ONE Northwood University

Jan 8, 2010

2009 In Review

Northwood Colleagues:
Before we become fully immersed in 2010, it's useful to look back at the exceptional work that was accomplished at Northwood University in 2009. Last week's message examined the events commemorating our 50th anniversary, but in the midst of all those celebrations, our University was still very hard at work.

The media link on our website is quite an interesting place. Reviewing the archives gives a snapshot of the vitality of Northwood University, so let's take a look at our “Year in Review.” Our recent activities lend themselves to eight different categories: Engaged Faculty and Staff; Engaged Campuses; Achievements and Honors; Professional, Educational, and Personal Development; Involved Students; Creative Achievement; Global Impact; and Athletic Excellence.

Engaged Faculty and Staff brought honor and recognition to both themselves and Northwood.

The University of the Aftermarket's Brian Cruickshank was named Auto International Association "Young Executive of the Year."
In Texas:

Advertising professor Jack Allday was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, "Cost of Freedom."
Dean of Students Mike Anguiano spoke on character development in leadership at the Cedar Hill Rotary Club.
Dr. Kevin G. Fegan, provost of our Texas campus, addressed local business leaders. His presentation - "Celebrating 50 Years of Free Enterprise" - focused on defining "value maximization." It also demonstrated the importance of servant leadership, the alignment of business, earth and humanity, and creative destruction vs. continuous improvement.
Evgeniy Gentchev, department chairman of International Business, explained to the Midlothian Chamber of Commerce how to send students to college without breaking the bank.
Dr. Jane Konditi was one of 35 people worldwide selected to participate in the Oxford University Round Table and traveled to Oxford, England July 12-17, 2009 to present "Governmental and Societal Responsibility in Gender Equality: Theory or Practice?"
Director of Facilities Mike Tinsley earned eight professional licenses and is using his latest, green building certification, to make our Texas campus more environmentally sound.

In Michigan:

Karla Spaeth, Hotel, Restaurant & Resort Management Chair, was recognized with the Michigan Campus Compact Faculty/Staff Community Service–Learning Award.
Jim John, instructor and chair of the Aftermarket Management program, was recognized with the Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award.

In Florida:

Adjunct faculty member Dr. Edwin C. Moore Jr. presented a paper titled "Institutions and International Trade: An Exploratory Study of the South American countries and the Transitional Economies of Eastern Europe" that was published in the conference proceedings of the International Conference of the Academy of International Business held in San Diego, California, June 2009.
Kevin Petrovsky, Associate Academic Dean and Associate Professor who teaches Environmental Science and Oceanography, was invited to join West Palm Beach's Green City Task Force.
In October, the National College Learning Center Association awarded Holly Genser the Learning Center Leadership Certification Level 3, which is given to learning assistance center directors whose achievements and professional standards meet NCLCA requirements.

The following are just a few examples of Northwood's Engaged Campuses.
In Texas:

Our campus highlighted Sustainability on Founders' Day with a panel of prominent community business people and philanthropists.
Seven members of our student body, faculty and staff - several of whom served in America's military - paid tribute to the armed forces with a program on Veterans' Day.
Our Campus received the Texas Quality Award and was recognized at the Progress Level by the Quality Texas Foundation, which helps universities, hospitals and other business entities improve performance.
The Dallas field office of the Student Conservation Association hosted a Gulf Coast Crew Leader Training program on campus.
U.S. government leaders, business owners and women of national influence participated in the International Women's Economic Summit for Afghan and Rwandan women entrepreneurs.

