Former FSU Athletics Faculty Representative Terry Nerbonne Honored With Pete Peterson Pride Award

Note: This is the third of four major FSU Athletics Awards that will be presented between now and Thursday for the 2016-17 campaign.  The final award, the Dean Davenport Bulldog of the Year Award, will be announced Thursday.

Big Rapids, Mich. - Longtime Ferris State University Athletics friend and former Bulldog Faculty Athletics Representative Terry Nerbonne has been honored as the 2016-17 recipient of the "Pete Peterson Bulldog Pride Award" for his invaluable contributions to FSU Athletics.

Nerbonne, who served as the Bulldogs' Faculty representative from 2002 to 2014, played an important part in the success of the department throughout his tenure, serving thousands of student-athletes, coaches and staff over his many years of service. He retired from a full-time faculty teaching load at the end of the 2014 fall semester, but served the university as a criminal justice professor for more than 40 years.

He becomes the 29th recipient of the Pete Peterson Bulldog Pride Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated loyalty and unselfish support of Bulldog Athletics.

"Terry Nerbonne has been an extremely important friend and supporter of the Bulldogs in addition to a valuable member of our staff during his tenure as our Faculty Athletics Representative," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "There have been some outstanding individuals who have received the Pete Peterson Bulldog Pride Award in the past and it's a pleasure to add his name to this list. He's very deserving of receiving this recognition for his efforts over many years."

In the Faculty Athletics Representative role, Nerbonne helped promote academic integrity while also promoting institutional control of intercollegiate athletics. FSU's FAR also helps facilitate the integration of the athletics and academic components of the collegiate community while enhancing the student-athlete experience.

One of the original founding faculty members of Ferris State's highly-successful Criminal Justice program, Nerbonne provided thousands of hours of training to future officers as well as supervisors and top managers of law enforcement and correctional agencies. He also served as a consultant to various law enforcement units along with corporate clients during his career.

Nerbonne, who earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a master's degree and Ph.D. in Highway Traffic Safety Administration from Michigan State University, worked as an officer with the Lansing Police Department before leaving to start the Criminal Justice program at Northern Michigan University. When he came to Ferris, there were about 20 students enrolled in the newly-developed major. Today, there are nearly 1,200 students, making Criminal Justice one of Ferris' largest academic programs. 

The Lansing native, who has served as the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards coordinator, is a tried-and-true Bulldog and was honored by his peers as the Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 1993. He and his wife Andrea, who formerly served as the director of the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety, were honored as Ferris State's Homecoming Grand Marshals for their service to the university and community in 2012.

The Pete Peterson Bulldog Pride Award is named in honor of former Ferris State Athletics Director and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Commissioner Pete Peterson (1964-79). 

The award, which was founded in the 1981-82 season, was reinstated following the 2002-03 athletics season after a seven-year absence.  Coaches and athletics department staff nominate individuals to be considered which are selected from alumni, community members, university faculty or staff, and fans. A committee from the administration staff of intercollegiate athletics determined the award recipient.

"We're honored to be able to present these year-end awards and extremely pleased as an athletic department to be able to honor our outstanding student-athletes and people with awards named after individuals who have played such a big part  in the history and tradition of Bulldog Athletics," said Weisenburger.

Pete Peterson Bulldog Pride Award Recipients:
2016-17 - Terry Nerbonne (Faculty Athletics Representative, Supporter, Friend)
2015-16 - Ben Mumah (Athletics Equipment Manager, Coach, Supporter, Friend)
2014-15 - Bob Buckingham (Community & Financial Supporter, Rebounders Club member, Fan)
2013-14 - Linda Burnes (Community & Financial Supporter, Longtime "SuperFan")
2012-13 - Kevin Courtney (Blueline Club President, Community Supporter)
2011-12 - Matt Pinter (PGM Program Coordinator)
2010-11 - Sandy Gholston (Journalist, Bulldog Athletics Blog writer)
2009-10 - Tom Kirinovic (Athletics Director, Associate AD, Assistant AD, Ice Arena Manager, Athletics Business Manager)
2008-09 - Bob Horan III (Local Businessman, Financial Supporter, Fan, Gridron Club, Rebounders Club & Blueline Club Member)
2007-08 - Stanley Gustafson (Statistician, Hockey Season Ticket Holder, Fan)
2006-07 – Mike Wissink (Team Chaplain, Team Building Coordinator)
2005-06 – Paul Quick (Ticket Manager, Business Operations)
2004-05 – Sueann Walz (Local Businesswoman, Financial Supporter, Fan, Blueline Club Member)
2003-04 – Paul Davis (Ticket Manager)
2002-03 – Dick Hawkins (Dean, Blueline Club Member)
1995-96 – Rich Currie (Local Businessman, Bulldog Club Member, Bulldog Football's "Number One Fan")
1994-95 – Lyn Hanson (Bus Driver, Fan)
1993-94 – Judd Folske (Baseball Head Coach, Assistant to Athletics Director)
1992-93 – Dean Davenport (Athletics Director, Administrator, Coach)
1991-92 – Rachel Snyder (Associate Professor, National Anthem Singer, Athletic Advisory Committee Member & Chair)
1990-91 – Bill Scheible (Alumni Director, Bulldog Club Member, Athletics Business Manager, Assistant to Athletics Director, Ewigleben Ice Arena Manager)
1989-90 – Tom Cook (CCHA Institutional Representative, Dean of Gerholdz Institute for Lifelong Learning, Administrative Consultant)
1988-89 – Carma Burcham (Assistant Registrar For Athletic Eligibility, Bulldog Club, Blue Line Club, Fastbreak Club)
1987-88 – John Allshouse (Athletics Associates Board Member and President, Fund raising event organizer)
1986-87 – Bob Leach (Alumni Affairs Director, Assistant Vice President For Alumni and Development, Head Football Coach, Development Officer)
1985-86 – Tom Walsh (Dean, Official Timekeeper, Athletic Associates Member)
1984-85 – Bill Buckingham (Public Address Announcer, Associate Vice President For Student Services)
1982-83 – Tim Pendell (Sports Information Director)
1981-82 – Dr. Frederick Birkham (Health Center Director)