F4CE Farewell: Thank You For An Unforgettable Year Of Fun, Laughs, And Good Times!

Grand Rapids, Mich (WOTV) -  

“And your new F4CE is... Morgan Lind”! Those were words I honestly wasn’t expecting to hear and words that have forever changed my life.

It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by but the time has come to move forward to new opportunities and leave behind the most incredible experience of my life. It has been an absolute honor to serve as your Face Of WOTV 4 and I will forever cherish the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, and the things I’ve learned through this opportunity.

As I reflect on the past year, I think about the laughter, the tears, and the many moments when I felt overwhelmed by what I was witnessing. A few events that come to mind are those when I was involved with non-profit organizations and community events. The MDA Black-N-Blue Ball was so much fun and a real eye-opener. It was very moving to see so many people come together for such a great cause and hear the stories of hope and courage to fight against such a disease. This also goes for the CFF Golf event raising awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis research. I had the honor of serving as emcee and guest golfer for the event and had a blast showing off my golf skills (or lack there of) and learning about CFF and the stories of perseverance. Because of these experiences, I am forever changed.

One of my goals as the F4CE was to participate in community activities with children. I had the opportunity to read to several classrooms at Caesar Chavez Elementary as well as Caledonia and Battle Creek Public Schools for march is reading month and speak about the issue of Bullying. I remember one little girl coming up to me and simply saying “I want to be like you when I grow up” which made all the work completely worth it. It’s moments like that I will remember always.

I had a lot of fun this year participating with some big events that take West Michigan by storm. I loved being involved with the ‘Soups On For All’ event serving up soup to hungry guest for a good cause. I still have to clay bowls local children made as a gifts for guests. I also served as emcee for LaughFest which was of course hilarious and very enjoyable meeting several comedians and enjoying the shows. I look forward to this year’s festival! Let’s not forget Maranda Park Parties, ArtPrize and the record breaking Grand Rapids LipDub! All great experiences I was honored to be a part of!

Continuing down the list of enjoyable experiences, I come to the Tulip Time Battle Of The Band competition! I loved serving as a judge for the four-week competition and listening to some amazing local bands. I also enjoyed the antics with my fellow Battle Of The Bands Judge, Gonzo, who I’ve had the pleasure working with at several events this year. What a jokester!

Of course I can’t forget the times spent with my wonderful F4CE sponsors Biggby Coffee, Subway Restaurants, and Lee & Birch! From trying delicious Biggby treats to serving up fresh Subway Sandwiches and always showing up in style in chic Lee & Birch fashions, I have enjoyed every minute and thank you for your partnership with the F4CE!

I even had the opportunity to give back to the community is a much different way by serving as host of the Muskegon Opportunity Know How To Go Roadshow. Myself along with several “Experts” from Michigan Colleges and Universities presented to every Muskegon County school about post-secondary education and the options students have after high school. With this program, schools have seen a rise in graduation rates and students enrolling in colleges around the state. It certainly makes a person feel good knowing they had a part in delivering the message of continuing one’s education.

I could go on for days about everything I’ve been able to do this year but I simply can’t. Thank you to every one of you for the continued support, the experiences, and the encouragement as I served as your 2011 F4CE. Thank you to the WOTV 4 and WOODTV 8 for welcoming me as part of your family and I will greatly miss all of you! I have learned so much from all of you and I am a stronger person and professional because of you.

So what’s next for me? Well I’m not quite sure yet. I’m pursuing new job opportunities as well as starting my Masters Degree in Communication from Grand Valley State soon. I have dreams of owning my own business and becoming a wedding and event planner but I will go wherever the path of life will take me and I’m excited to see where my next step leads. Cheers to you all and remember to dream big!