the members the fundraising skills, confidence and network they will need. To support the efforts of the Student Business Leadership Committee, call the FSU Foundation at 301.687.4161 or visit www.frostburg.edu/makeagift. To participate in the retreat, contact Kehoe at mckehoe0@frostburg.edu. Mary Kehoe 15 Members of the Student Business Leadership Committee, from left, are liaison Dan Bible 15, Brooke Logan, President Alanna Hirshman, Treasurer Kiersten Butler, Mary Kehoe 15 and co-advisor Ryan Kentrus 04/M07. Not pictured are India Lacey, head of Scholarship Fundraising and recipient of the groups first scholarship; Secretary Ryan Lynch; and co-advisor Dr. JoAnna Shore 96/M98. 1514