In Florida:

Campus faculty and staff picked up shovels and paint brushes for the first "Sleeves Up for Students Day" to beautify the Smith Family Recreation Complex. The group was joined by Trustee Dr. Maureen Smith who, along with her late husband David, funded construction of the facility which was dedicated November 1991 in remembrance of their deceased son Steven.
Under the direction of Advertising and International Business Department Chair and Professor, Jennifer McFarland, we hosted six European Marshall Memorial Fellows.
Our campus and the World Trade Center Palm Beach (WTCPB) hosted Mr. Dusan Caplovic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic and other Slovakian leaders in an event designed to foster increased trade and promote cross cultural awareness.
Faculty, staff and students shared solemn remembrance of our nation's veterans while recanting the story behind the national anthem, and welcoming local veteran and CNN Hero of the Year Award nominee, Roy Foster.
Twelve Florida Marlin minor league Latin players are attending continuing education seminars for Sports Management in Baseball on our campus. The partnership in learning between the Florida Marlins and Northwood is a first as no other minor league team offers its players the opportunity to attend formal college classes.

In Michigan:

We are participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans. This program enables military veterans to attend Northwood University free if they qualify.
We hosted the 2009 Postsecondary Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference on campus.
We were the sponsoring organization for the Youth Leadership program, a two-day conference for Midland County ninth-graders which provides opportunities to learn about leadership, team-building, volunteerism, and team decision-making and goal-setting through hands-on activities.
We celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King (1929-1968), leader of the American civil rights movement, a political activist, Baptist minister, and Nobel Laureate.
The power of the entrepreneurial spirit took mid-Michigan by storm on November 19, 2009, when we hosted The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour (EET).
The Strosacker Library hosted a 40th anniversary open house for both campus and the community.
We hosted a College Night program with representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities and armed services branches discussing programs of study, financial aid, admission requirements, athletics, student services, student activities and other topics.

Achievements and Honors were numerous.
In Texas:

The Northwood University softball team was ranked 11th in the Girls Got Game All Academic Team awards for the highest grade point averages in America, as determined by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Ivy Koehler, who graduated cum laude last spring, received the Academic Excellence Award for Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management, which honors the student with the highest overall GPA within his or her field of study; the Faculty Achievement Award in Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management; and the Evelyn Lambert Award, the highest leadership award at Northwood and voted by all faculty and staff to be presented to the student who possesses outstanding leadership qualities on campus and in the community.

In Florida:

Northwood University alumnus Alain Fernandez-Nunez received a 7th Place award in International Business at Phi Beta Lambda Competition.
Three students received awards from the West Palm Beach Advertising Federation.

In Michigan:

The Naegele Scholars Society was established.
Our chapter of Delta Mu Delta, a national honorary society in business administration, received the Delta Mu Delta Star Chapter Award presented each year to outstanding chapters.
Brandon Strong, a senior majoring in Advertising & Marketing, was elected the National President of Business Professionals of America (BPA) Post-Secondary Division.
Our Competitive Speech Team placed 9th out of 35 teams at the national competition held in Springfield, Missouri. We are the only business management school in the country, and the smallest, competing in this activity.
Our Mock Trial team won the 25th Annual American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championships. Our team was also honored with the Spirit of AMTA award for its division which was bestowed by the teams against whom we competed for displaying the highest ideals of civility, integrity and fair play. Several students won individual awards as well.
Our American Advertising Federation (AAF) student chapter took first place in the District 6 (Indiana, Illinois and Michigan) National Student Advertising Competition.
Our American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter ranked 13 in the nation at the International Conference in New Orleans for their chapter plan and annual report. Our chapter was one of eight designated an "Outstanding Chapter."
Syrena Rexroat, an accounting major from Lake Leelanau, Michigan, was honored as an All-American by the National College Forensics League. This honor is given nationally every two years to only ten individuals and is based on speech performance and the candidate's charitable activities, academic standing, extracurricular activities and leadership.
Junior Tim Meissner, received a Student Silver ADDY® for his entry "100% Energy" at The American Advertising Federation (AAF) - Great Lakes Bay Region chapter competition.
Fifteen DECA Students won awards at their regional competition.

Hotel Institute Montreux (Switzerland):

Malin Linderkrantz, Nina Hsglund and Céline Weckerlé, third-year students of Hotel Institute Montreux, a partner school of Northwood, placed in first position, ahead of degree and diploma students from six other hotel schools in the Bourse d'Evian 2009.

