CAMPUS NEWS
Michelle Merritt ’22 and Sarah Gibes ’22 earn top awards.
TWO 2022 GRADS EARN FULBRIGHT AWARDS Michelle Merritt and Sarah Gibes are recipients of 2022 Fulbright awards. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international education exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or personal achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. Merritt ’22, who majored in linguistics and Chinese, received a highly competitive Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant. She will teach English to university students in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, in 2023. “Teaching ESL/EFL at the university level is one of my key interests, so having the chance to develop that skill right out of university is a rare, perfectly suited opportunity. At the same time, I will be broadening my own language skills through immersion,” said Merritt. Gibes ’22, who majored in biochemistry, English, and German, received a United States Teaching Assistantship of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research. This year, she will serve as an English class teaching assistant for two high schools in Salzburg, Austria. “I believe that public service is important, and that investing in young people is a particularly important form of public service. This grant allows me to pursue both of those things,” said Gibes. 6
President Michael Le Roy is honored by state leaders, including Senator Mark Huizenga ’90.
STATE LEADERS HONOR PRESIDENT LE ROY On April 22, outgoing president Michael Le Roy was meeting with the Calvin University board of trustees when two surprise guests walked in the room: Mark Huizenga ’90, a state senator and Calvin alum, and Emerson Silvernail ’20, a former student body president at Calvin who now works with Huizenga. The two delivered a special tribute to Le Roy, honoring his steadfast commitment to the Calvin University community. Signers of the tribute included state senators Winnie DeVries Brinks ’90, Aric Nesbitt, and Mark Huizenga, along with Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “I’m overwhelmed, humbled, and grateful,” said Le Roy. “First of all, I didn’t know this
was possible. Second of all, it’s bipartisan, so I like that a lot.” The tribute begins, “LET IT BE KNOWN, That it is with a deep appreciation that we honor Dr. Michael Le Roy upon the occasion of his retirement after a decade of serving as President of Calvin University. As Dr. Le Roy transitions into this next phase of his life, we add our voice of thanks to those of the professors, administrators, students, parents, and alumni throughout the Calvin community for a job well done.” The tribute applauds Le Roy’s leadership during a changing higher education landscape and his tireless pursuit of the institution’s long-term health.
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