Bill Strickland, author of the 2009 Common Freshman Reader, Make the Impossible Possible, was on campus to share his personal story in an evening lecture Wednesday, November 17, 2009.
Earlier in the day, Strickland visited classrooms and toured facilities in the College of Fine Arts. He was also honored by IUP’s Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
Strickland is president and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation—a jobs training center and community arts program—and its subsidiaries, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh.
In his book, Strickland uses his own life experiences and those of others to demonstrate how people can overcome their circumstances and build on their passions and strengths to achieve success and help mentor and inspire others.
Through the Common Freshman Reader program, now in its fourth year, each new student receives a copy of the chosen book and is invited to read it before the start of the school year.
Photos by Keith Boyer