DeVos Graduate School:

The DeVos MBA team received the highest score in the Inventions 2 Market competition held at Saginaw Valley State University.

Opportunities for Professional, Educational and Personal Development were varied and numerous.

The Automotive Retail Management Department is offering the WomenCertified® training and certification program to students on our Florida, Michigan and Texas campuses. We are the first higher education institution in the U.S. to offer the course as part of our curriculum.
Jack Miller, entrepreneur and author of our Omniquest selection Simply Success: How to Start, Build and Grow a Multimillion-Dollar Business, spoke to students on our Midland Campus about entrepreneurship and the value of free enterprise. The event was simulcast so students on our campuses in Florida and Texas could view Mr. Miller's talk and submit questions.
Members of the 2008-09 University of the Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 experience discussed the topic “Who will design, manufacture, market, sell, and install the parts needed to repair tomorrow's vehicles?” at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago.
The University of the Aftermarket and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) held a first-ever collaboration: University of the Aftermarket accreditation of the SEMA "Online Marketing Conference," an intensive, day-long business marketing workshop.

In Florida:

Richard DeVos, cofounder of Amway, owner of the Orlando Magic basketball team, and a long-time supporter of Northwood, visited campus to share wisdom and insight from to his most recent book and our Omniquest selection, Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People.
Scholarship recipients paid tribute as we dedicated the Blum Family Scholars Association in honor of Peter Blum.
Keynote speaker, marketing visionary and best-selling author Dr. Tom Feltenstein visited our campus to share innovative and practical marketing and sales strategies supported by humorous anecdotes and tips.
As a prelude to our Outstanding Business Leader (OBL) Awards forum and gala, South Florida business leaders Yvonne Boice-Zucaro and Phil Smith visited campus to share expertise with students.
Over 300 local high school students joined our students to attend "Diversity is the Spice of Life" themed 7th Annual International Festival. They were treated to native sites, smells, culture and cuisine from countries including Australia, Israel, Spain, Sweden, Japan and China.
Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management graduate Carolina Rodriguez earned an internship at System Recordings, a New York City record label.

In Michigan:

Dr. Richard M. Gamble, the Anna Margaret Ross Alexander Chair in History and Political Science at Hillsdale College, spoke on the Western tradition and contemporary misunderstandings of liberty.
The Cato Institute's Michael Tanner spoke on "Health Care Reform, Free Markets, and YOU!"
We addressed job market concerns by hosting a Free Career Coaching Seminar to help Detroit-area transitional and displaced workers navigate the job market in a changing economy.

At the DeVos Graduate School:

The Continental Corporation Automotive Group established an “Ambassador” relationship with Northwood to provide automotive undergraduate and graduate students with insight to career opportunities in the global aftermarket industry.
MBA programs were launched in Texas, and the groundwork has begun for a 2010 MBA launch in Florida.

Texas is first up as we look at Involved Students.

Our campus recently hosted 60 school children from southern Dallas County for a day of learning about science, then a second day for a Christmas party. Dozens of Northwood students volunteered.
Kids' College, a program sponsored by the Southwest Dallas County Educational Consortium, of which Northwood is a founding member, meets once a month at local colleges and universities to work through a curriculum including education, culture, environment, health, family and career.
Our Automotive students and faculty helped launch a new Toyota vehicle at the State Fair of Texas. The group mingled with executives from Toyota and other companies, and learned about the importance of any car's launch. Steve Brazill, lead faculty member of the Automotive Retail Management Department, and Dr. David Spaulding, lead faculty in Aftermarket Management, participated in the day.

On the Florida Campus:

Students participated in The Polar Express Festival, a volunteer holiday outreach program presented by the West Palm Beach Library. The program, which was attended by over 1,000 people, provided a perfect setting for our students to assist the library staff during an evening of interactive family activities highlighting the classic story of The Polar Express.

