MANSFIELD, PA—The Mansfield University Council of Trustees honored President Fran Hendricks at their regular bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 19. This
was Hendricks last meeting before retiring from MU on August 18.
Bobbi Kilmer, chairperson of the Council of Trustees, introduced a proclamation praising Hendricks and his wife, Connie, for their efforts on behalf of the university and the greater Mansfield community during his more than four years as president.
In conclusion, the proclamation reads, “Therefore, be it resolved on this 19th day of July 2017, that the Council of Trustees hereby expresses on behalf of the entire Mansfield campus community its sincere appreciation to President Francis L. Hendricks and Connie Hendricks for their exemplary service and extraordinary contributions to Mansfield University. We wish them well in all their future endeavors.”
Kilmer also surprised Hendricks by presenting him with the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Excellence, which he developed to award selectively to persons who have distinguished themselves and the University through their accomplishments, using the Mansfield Creed; Character
, Scholarship, Culture and Service as a guideline.
“There is no one more deserving of this,” she said. “You have exemplified excellence.”
“I am deeply honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve here and I couldn’t have done it without Connie,” Hendricks said. “Her influence across this campus with our students was tremendous. We always wanted our students to feel like this was home.”
“As I return to being an alum full time, I’m excited about the opportunity Connie and I will have from a distance, to be just as involved and supportive as all those who sit around this table, I thank all of you,” he added. “I’m very excited about the future for Mansfield and what it means for the students of today and tomorrow.”
Hendricks, a 1979 Mansfield graduate, has been president at the institution since May 28, 2013. Prior to returning to MU, he spent 33 years serving in the U.S. Air Force, holding a number of command positions and retiring as a brigadier general.