May 20, 2024

Bulldog family: New grad Lindsey Chesebro joins her parents, brother – and other relatives -- in earning Ferris State degree

Lindsey Chesebro’s smile as she received her Master of Social Work degree from Ferris State University reflected a Bulldog pride instilled in her at birth.

As Chesebro crossed the stage at graduation earlier this month, she joined her parents, Bill and Lynne Scheible, and her older brother, Nick Scheible, to complete an education-focused family of Ferris State alumni.

Bill Scheible earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting and Finance in the late 1970s, and Lynne Scheible received a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education in 1989. Nick Scheible graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 2005 while playing for the Bulldog hockey team and a Master of Business Administration in 2010.

Need more Bulldog pride? Lindsey’s husband, Gary Chesebro, has worked at Ferris State in Facilities Management for nearly 10 years. Her stepdaughter, Brett Chesebro, earned a Criminal Justice degree from Ferris State and her stepson, Chase Chesebro, earned a Construction Management degree from Ferris State. Nick Scheible’s wife, Melissa, earned a master’s degree in Education from Ferris State.

“We’ve always been proud Bulldogs,” said Chesebro, one of the 1,800 students to graduate this month. “I mean, we love the small community here in Big Rapids and that pride we feel in being a Bulldog. I am excited to be part of that pride as a graduate and can’t wait to see what carrying that Bulldog name will bring to myself and others.”

Bill Scheible played football for the Bulldogs and worked for Ferris State in multiple capacities, including as an assistant athletics director and later as the Alumni Relations director, before beginning a long career working in insurance.

For the Scheible family, Saturdays in the fall were reserved for football – inside and outside Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids.

“Every weekend, my dad said, ‘It’s a great day to be a Bulldog.’ So, Bulldog blood runs through all of us,” said Chesebro, who grew up in Big Rapids and attended Big Rapids Public Schools. “My brother played hockey here, so that’s what we know. Being part of a great community where you can make a living and have fun is exciting. We’re all so proud to live here.”

Lynne Scheible has been an active force in the community through her involvement at Ferris State and with organizations such as Artworks and Leadership Mecosta through the Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Oh, it just is amazing to think about the fact that everybody in our family is Ferris alums,” she said. “And so, we’re proud of Lindsey for also completing this effort. She really worked hard, worked full-time and took one class a semester. These years later, she has her MSW, and we’re just thrilled.”

Saturday, May 4, was the latest in a long string of great days to be a Bulldog for the Scheible family.

“It’s just great to have Lynne and I both got degrees here and now both of our children, Nick and Lindsey, have degrees here. We are lock-stock Bulldogs. We are so proud,” said Bill Scheible, who also earned a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision from Central Michigan University.

Newly equipped with master’s degree, Chesebro now sees an opportunity for an ongoing positive community impact.

“I hope to go into schools and help young people,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of amazing people out there. They just need a little extra love and I hope to take this degree and help develop programming that makes an impact, bring love, bring support, and do what I can to help the schools help the young people in our community.”