Many members of the community showed up along with current and past students, staff and faculty, and the generous contributors to the university. The Mayor Tony Bosbous, was also in attendance. Before the president started his speech, the Bay Mills Tribe members of the PRIDE club performed an honor song on the White Buffalo Cloud Drum.

President Lowan set the tone for the afternoon by saying, “The University, as do most universities in Michigan, does have its challenges.” He continued by saying, “We do need to increase the amount and sources of revenue that we have coming into the institution. We do need to be able to attract and retain more students who will benefit from what I call, the Laker magic.”

He proceeded by telling the community what is great about the institution. He cited the faculty, the staff, and the students. He said the number one asset of the university is the “student oriented, caring and engaged faculty and staff.”

President Lowman said “our majors are also among our strengths.” The specific ones that he listed were: engineering with emphasis on the robotics program, sciences which he believes are second to none, fire science which is one of six accredited programs in the world, fisheries and wildlife and humanities including the languages and history department. He continues with legal studies, nursing which boasts almost 100% of students getting jobs after Lake State, law enforcement, recreation studies and exercise science, and business and economics.

Athletics was next on the agenda. He emphasized that “the athletes are widely recognized for the rate at which they graduate from their academic programs.”

Extracurricular activities, diversity, internationalism, LSSU facilities, and the community partner ships were recognized to be parts of our strengths.

When president Lowman discussed internationalism, he said, “It is great to have them there (Canada), and we need to think about this as one large community, not as two divided by a river.”

The banned word list was brought up and President Lowman took it upon himself to add “we have no money” to that list, with great response from the crowd.

 “When we say we have no money, I think what we mean is we have no ideas. And yes, fiscal times are tight, but that’s when we need to be creative in coming up with alternative solutions to issues that we have.” He continued, “What we need is affordable innovative ideas.” He cited the new look of the Norris center. He thanked the physical plant and Jim Borkes donations for helping bring back what makes the university great.

He said that the big strength of the university was the Alumni. The head of the entire Michigan prison system, the CEO of a community hospital, and many other business executives, doctors, lawyers, teachers and dentists are alumni.

He said that our product is our students. “We need to be clear on what that product is, and we need to be good at selling that and letting people know that we exist and the fine quality of work we do.”

“We need to expand our recognition and our reputation and we need to increase and diversify our sources of support. I think we can particularly do this by partnering with our communities and with those in the region. I hope that we will be successful, and I feel confident that we will, not only in growing our enrollment so more students come here and stay here, and having real and meaningful partnerships with our surrounding communities, with our tribes, with our region so we are welcome for the fine contributions they make to our fine institution.”

 The presentation ended with a performance by the band “Those Three Girls”. Members include Jennifer, Mary Ann Staut, and Stephanie Sababtine. They played two folk songs.

The presentation ended and the reception started where people informally ate food and socialized.

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