Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

IRONWOOD -- Finlandia University and Gogebic Community College have formed an articulation agreement to encourage students completing selected associate degree programs at Gogebic to continue their education toward a Bachelor’s degree at Finlandia University.

Thursday, administrators from Finlandia University met with their Gogebic Community College counterparts at the GCC campus in Ironwood.

Finlandia President Dr. Philip Johnson met with Gogebic President Jim Lorenson for the purpose of signing a formal articulation agreement between the two institutions.  An informal agreement has been in effect between the two schools for a long time.  The arrangement goes back to the Suomi College era.

Both Dr. Johnson and Lorenson spoke briefly to the group gathered in the Solin Center.

"What we're doing today is nothing new.  Suomi College and Gogebic, Finlandia and Gogebic have had a long time, long standing partnership working together collaboratively to improve the future of our students, and we will continue to do that," said Jim Loreson, Gogebic President.  "In a sense, what we are doing today is memorializing a practice that has been in place for years, and we look forward to even more opportunities in the future to work towards improving people’s lives.  To our Finlandia peers, welcome.  We're pleased to be able to work with you and completing that process."

“Let me just say on behalf of my colleagues that have joined me here today, it's a wonderful opportunity to be here at Gogebic Community College.  It's wonderful to receive the warmth of the welcome, it's wonderful to be part of this collaboration.  It's a win, win, win.  It's a win for Gogebic and it's a win for Finlandia and it's a win for the students we all serve.  It's great to be here,” said Dr. Philip Johnson, Finlandia University, President.

After their opening remarks, the administrators then signed the papers formalizing what has been a long standing tradition between these great institutions.

At the meeting representing Gogebic C.C. was Paul Castagna, Lead Instructor in the Arts; Jeanne Graham, Director of Admissions & Public Information; Steve Wesselhoft, Dean of Student Services; Therese Pawlak, Transfer Coordinator; Erik Guenard, Dean of Business Services and CFO; Walt Lessun, Director of Library and Resource Center; Kari Luoma, Allied Health Director; Marla Kangas, Secretary; and Dean of Instruction, Kenneth Trzaska.  Also present was Charles H. Gervasio, WUPM radio.

Representing Finlandia U. was Duane Aho, university's Executive Vice President for External Relations and Chief Advancement Officer; Lynne Gaunt, Coordinator of Admissions;  Dr. Sylvia Fleisman, Chairperson, Board of Trustees; and a Wakefield resident, Philip L. Wirtanen (Former President of Finnish Council in America and a current member of the Council, Phillip is a Bergland resident and a G.C.C. alum); Dr. Cameron Williams, PTA Program Director and Professor, Co-Dean of Health Sciences.

----------------------------------

Guest article written by Lou Bonagura of IronwoodInfo.com 

For more pictures and video to go along with this story, and for more news around the clock from the western U.P., visit IronwoodInfo.com.