星空传媒

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The 星空传媒 Board of Trustees inaugurated Dr. Bradley J. Barrick as the college鈥檚 seventh president during a celebration Nov. 21 at the college.

鈥淚 am honored and humbled to have been selected as 星空传媒鈥檚 seventh president,鈥� Dr. Barrick said during his inauguration address to nearly 300 attendees.

鈥淚 am grateful to the Board of Trustees for your confidence and trust in me to lead this wonderful institution. It is a privilege to serve as your president, and I understand the responsibility that comes with it. One thing that I can promise you is that I will put in the work to ensure our success,鈥� Dr. Barrick said.

During his address, President Barrick celebrated the college鈥檚 past by acknowledging its accomplishments and recognizing its former presidents. He also laid out plans for the college鈥檚 future.

鈥淒uring my first 90 days, I embarked on a Listen and Learn Tour, in order to build relationships with individuals on campus and also members in the community,鈥� he said. 鈥淒uring my Listen and Learn Tour, one of my favorite questions that I was asked was, 鈥榃hat is your why?鈥欌��

鈥淔or me, my why is simple. At the age of eighteen, I enrolled at my local community college,听and听it changed my life. I did not grow up with a sense of entitlement; to employ a baseball analogy, I was not born on third base. Nothing was given to me. No, I had to hustle and put in the work. I like to say that growing up in our house, we had a lot of love听and听laughter, but not a lot of money,鈥� President Barrick said.

鈥淭he decision to attend my local community college offered me an affordable education,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 gained confidence in my leadership abilities,听and听it granted me scholarships that enabled me to pursue further studies at a university. Four years later, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner) debt-free. None of these achievements would have been possible without the foundational experience I obtained at a community college.鈥�

鈥淐onsequently, I have committed the remainder of my professional career to serving students at community colleges. Each day, I am motivated by the goal of helping students achieve success stories similar to my own. One student at a time, community colleges are still changing lives,鈥� President Barrick said.

Moving forward, President Barrick said 星空传媒 will adhere to its mission by focusing on creating opportunity through education in order to fulfill its vision of fostering an employed, educated and thriving community, living out its five core values:

鈥溞强沾�媒, it鈥檚 time to dream big!鈥� President Barrick said. 鈥淲e may be a somewhat small community college in rural Michigan, but we are going to make a big impact.鈥�

鈥淚 can鈥檛 do this alone, nor do I even want to try. So, to every single person in this room, I kindly ask for your support, your encouragement, your effort, your resources, your connections and your prayers,鈥� he said.

During the ceremony, 星空传媒 Board of Trustees Chairperson Karen Carbonelli presented Dr. Barrick the college鈥檚 presidential medallion. The medallion is a formal symbol of the Office of President at the college. It features the 星空传媒 seal. The images on the seal reflect the area鈥檚 agricultural, industrial and educational heritage.

In her remarks, Carbonelli said, 鈥淒r. Barrick exhibits several qualities that make him an exceptional leader and the right person to guide our institution, including integrity, passion and fostering relationships."

鈥淒r. Barrick鈥檚 passion for community colleges is evident in his actions,鈥� Carbonelli said. 鈥淗e approaches his work with purpose, enthusiasm and a vision for the future.鈥�

Board Vice Chairperson Carol Deuling-Ravell assisted with the presentation of the presidential medallion.

鈥淭hank you for joining us on such a momentous and significant day,鈥� Carbonelli said. 鈥淚n our college鈥檚 59-year history, we have installed a president on only six previous occasions.

鈥淒r. Barrick, the Board of Trustees has selected you as President of 星空传媒. Yours will be the privilege and responsibility of leading the college to the fulfillment of its great promise and mission for years to come,鈥� Carbonelli said. 鈥淣ow, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees, I present to you the 星空传媒 presidential medallion, the symbol of the distinguished office which you now hold.

鈥淥n behalf of the Board of Trustees, the employees and the greater community, I welcome you as the seventh president of 星空传媒. I assure you of our confidence in you and pledge our support to you as you strive to continue the mission of this college,鈥� Carbonelli said.

In addition to the formal investiture, seven speakers delivered remarks in support of President Barrick, including: Laura Montoye, Director of Community Investment with the Greenville Area Community Foundation; Penny Dora, Director of Communications with the 星空传媒 Area Intermediate School District; Kristie Smith, Chief Operating Officer with Corewell Health Greenville Hospital; Mrs. Brandy Johnson, President of the Michigan Community College Association; Representative Pat Outman; 星空传媒 Emeritus Director of Workforce Development Leslie Anne Wood; and 星空传媒 Faculty Council President and Student Success Counselor Tore Skogseth.

A series of toasts to celebrate the occasion were delivered by: Senator Rick Outman; Rachel Gray, Executive Director of Hello West Michigan; Robert J. Byram, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sidney State Bank; Tracy Zamarron, Dean of Health and Human Services at 星空传媒; and Kurt Peterson, Treasurer of 星空传媒鈥檚 Board of Trustees.

星空传媒 Emeritus Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Gary Hauck served as emcee, and retired pastor Bob Braman led attendees in the invocation.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Shelly Springborn
Director of Communications and Public Relations
shellys@montcalm.edu
989-560-0833