In Michigan:

Rake-A-Difference, an annual event for our students to volunteer their time raking leaves for those who are unable to do so, took place in October.
The weather at the 46th Annual International Auto Show tested our students' mettle but they came through with flying colors, hosting an outstanding show in the face of very unforgiving weather.
Fashion students produced the 32nd year of Mannequin Modeling which underscores Northwood's commitment to and long-standing relationship with the Midland community; and the 8th Annual Style Show, Elements of Fashion, which had eco friendly clothing as its theme.
Ryan Koch, BBA '09, and past president of the Student Government Association, began a new tradition on the Michigan Campus by initiating a class gift. Thanks to his leadership, the Class of 2009 donated a clock tower for the mall walk.
MBA students Antoine Carr and Elias Hodges volunteered as “curbside consultants” to new entrepreneurs at the FastTrac event in downtown Detroit.
Hotel, Restaurant & Resort Management students hosted the 34th annual Stafford Memorial Dinner, an event that includes a scholarship fundraiser, an elegant five-course meal and a silent auction.

Creative Achievement continues as a Northwood Outcome.
In Texas:

Senior Amber Lansing creates custom cakes for Creme de la Creme, including wedding cakes and other confections featuring football stadiums at Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, and Texas Christian University.
Junior Abby Babbit sang the national anthem to an audience of more than 250,000 people at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Students presented the musical "I Love, You're Perfect, Now Change."
Continuing with the “greening” of campus, we hosted artists Charlie Hukill and Jonathon Kimbrell. "Replace Nozzle After Fueling" created a tongue-in-cheek metaphor reminding viewers not to continue the thoughtless waste of precious resources.

In Michigan:

The Northwood Gallery has a full year of exhibitions, including Randal Crawford's, "Alphabet Nights."
The Campus Arts Department sponsored a watercolor workshop by nationally recognized artist Mark Mehaffey.
The Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity and Entrepreneurship hosted its 20th Annual International Creativity Conference, "Creativity: The Business Tool Box Essential."

Northwood's Global Impact is expanding:

IDEAS, an e-newsletter discussing The Northwood Idea in contemporary society, was launched.
We launched a blog: http://defenseofcapitalism.blogspot.com
Continuing a Northwood tradition, the first Lambton Collegiate Auto Show was held at our partner school, Jilin University-Lambton College, Changchun, China.
Taking global learning and business to another level, two Northwood groups comprised of students from our three residential campuses recently visited partner universities in China and Malaysia. The students worked with the Chinese and Malaysian students to gain a better understanding of their respective cultures and discuss the differences between the university environments. The students also studied and learned about business, history, and cultures of the countries they visited.
We announced a new strategic partnership with Karnavati Education in Gujarat, India.
Taylor Wencis and Caitlin Noble, seniors and members of the Seahawk women's basketball team, recently traveled to Barbados to play with USA Athletes International (USAAI).

Athletic Excellence remains strong.

Texas campus Athletic Director Pat Malcheski was the first inductee into the recently announced Texas Knights' Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Northwood University Knights athletic program was honored with the Red River Athletic Conference's All-Sports Award for the second consecutive year and named Champions of Character.
The Seahawks added a men and women's cross-country team in fall 2009.
Seahawk DeSean White was selected the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 29 - Jan. 4.
Three Rivers Corporation donated generously to support the renovation and expansion of the Bennett Sports Center on our Midland campus. The project will greatly enhance the building's environment and improve the training and practice facilities for the more than 600 student-athletes who utilize it.
The Timberwolves' Lady Basketball team earned a spot at the national competitions.
Charleston Hughes was the fourth Northwood football player to sign with the NFL in five years.

While the activities noted above are not an all-inclusive list of the events that took place in 2009, this condensed snapshot serves to shine the light on the energy and engagement of our University.
We have just celebrated our first 50 years, and are very much involved in our present and our future. Look for upcoming weekly messages to share the news of exciting things in store for Northwood University.
Have a great weekend!

