Mr. Garret DeRuiter holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Design and an Master of Fine Arts in Art from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. While a student at SIUC, he studied under Harold Cohen, originator of SIUC's Department of Design and R. Buckminster Fuller. He was also one of the first students of Brent Kington, professor of art and former director of the School of Art and Design. Mr. DeRuiter initiated the Brent Kington Metals Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Mr. DeRuiter has served on both the SIU Alumni Association Board of Directors and the former College of Communications and Fine Arts Alumni Society. He has been a Distinguished Member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, and has served both on its Board of Directors and as its Newsletter Editor. He has also been active with the American Crafts Council. He currently is a professor of art at Eastern Illinois University, where he has also served as the coordinator of the art department's graduate program.

Mr. DeRuiter's wife, Mrs. Marilyn DeRuiter, is a two-degree alumna of SIUC, holding both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science Education in Physical Education. She is Director of the Business and Technology Institute at the Lumpkin College of Business at Eastern Illinois University. The DeRuiters have three adult daughters: Lauri, Leslie and Margaret.