Key to the Dominican charisms that define Aquinas College is an emphasis on both study and service. These ideals inspire students to become leaders, as they engage in all aspects of a quality liberal arts education. As the academic year comes to a close, students in the 2012 graduating class will have the opportunity to hear words of wisdom from a successful member of the Grand Rapids community, before embarking on the next step of their own journeys. Fred Keller, Chairman and CEO of Cascade Engineering, and longtime friend of Aquinas College, will speak about his evolving relationship with Aquinas College, sustainability in the modern age, and his thoughts for new graduates in the current job market.

“Aquinas has been a fixture in the community. Ever since I’ve been around, it’s been here. My most direct involvement was advisor to the Business School. I did it for probably ten years or so. And I remember saying, ‘There is a revolution coming in education.’” Of that service to the business department, Keller explained, “There was an advisory council, that the Business School asked us to help bring some business reality to the curriculum. We would review curriculum and talk about what was most relevant in the business world.”

“Certainly it’s one of the religious schools in the area, and that in and of itself is distinctive from other schools,” Keller said. “But it’s also a - how do I describe this? - I’d think of it as a school that’s in touch with the community, and is very desirous of meeting the needs of the community. Aquinas is here to bolster the quality of life in the community. That’s clear in their mission, and that’s clear in their background, with their Catholic underpinnings. It results in being a positive contributor to the culture.”

“I did teach a three-credit course, around 2006 or so in sustainability,” he added. “Before there was too much emphasis on sustainability.” Of that passion for sustainability that defines Aquinas today, Keller said, “Aquinas was an early mover in this field. It’s one that puts them in the position of being a national leader, so that’s very distinctive for a class to be in that position. That’s very exciting. Clearly, the interest in sustainability has been there. To have the Wege family, and Peter Wege in particular, so excited and so interested in demonstrating what renewable energy can do for us, and having his emphasis there has been a real high watermark for the school: to be able to have that kind of impact on the field.”

He continued: “In general, I think what we are seeing in the world, in terms of the direction we’re going, it’s clear that there’s an emerging sustainable economy coming. The fact that Aquinas has focused on that is very helpful. The fact that there hasn’t been widespread acceptance yet of the sustainability imperative shouldn’t be discouraging to Aquinas. They should stay the course. It’s going to be helpful, not only to the school, but their students in the future.”

At this year’s graduation ceremony, Keller will stand before the graduating class of students, and their friends and family members, to deliver the honored Commencement address. When asked what words he has for students embarking on what, for many, may be first experiences in a competitive professional job market, Keller said, “My one word for that is passion. They really need to get in touch with what their passion is. I am convinced that if they do, they will be successful.”