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)

pretty@northwood.edu

Jan 8, 2010
	2009 In Review Northwood Colleagues: Before we become fully immersed in 2010, it's useful to look back at the exceptional work that was accomplished at Northwood University in 2009. Last week's message examined the events commemorating our 50th anniversary, but in the midst of all those celebrations, our University was still very hard at work. The media link on our website is quite an interesting place. Reviewing the archives gives a snapshot of the vitality of Northwood University, so let's take a look at our “Year in Review.” Our recent activities lend themselves to eight different categories: Engaged Faculty and Staff; Engaged Campuses; Achievements and Honors; Professional, Educational, and Personal Development; Involved Students; Creative Achievement; Global Impact; and Athletic Excellence. Engaged Faculty and Staff brought honor and recognition to both themselves and Northwood. The University of the Aftermarket's Brian Cruickshank was named Auto International Association "Young Executive of the Year." In Texas: Advertising professor Jack Allday was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, "Cost of Freedom." Dean of Students Mike Anguiano spoke on character development in leadership at the Cedar Hill Rotary Club. Dr. Kevin G. Fegan, provost of our Texas campus, addressed local business leaders. His presentation - "Celebrating 50 Years of Free Enterprise" - focused on defining "value maximization." It also demonstrated the importance of servant leadership, the alignment of business, earth and humanity, and creative destruction vs. continuous improvement. Evgeniy Gentchev, department chairman of International Business, explained to the Midlothian Chamber of Commerce how to send students to college without breaking the bank. Dr. Jane Konditi was one of 35 people worldwide selected to participate in the Oxford University Round Table and traveled to Oxford, England July 12-17, 2009 to present "Governmental and Societal Responsibility in Gender Equality: Theory or Practice?" Director of Facilities Mike Tinsley earned eight professional licenses and is using his latest, green building certification, to make our Texas campus more environmentally sound. In Michigan: Karla Spaeth, Hotel, Restaurant & Resort Management Chair, was recognized with the Michigan Campus Compact Faculty/Staff Community Service–Learning Award. Jim John, instructor and chair of the Aftermarket Management program, was recognized with the Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award. In Florida: Adjunct faculty member Dr. Edwin C. Moore Jr. presented a paper titled "Institutions and International Trade: An Exploratory Study of the South American countries and the Transitional Economies of Eastern Europe" that was published in the conference proceedings of the International Conference of the Academy of International Business held in San Diego, California, June 2009. Kevin Petrovsky, Associate Academic Dean and Associate Professor who teaches Environmental Science and Oceanography, was invited to join West Palm Beach's Green City Task Force. In October, the National College Learning Center Association awarded Holly Genser the Learning Center Leadership Certification Level 3, which is given to learning assistance center directors whose achievements and professional standards meet NCLCA requirements. The following are just a few examples of Northwood's Engaged Campuses. In Texas: Our campus highlighted Sustainability on Founders' Day with a panel of prominent community business people and philanthropists. Seven members of our student body, faculty and staff - several of whom served in America's military - paid tribute to the armed forces with a program on Veterans' Day. Our Campus received the Texas Quality Award and was recognized at the Progress Level by the Quality Texas Foundation, which helps universities, hospitals and other business entities improve performance. The Dallas field office of the Student Conservation Association hosted a Gulf Coast Crew Leader Training program on campus. U.S. government leaders, business owners and women of national influence participated in the International Women's Economic Summit for Afghan and Rwandan women entrepreneurs. In Florida: Campus faculty and staff picked up shovels and paint brushes for the first "Sleeves Up for Students Day" to beautify the Smith Family Recreation Complex. The group was joined by Trustee Dr. Maureen Smith who, along with her late husband David, funded construction of the facility which was dedicated November 1991 in remembrance of their deceased son Steven. Under the direction of Advertising and International Business Department Chair and Professor, Jennifer McFarland, we hosted six European Marshall Memorial Fellows. Our campus and the World Trade Center Palm Beach (WTCPB) hosted Mr. Dusan Caplovic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic and other Slovakian leaders in