Week of December 4, 2023

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Karen S. Carter, president of Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics (P&SP) business operating segment, has been selected to address Saginaw Valley State University’s graduating class during two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Nearly 500 SVSU students who are completing degrees have expressed their intent to participate in the commencement ceremonies.

The first of the two ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m., recognizing graduates from SVSU’s College of Arts & Behavioral Sciences; College of Science, Engineering & Technology; and the Scott L. Carmona College of Business. The second ceremony, at 2:30 p.m., celebrates graduates from the College of Education and the Crystal M. Lange College of Health & Human Services.

Both ceremonies will be held in O’Neill Arena in SVSU’s Ryder Center and will be livestreamed.

The holiday season is fast approaching! Consider supporting your fellow Cardinals this season by checking out these featured Cardinal-run businesses! The SVSU Alumni Relations Office is highlighting seven alumni-owned businesses this season to kick off a new partnership with businesses. The highlighted businesses are O’Macaron, Midland; Grove Tea Lounge, Midland; Clock9Nine, West Bloomfield Township; Sarah Fechter Fitness, Saginaw; Grow Grace, Woodhaven; Keys of the Kingdom Consulting; and Be Photographed! Learn about the businesses and the Cardinals behind them at the link below. 

Marcia Ditmyer, dean of SVSU’s College of Health & Human Services, and Megan Rule, SVSU’s BSN-RN coordinator, delivered keynote remarks to students completing the Tuscola High School Career Pipeline program in early November. Two SVSU students served as mentors in the program: Emily Drouin, a nursing major from Essexville, and Linzi Wiley, a pre-nursing student from Saginaw. Mindy Fabbro, SVSU associate professor of nursing, has also been involved in the program.

The interactive program provides an opportunity for high school students to learn about careers in health and human services. It is a community partnership involving the Tuscola Technology Center, the Thumb Community Health Partnership and its 29 partners, Mid-Central Area Health Education Center and GST Michigan Works! 

SVSU associate professor of mechanical engineering A K M Monayem Mazumder has been elevated to the grade of Senior Member of IEEE. Senior Member is the highest professional grade of IEEE, requiring extensive experience and reflecting professional accomplishment and maturity. Only 10% of IEEE’s 400,000 members have achieved this level.

Mazumder joined the faculty of SVSU in 2018 and was granted tenure in 2022.

IEEE (pronounced “eye-triple-E”) stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Saginaw Valley State University’s Department of Theatre has been invited to present its production of “Burning Bluebeard” at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 3  in Flint in January. 

The play will be performed as part of the festival’s closing ceremony. The performance will be held at the Capitol Theatre in Flint on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival showcases the finest in university theatre around the United States. Eight regional festivals, plus the national festival in Washington, D.C., celebrate artistic excellence and recognize students through awards and scholarships. Region 3 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Western Ohio. Hosted by the University of Michigan - Flint, the festival will run from Wednesday, Jan. 10 - Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024.

The Saginaw Valley State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is spreading holiday cheer to a local family. These caring student-athletes raised more than $600 to purchase gifts for the family’s children, ages 4, 5 and 7.

The SAAC’s purpose is to promote unity among the entire athletic department and student-athletes; take an active role in community service to promote the SVSU athletics and the university and to cultivate a positive student-athlete image; and to address the concerns of student-athletes and serve as a bridge between administration, staff and student-athletes. At least one student-athlete from each varsity sport serves on the SAAC.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the 2023 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Teams on Thursday morning. Saginaw Valley State University junior linebacker Micah Cretsinger was listed on the first-team defense.

Cretsinger had a historic season that was punctuated by him tying the NCAA Division II record with four interceptions returned for a touchdown. He is the first player in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to achieve that feat, and only the fifth player in DII history to meet that mark (the last occurrence came in 2011). The Jackson, Michigan native, led the team in tackles with 100 and had 3.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and four pass breakups. His eight interceptions are tied for the most in the GLIAC and ranks second in all of NCAA DII.

"Micah has earned this great honor with years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice," said SVSU head football coach Ryan Brady. "Micah has always been a team-first guy and continuously puts others before himself. He is a tremendous teammate, leader, and mentor to the younger generation within our program. Micah has made us all proud with his actions both on and off the field. He is a great ambassador for SVSU, and the best is yet to come. Congratulations Micah on this well-deserved and earned accomplishment and recognition."

Gov. Whitmer Launches Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential

Saginaw Township Schools' Leadership Shakeup Nets Bay County Educator

CMU and SVSU Offer Joint Pilot Health Simulation

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