Good morning, and thank you all for being here. This is an exciting time for our Center for International Programs. Over the years, this program has helped more than 20,000 students study abroad in more than 60 countries. The program has also helped more than 17,500 students from 95 foreign countries study at Ball State.

I am happy to report that the program is growing, too, and allowing even more students to take full advantage of the opportunities available at this dynamic, innovative university. The number of international students has consistently grown over the last two years, and this year's overall enrollment is up three percent over last year. And the number of new international students attending Ball State this fall has also increased—this year's class is up nearly 30 percent over last year's class.

I believe that part of this growth can be attributed to Marshall "Doc" Rinker Senior. The philanthropist and founder of Rinker Materials Corporation was born in Cowan, Indiana, in 1904 and attended Ball State 20 years later. And although his time at Ball State was brief, the experience left a strong impression on his life.

While he built a successful global corporation in Florida and contributed to many community organizations in the Sunshine State, he managed to maintain ties to his Hoosier roots. After selling his corporation to an Australian conglomerate, he established the M.E. Rinker Senior Foundation.

In 1994 through his foundation, Marshall pledged $500,000 to the university to establish the International Scholars program. Even after his death in 1996, the family and the foundation continued their support of Ball State, and through the years, they have pledged more than $1 million.

Their generosity has allowed 410 students to take advantage of opportunities to study in a foreign culture. And through the Ruby S. Rinker Endowment, many students who had been admitted to Ball State with distinction were awarded computers. Upon discontinuation of that program, the earnings from this fund were incorporated in supporting National Merit Finalists Scholarships.

Attracting these top students to Ball State and offering the kind of life-changing, immersive experiences delivered through study abroad courses that the Rinkers support is one way Ball State is redefining education. We are committed to offering each of our students a capstone immersive learning course. These courses represent our intense commitment to giving high-caliber students opportunities to collaborate with expert, energized faculty who are outstanding in their fields. It supports the way we are making relevant, immersive learning experiences the hallmark of a Ball State education.

We believe immersive learning is essential in shaping our students for leadership in the 21st century and to orienting education toward the needs of a knowledge-based economy.

Through the unselfish generosity of benefactors, like the Marshall family, we will continue to develop and offer innovative courses that will set Ball State apart from our competition and continue to attract high-caliber, high-achieving students to our university.

These are the kind of students Marshall would have enjoyed seeing attend Ball State—students who, even when accepting praise for their accomplishments, continue to look for ways to improve themselves.  I realized this when I read that during the pursuit of one of his passions, golf, Marshall scored an impressive 41 on the front nine. Yet he waved off the praises from others, saying, "It should have been a 38."

The Rinkers' continued support demonstrates their understanding of the importance of constantly improving and expanding students' worlds through intense international experiences.

At this time, I would like to recognize Ruby Rinker and David Rinker, who are here with us today.

Thank you for being here.

From this day forth, the Marshall E. Rinker Senior Center for International Programs will ensure that the Rinker legacy will allow our students to see the world, expand their minds, and dedicate themselves to incorporating the world's best ideas and practices into their careers and their daily lives. Now I would like to introduce Lisa Gerstner, a senior majoring in history and a Rinker scholarship recipient who participated in the Rome/London Honors Colloquium during the summer of 2005, to say a few words.

Thank you, Lisa. I'd like to invite Ruby Rinker and David Rinker to join me at the podium.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank Marshall, his wife, Ruby, and their son, David, for this generous contribution and for their many contributions to Ball State. It is my honor to dedicate this center, which will bear the family's name from this day forward.

I took distinct pleasure during a recent trustees meeting when we adopted the resolution honoring "Doc" Rinker. The resolution recognizes his entrepreneurial spirit, which launched a global enterprise, as well as his community leadership, which has supported many worthwhile causes. The resolution also honors his advocacy for international travel and learning in an international setting.

For those honorable traits and many more, I would like to present the Rinker family with a framed copy of this resolution.