an event designed to foster increased trade and promote cross cultural awareness. Faculty, staff and students shared solemn remembrance of our nation's veterans while recanting the story behind the national anthem, and welcoming local veteran and CNN Hero of the Year Award nominee, Roy Foster. Twelve Florida Marlin minor league Latin players are attending continuing education seminars for Sports Management in Baseball on our campus. The partnership in learning between the Florida Marlins and Northwood is a first as no other minor league team offers its players the opportunity to attend formal college classes. In Michigan: We are participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans. This program enables military veterans to attend Northwood University free if they qualify. We hosted the 2009 Postsecondary Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference on campus. We were the sponsoring organization for the Youth Leadership program, a two-day conference for Midland County ninth-graders which provides opportunities to learn about leadership, team-building, volunteerism, and team decision-making and goal-setting through hands-on activities. We celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King (1929-1968), leader of the American civil rights movement, a political activist, Baptist minister, and Nobel Laureate. The power of the entrepreneurial spirit took mid-Michigan by storm on November 19, 2009, when we hosted The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour (EET). The Strosacker Library hosted a 40th anniversary open house for both campus and the community. We hosted a College Night program with representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities and armed services branches discussing programs of study, financial aid, admission requirements, athletics, student services, student activities and other topics. Achievements and Honors were numerous. In Texas: The Northwood University softball team was ranked 11th in the Girls Got Game All Academic Team awards for the highest grade point averages in America, as determined by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Ivy Koehler, who graduated cum laude last spring, received the Academic Excellence Award for Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management, which honors the student with the highest overall GPA within his or her field of study; the Faculty Achievement Award in Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management; and the Evelyn Lambert Award, the highest leadership award at Northwood and voted by all faculty and staff to be presented to the student who possesses outstanding leadership qualities on campus and in the community. In Florida: Northwood University alumnus Alain Fernandez-Nunez received a 7th Place award in International Business at Phi Beta Lambda Competition. Three students received awards from the West Palm Beach Advertising Federation. In Michigan: The Naegele Scholars Society was established. Our chapter of Delta Mu Delta, a national honorary society in business administration, received the Delta Mu Delta Star Chapter Award presented each year to outstanding chapters. Brandon Strong, a senior majoring in Advertising & Marketing, was elected the National President of Business Professionals of America (BPA) Post-Secondary Division. Our Competitive Speech Team placed 9th out of 35 teams at the national competition held in Springfield, Missouri. We are the only business management school in the country, and the smallest, competing in this activity. Our Mock Trial team won the 25th Annual American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championships. Our team was also honored with the Spirit of AMTA award for its division which was bestowed by the teams against whom we competed for displaying the highest ideals of civility, integrity and fair play. Several students won individual awards as well. Our American Advertising Federation (AAF) student chapter took first place in the District 6 (Indiana, Illinois and Michigan) National Student Advertising Competition. Our American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter ranked 13 in the nation at the International Conference in New Orleans for their chapter plan and annual report. Our chapter was one of eight designated an "Outstanding Chapter." Syrena Rexroat, an accounting major from Lake Leelanau, Michigan, was honored as an All-American by the National College Forensics League. This honor is given nationally every two years to only ten individuals and is based on speech performance and the candidate's charitable activities, academic standing, extracurricular activities and leadership. Junior Tim Meissner, received a Student Silver ADDY® for his entry "100% Energy" at The American Advertising Federation (AAF) - Great Lakes Bay Region chapter competition. Fifteen DECA Students won awards at their regional competition. Hotel Institute Montreux (Switzerland): Malin Linderkrantz, Nina Hsglund and Céline