We recognize the importance of faculty engagement in the life of a university as well as in the local, state, national, and international community. Service is a demonstrated ability to make useful and sustained contributions to the communities, enriching the academic environment at Ferris and the community of scholars. This award is conferred upon a faculty member who serves the community through activities such as leadership in departmental, college, and/or university committees, participation in activities that contribute to the well-being of the institution, leadership positions in local, regional, state, national, or international professional organizations, and serving as a mentor to colleagues and students.
In 2012, John Schmidt was named the Distinguished Service Awardee.
Schmidt’s service to students comes in many forms. Notable service includes serving as advisor for Ferris’ chapter of the international construction honors society, Sigma Lambda Chi. During his first year as advisor, this society received international recognition for service to its major and has continued to receive top awards for the past eight years, most recently, and for the fourth time, as the International Outstanding Chapter. He has just completed six years as the director of the Associated Schools of Construction, Great Lakes Region. In this capacity, he represented 28 universities from a six-state area and developed and conducted the annual regional conference and student competitions in the Chicago area each year.
Schmidt has provided service in many ways to his college. In addition to many other roles, he has served as program liaison to the American Council for Construction Education, as chair for the Promotion Committee, and as member the School of Built Environment Strategic Planning Committee. Some of his service to the University has included being a member of the Academic Senate, a member of the Graduate and Professional Education Task Force, member of the IT Standards Committee, and as Marshal and Mace Bearer for Commencement.
Outside of Ferris, he is actively involved in service to his community. He provides leadership through his work with the Boy Scouts of America, the Mecosta-Osceola Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the City of Big Rapids Planning Commission. He has also engaged his students to give back to their local community through various service projects.
Schmidt is a professor of Construction Technology and Management in the College of Engineering Technology. He joined Ferris State University in 1997.
2011 - Sandra Burns
2010 - Not awarded
2009 - Bob Krueger
2008 - Not awarded
2007 - Adnan Dakkuri
2006 - Doug Haneline
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