Albion College Opening Convocation 2005 with First Lady Barbara Bush

"Find the one cause or project you feel strongly about, then your cause will become a passion that will last a lifetime," advised Bush, a nationally prominent spokesperson for literacy. "I'm still encouraging parents to read to their children ... it's one of the most important gifts we can give them."

First Week Features First Lady
Barbara Bush Opens 2005-06 School Year
August 26, 2005

Story by Jake Weber; photos by Dave Trumpie

Former First Lady Barbara Bush brought in the crowd as she presented the 2005 William K. Stoffer lecture at the College's Opening Convocation Aug. 25. An audience of nearly 4,000 enjoyed a beautiful summer evening with the down-to-earth Bush.

Bush was chosen to give the Stoffer lecture in part because of her national prominence as a supporter of education and literacy programs. The co-sponsor of this year's lecture is the Fritz Shurmur Education institute.

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy has distributed more than $16 million to literacy programs at the local and state levels. Bush herself makes regular personal visits to schools and hospitals, encouraging literacy among children and their parents.

The Briton Medallion was awarded to Detroit-area residents Tricia and Richard Lessway, parents of John, ’00, and Zachary, ’04. Albion College president Peter T. Mitchell hailed the Lessways as Albion supporters in the Detroit area, advisors to the Gerstacker Institute and major contributors to the College's new science complex.

During the convocation, Bush was awarded an honorary doctorate from the College. "I feel a little like the Scarecrow in the 'Wizard of Oz'," joked Bush, "who suddenly discovered he had a brain all along -- he just didn't have a piece of paper to prove it."

Bush charmed the audience with many stories of her personal life, reflecting on the Bushes' friendship with Bill Clinton, the perpetual stream of houseguests at Kennebunkport and the challenges she faced raising a creative and stubborn George W. Bush.

Bush, who continues to actively support numerous humanitarian causes, stressed the importance of serving others. "Whatever you do, don't forget to give something back," she said, noting the examples of Albion alumni Bill Stoffer, '74, and the late Bob Teeter, '61 (a close friend of the Bushes). Of Stoffer, Bush said, "He's not only been very good to his alma mater, but he sits on numerous boards and once even served as mayor of Albion. He is what George would call a true Point of Light."

Along with Bush's honorary doctorate, the College also recognized the awarding of three endowed professorships. The Briton Medallion was awarded to Richard and Tricia Lessway, in recognition of their advocay for Albion College.

The Arnold G. Langbo Trustees' Professorship was awarded a second time to William Bartels, professor of geological science. A national authority on the study of fossils, Bartels has received research grants from the Pew Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the National Park Service, and the National Science Foundation. Bartels was named Albion’s Phi Beta Kappa scholar in 1996.

Professors Carrier, Bartels and Saltzman, recipients of endowed professorships (see main story).

Despite a very tight schedule at Albion, Bush enjoyed a visit with students from the Shurmur Education Institute.

The William W. Diehl Trustees’ Professorship was awarded for a second term to Jeffrey C. Carrier, professor of biology. Carrier has used a variety of media ranging from popular magazines to scientific journals, and from television shows to conference presentations to report on his research on sharks. His recent book on the biology of sharks and their relatives has quickly become a standard reference work. In 1986 he was named the Honors Program Teacher of the Year and in 1996 he shared the Albion College Scholar of the Year award with Bartels.

The inaugural E. Maynard Aris Professorship was awarded to Gregory M. Saltzman, professor and chair of economics and management. Saltzman’s teaching specialties and research interests are labor law, labor union political action, and management-union relations. He was named Phi Beta Kappa Scholar of the Year at Albion in 2000. The professorship honors E. Maynard Aris who served as chair of the College's Economics and Management department for nearly a quarter-century during his 36-year tenure at Albion.

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