Weckerlé, third-year students of Hotel Institute Montreux, a partner school of Northwood, placed in first position, ahead of degree and diploma students from six other hotel schools in the Bourse d'Evian 2009. DeVos Graduate School: The DeVos MBA team received the highest score in the Inventions 2 Market competition held at Saginaw Valley State University. Opportunities for Professional, Educational and Personal Development were varied and numerous. The Automotive Retail Management Department is offering the WomenCertified® training and certification program to students on our Florida, Michigan and Texas campuses. We are the first higher education institution in the U.S. to offer the course as part of our curriculum. Jack Miller, entrepreneur and author of our Omniquest selection Simply Success: How to Start, Build and Grow a Multimillion-Dollar Business, spoke to students on our Midland Campus about entrepreneurship and the value of free enterprise. The event was simulcast so students on our campuses in Florida and Texas could view Mr. Miller's talk and submit questions. Members of the 2008-09 University of the Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 experience discussed the topic “Who will design, manufacture, market, sell, and install the parts needed to repair tomorrow's vehicles?” at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago. The University of the Aftermarket and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) held a first-ever collaboration: University of the Aftermarket accreditation of the SEMA "Online Marketing Conference," an intensive, day-long business marketing workshop. In Florida: Richard DeVos, cofounder of Amway, owner of the Orlando Magic basketball team, and a long-time supporter of Northwood, visited campus to share wisdom and insight from to his most recent book and our Omniquest selection, Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People. Scholarship recipients paid tribute as we dedicated the Blum Family Scholars Association in honor of Peter Blum. Keynote speaker, marketing visionary and best-selling author Dr. Tom Feltenstein visited our campus to share innovative and practical marketing and sales strategies supported by humorous anecdotes and tips. As a prelude to our Outstanding Business Leader (OBL) Awards forum and gala, South Florida business leaders Yvonne Boice-Zucaro and Phil Smith visited campus to share expertise with students. Over 300 local high school students joined our students to attend "Diversity is the Spice of Life" themed 7th Annual International Festival. They were treated to native sites, smells, culture and cuisine from countries including Australia, Israel, Spain, Sweden, Japan and China. Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management graduate Carolina Rodriguez earned an internship at System Recordings, a New York City record label. In Michigan: Dr. Richard M. Gamble, the Anna Margaret Ross Alexander Chair in History and Political Science at Hillsdale College, spoke on the Western tradition and contemporary misunderstandings of liberty. The Cato Institute's Michael Tanner spoke on "Health Care Reform, Free Markets, and YOU!" We addressed job market concerns by hosting a Free Career Coaching Seminar to help Detroit-area transitional and displaced workers navigate the job market in a changing economy. At the DeVos Graduate School: The Continental Corporation Automotive Group established an “Ambassador” relationship with Northwood to provide automotive undergraduate and graduate students with insight to career opportunities in the global aftermarket industry. MBA programs were launched in Texas, and the groundwork has begun for a 2010 MBA launch in Florida. Texas is first up as we look at Involved Students. Our campus recently hosted 60 school children from southern Dallas County for a day of learning about science, then a second day for a Christmas party. Dozens of Northwood students volunteered. Kids' College, a program sponsored by the Southwest Dallas County Educational Consortium, of which Northwood is a founding member, meets once a month at local colleges and universities to work through a curriculum including education, culture, environment, health, family and career. Our Automotive students and faculty helped launch a new Toyota vehicle at the State Fair of Texas. The group mingled with executives from Toyota and other companies, and learned about the importance of any car's launch. Steve Brazill, lead faculty member of the Automotive Retail Management Department, and Dr. David Spaulding, lead faculty in Aftermarket Management, participated in the day. On the Florida Campus: Students participated in The Polar Express Festival, a volunteer holiday outreach program presented by the West Palm Beach Library. The program, which was attended by over 1,000 people, provided a perfect setting for our students to assist the library staff during an evening of interactive family activities highlighting the classic story of The