Holley Mapel, vice president-elect of the Student Government Association, moderated the program, which was sponsored by the Wright State Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have had quite a few interactions with Dr. and Mrs. Hopkins and they are just down-to-Earth genuine individuals who really care about this campus, care about the community, and most importantly they really care about the student success,\u201d Mapel said.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>A group of Wright State students organized a farewell reception for former President David R. Hopkins and his wife, Angelia. (Video by Kris Sproles\/Photos by Will Jones)<\/p><\/div>\n
The students thanked Hopkins for his role in the $163 million Rise. Shine. fundraising campaign<\/a>, the opening of the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures, the university\u2019s seven Centers of Excellence and the construction of the Student Success Center and the Neuroscience Engineering Collaboration Building. They also thanked him for the modernization and expansion of the Creative Arts Center as well as the development of the Rinzler Student Sports Complex, the Enrollment Services\/Raider Connect space, the Veteran and Military Center and the new student housing at Lake Campus.<\/p>\n The students also paid tribute to Angelia Hopkins for serving as a national and international ambassador for Wright State and praised her for her fundraising efforts, her role in the university\u2019s annual ArtsGala and Friends of the Libraries, and for her tireless efforts as a community volunteer.<\/p>\n Several students came to the lectern to tell stories about their experiences with former President Hopkins, paying tribute to his uncanny ability to remember the names and details about the lives of individual students and his unwavering support of Wright State\u2019s Model United Nations team. One student related how Hopkins agreed to be hit in the face with a pie in order to help raise money for a small scholarship fund.<\/p>\n Lukas Wenrick, president of the Student Government, read a proclamation that praised Hopkins for his dedicated service, including his role in getting Wright State recognized nationally for its service to military veterans and students with disabilities and for its community service.<\/p>\n Mapel presented Hopkins with a gift box of Butterfingers, saying she heard he had a special fondness for the candy bars.<\/p>\n Hopkins thanked the students and told them he has memories of nearly every one of them in the room.<\/p>\n David R. Hopkins with Lukas Wenrick, president of the Student Government, which approved a resolution praising Hopkins for his dedicated service.<\/p><\/div>\n Hopkins, who adopted the practice of personally shaking the hand of each graduating student at commencement, has presided over the graduation of more than 30,000 students.<\/p>\n \u201cWright State has always been special to Angelia and I in so many ways, but only because of you,\u201d he told the students. \u201c\u2026The bottom line is if we don\u2019t help you get to the finish line of a college education, then we have failed.\u201d<\/p>\n Hopkins said he tried to create an environment during his presidency in which students could be their very best.<\/p>\n \u201cAngelia and I have so many wonderful memories, but they\u2019re all of you because that\u2019s our heart. Our heart has always been for students,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s why Wright State is so special.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt means a lot to us that you would say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After 10 years leading the university, David R. Hopkins stepped down as president of Wright State in mid-March. Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/files\/2017\/04\/hopkins-send-off-18831-_-470-508x339.jpg\")
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