Eight students to represent campus at Senate Committee at Park Library
When Cason Thorsby enrolled in Central Michigan University's LaBelle Entrepreneurial program in the fall of 2005, he dreamed of one day becoming a successful business owner.
The Davison graduate student took a business plan he created during his first semester on campus and began a party rental business just after his freshman year in summer 2006. The business flourished quickly, and while still enrolled at CMU last year, he sold it to embark on his second venture - manufacturing wild game soup for stores such as Cabela's and Gander Mountain.
"I didn't know much about how the world worked business-wise," Thorsby said. "There was so much information I didn't know, but the LaBelle staff hooked me up with people who could network and answer questions."
Thorsby is one of eight students who will speak at 10 a.m. today in a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education in the Charles V. Park Library third floor lounge.
Presidents of five Michigan universities will make presentations to lobby for funding in a budget proposal made to Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Thorsby's two to three minute run-down of the entrepreneurial program will showcase the value of his education at CMU.
"I could sit here and honestly say if that program never existed, I wouldn't be where I'm at," he said.
Kathy Wilbur, vice president of governmental relations and public affairs, said University President Michael Rao is excited about the chance to use student testimonies for the bulk of his presentation since it takes place at CMU.
"Central's hearing is going to be quite a departure. It's very student focused, very student-oriented," she said. "The president will make very limited comments."
Austin senior Jessica Pratt plans to speak about her experiences in CMU's art department, specifically working with sculpture.
Pratt recently constructed a chair made from bronze, steel and cherry wood using a $350 grant from the university.
The chair, which she plans to have at her presentation, represents a family tree. Each bronze element, she said, from the rungs on the chair's back to its armrests, represent a membersof her family.
"I wouldn't have been able to grow as much in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program without the studio we have," Pratt said. "I can't ever believe how many techniques and methods I've learned."
Illinois graduate assistant Ryan Lambert will present on behalf of the Physical Education and Sport department. He started a service learning project called "Chip Away at Malaria" for an undergraduate class that has raised close to $30,000 for malaria relief in three years.
"It's really remarkable how students became so passionate about it even after the class was over," he said. "What better way to tell how Central works and operates than through the students themselves?"
metro@cm-life.com
