Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation

Ford Airport Officials & Ford Foundation Officials Celebrate the President Gerald R. Ford Tribute Room Ribbon-Cutting

Two organizations bearing President Gerald R. Ford’s name came together to celebrate a ribbon-cutting and dedication for a tribute room at the airport in the late president’s honor.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
officials joined President Gerald R. Ford’s son, Steve Ford, Joan Secchia representing the
Secchia Family Foundation, and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Airport Tribute
Room Chairman Fred Keller, for the official opening of the President Gerald R. Ford Tribute
Room.

“Dad would be extremely proud to know that the foundation and the airport that bear his
name came together to honor him with this tribute room,” said Steve Ford. “He loved growing up in Grand Rapids, and it is humbling to know that he will always have a place to
be remembered. This tribute room at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a terrific
place for generations that knew my father to spend time reflecting on the past, but also for
future generations to learn about what he meant to our country and to West Michigan.”

The airport worked with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation to incorporate an
exhibit space dedicated to the 38th President, which is located pre-security as a part of the
newly renovated Gateway Transformation Project. The exhibit includes photos, an aircraft
carrier model, displays, and rotating historical pieces.

“Jerry would not have wanted this much attention on him, but I know he would be proud of this tribute room, and honored that so many came to celebrate his legacy,” said Secchia. “It was important for those of us that knew him well to give him full recognition in a space that bears his name. We appreciate this partnership with the airport authority, and we look
forward to opening this space for all visitors to enjoy.”

“When I approached Peter about having this room at the airport, it was a natural fit and he
and many others that knew President Ford personally jumped on board to make this
tribute room a reality,” said GFIA Board Chairman Roger Morgan. “Our Airport Board
appreciates those that helped raise the funds for this space, and we are anxious to show
this off to the millions of visitors that pass through our airport each year.”

The Tribute Room is open 24 hours a day to visitors and airport patrons.

The Meijer Great Choices Student Film Festival kicks off its ninth year of encouraging young film makers from around the state to create short PSAs that inspire K-12 students to make positive life choices!

The Meijer Great Choices Film Festival offers two levels of competition:

HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION

Public Service Announcements submitted by high school students are part of a state-wide education initiative promoting positive lifestyle choices. Students in grades 9 through 12 are asked to create a PSA that is no more than 30 seconds in length and address one of three topics: 1.) Building Character 2.) Healthy Living or 3.) Celebrating Diversity. Each student must also specify a target audience for their PSA(s) as either K-6^th or 7^th-12^th grade.

Entries (:30 PSAs) submitted on DVDs will be accepted now through Feb. 10. The cost is $10 per entry or $5 per entry if submitted by the Jan. 19 Early Discount Deadline. Judging will take place March thru April and winners will be announced in late April. An awards event will be hosted for the 60 high school finalists, their families and friends on June 3, at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, when more than $21,000 in prizes will be granted in the form of gift cards to Meijer or Apple. Six students will receive top prizes of $1,500, six second place winners will receive $1,000, six third place filmmakers will receive $500 and 42 semi-finalists will each receive $75.

JUNIOR CLASSROOM COMPETITION

Michigan K-8 teachers can win up to $500 for their classrooms by entering their class in the 2016 Meijer Great Choices Junior Competition. Teachers are asked to guide their students through the process of making a 0:30 Public Service Announcement(s) for K-6^th grade audiences, addressing issues of Good Character, Celebrating Diversity, or Healthy Living. PSA submissions will be accepted Feb. 1 through 24. Winning PSAs are determined by public vote and winners will be notified in April.

Students and their teachers can download registration materials and guidelines at www.meijergreatchoices.com.

The competition’s Legacy Partners, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, The Vander Laan Family Foundation, and the Van Singel Fine Arts Center will once again team up with Meijer in promoting positive choices for Michigan students.

Audio/Visual students and professors from Compass College of Cinematic Arts, Cornerstone University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, and Western Michigan University are the preliminary judges and will choose the finalists based on specific criteria.

In the Fall, the Film Festival makes 5,000 DVD copies of the winning PSAs for distribution to all schools in the State of Michigan (public, private and charter), to A/V teachers, students, and media. The schools are able to use as the DVDs as tools for their Character, Health and Diversity Education programs for the 2017-2018 school year.

For more information contact the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, at 616-878-6801 or 616-878-6135.