The Ferris Board of Trustees recently approved the renaming of the North Quad area. It will now be called “The Dewaine V. and Jana B. Robinson Quad.
This decision has come after the Ferris pharmacy program received a $6.59 million bequest from the estate of the late Dewaine V. and Jana B. Robinson. This is the largest donation in Ferris history.
The university has been astounded by the generosity of the Robinson’s and are so grateful to them for their support and kindness.
Ferris Board of Trustees Chair Amna Seibold said, “The Board of Trustees enthusiastically endorsed President David Eisler’s recommendation to recognize and celebrate the Robinson’s extraordinary generosity by renaming the North Quad area, between FLITE library and the University Center on the main campus, the Dewaine V. and Jana B. Robinson Quad.”
The Ferris web page further explains that, “(The donation) established the Dewaine V. and Jana B. Robinson Scholarship Endowment. Income from the endowment provides financial aid in perpetuity for students enrolled in Ferris’ Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) four-year degree program.”
Both Robinsons’ have left a strong legacy behind. Dewaine was a 1955 Ferris Institute Pharmacy honors graduate. For years, he operated Fenton-Hills Drugs and Bristol Road Drugs, both of which are drug stores near Flint Michigan. In addition, he founded a computerized billing company.
The Ferris website also explains that, “Jana studied accounting at Flint Junior College and worked in the college’s registrar’s office and Crestwood Memorial Gardens, in Grand Blanc.”
“Our hope is that faculty, staff, students, alumni and visitors who frequent the Robinson Quad will reflect on the life and remarkable generosity of the Robinsons and will be inspired to make their own legacy gift to the University during their lifetime,” said Seibold, of East Grand Rapids.