Polar Express. In Michigan: Rake-A-Difference, an annual event for our students to volunteer their time raking leaves for those who are unable to do so, took place in October. The weather at the 46th Annual International Auto Show tested our students' mettle but they came through with flying colors, hosting an outstanding show in the face of very unforgiving weather. Fashion students produced the 32nd year of Mannequin Modeling which underscores Northwood's commitment to and long-standing relationship with the Midland community; and the 8th Annual Style Show, Elements of Fashion, which had eco friendly clothing as its theme. Ryan Koch, BBA '09, and past president of the Student Government Association, began a new tradition on the Michigan Campus by initiating a class gift. Thanks to his leadership, the Class of 2009 donated a clock tower for the mall walk. MBA students Antoine Carr and Elias Hodges volunteered as “curbside consultants” to new entrepreneurs at the FastTrac event in downtown Detroit. Hotel, Restaurant & Resort Management students hosted the 34th annual Stafford Memorial Dinner, an event that includes a scholarship fundraiser, an elegant five-course meal and a silent auction. Creative Achievement continues as a Northwood Outcome. In Texas: Senior Amber Lansing creates custom cakes for Creme de la Creme, including wedding cakes and other confections featuring football stadiums at Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, and Texas Christian University. Junior Abby Babbit sang the national anthem to an audience of more than 250,000 people at the Texas Motor Speedway. Students presented the musical "I Love, You're Perfect, Now Change." Continuing with the “greening” of campus, we hosted artists Charlie Hukill and Jonathon Kimbrell. "Replace Nozzle After Fueling" created a tongue-in-cheek metaphor reminding viewers not to continue the thoughtless waste of precious resources. In Michigan: The Northwood Gallery has a full year of exhibitions, including Randal Crawford's, "Alphabet Nights." The Campus Arts Department sponsored a watercolor workshop by nationally recognized artist Mark Mehaffey. The Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity and Entrepreneurship hosted its 20th Annual International Creativity Conference, "Creativity: The Business Tool Box Essential." Northwood's Global Impact is expanding: IDEAS, an e-newsletter discussing The Northwood Idea in contemporary society, was launched. We launched a blog: http://defenseofcapitalism.blogspot.com Continuing a Northwood tradition, the first Lambton Collegiate Auto Show was held at our partner school, Jilin University-Lambton College, Changchun, China. Taking global learning and business to another level, two Northwood groups comprised of students from our three residential campuses recently visited partner universities in China and Malaysia. The students worked with the Chinese and Malaysian students to gain a better understanding of their respective cultures and discuss the differences between the university environments. The students also studied and learned about business, history, and cultures of the countries they visited. We announced a new strategic partnership with Karnavati Education in Gujarat, India. Taylor Wencis and Caitlin Noble, seniors and members of the Seahawk women's basketball team, recently traveled to Barbados to play with USA Athletes International (USAAI). Athletic Excellence remains strong. Texas campus Athletic Director Pat Malcheski was the first inductee into the recently announced Texas Knights' Athletic Hall of Fame. The Northwood University Knights athletic program was honored with the Red River Athletic Conference's All-Sports Award for the second consecutive year and named Champions of Character. The Seahawks added a men and women's cross-country team in fall 2009. Seahawk DeSean White was selected the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 29 - Jan. 4. Three Rivers Corporation donated generously to support the renovation and expansion of the Bennett Sports Center on our Midland campus. The project will greatly enhance the building's environment and improve the training and practice facilities for the more than 600 student-athletes who utilize it. The Timberwolves' Lady Basketball team earned a spot at the national competitions. Charleston Hughes was the fourth Northwood football player to sign with the NFL in five years. While the activities noted above are not an all-inclusive list of the events that took place in 2009, this condensed snapshot serves to shine the light on the energy and engagement of our University. We have just celebrated our first 50 years, and are very much involved in our present and our future. Look for upcoming weekly messages to share the news of exciting things in store for Northwood University. Have a great weekend! Keith A. Pretty, J.D. President and CEO Northwood University 4000 Whiting Drive Midland, MI 48640 989.837.4203 (phone) 989.832.9590 (fax) pretty@northwood.edu