GVSU in photos, April 2024: Celebrating Lakers for a Lifetime
BY Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Photos by Amanda Pitts, Kendra Stanley-Mills, Ashley Cefali, Emily Zoladz, Eliana McGlinchey and Macayla Cramer
May 1, 2024
Family members of Laenie Backus hold up cutout photos showing Laenie on
the first day of preschool.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Jackie Chulski, 4, plays with the tassle of her aunt, Hannah Krebs, who
walked in Commencement April 27.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Soon-to-be graduate Jersey Legg cuddles her cat, Hibiscus, on the Blue Bridge, while taking pictures with her family before Winter Commencement on April 26.
Image credit - Emily Zoladz
Soon-to-be graduate Ryan Berry holds his son, Murphy, 2, outside Van Andel Arena before Winter Commencement on April 26.
Image credit - Emily Zoladz
Joni Hoezee, left, hugs Janna Pacey, director of the health information
management program, before the Commencement ceremony on April 27. Hoezee
was there to watch her daughter graduate.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
President Philomena V. Mantella recognized this year's guest speaker
and honorary degree recipient, Timothy Shriver, chair of Special
Olympics International and co-founder of UNITE. Shriver was awarded his
honorary degree at the April 26 ceremony, and at that ceremony and the
April 27 ceremony shared a message to inspire taking a chance on others
and leading with dignity.
Jackson Tisdale, left, and Maeghan Devine kiss while waiting for the
Commencement ceremony to start.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Jenny Hall-Jones, vice president for Student Affairs, introduced each
ceremony's student speaker, from left, Elizabeth Schanz, Jowei Yek and
Logyn Miller.
Over 3,100 members of Grand Valley's Winter Class of 2024 took part
in Commencement ceremonies at Van Andel Arena on April 26 and 27.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Anna Lindeboom hugs President Philomena V. Mantella as she crosses the stage to receive her diploma.
Image credit - Ashley Cefali
And a few of our other favorite images from the month
Dylan Drake, a senior environmental and sustainability studies major, soaks up the sunshine while sitting under a tree in the Arboretum April 15 while between classes.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Students Gerrit Mitchell and Kristen Gretka hold hands while viewing the solar eclipse April 8.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Adrian Pitawanakwat-Warner, 4, center, tries to make his sister laugh
while she was getting her hair done by their mother during Grand
Valley's 23rd annual "Celebrating All Walks of Life" Pow Wow
April 13.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
About 150 projects were presented to a crowd of over 400 people at the Reach Higher Showcase on April 12.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Attendees of the Confluence Thought Series, joined GVSU faculty and staff for a networking lunch and tour of the X>STUDIO and futurEDlab. They explored cutting edge tools used to create real-time digital twins utilizing volumetric video, 3D visualizations, extended reality (XR) experiences, and visions of an augmented reality (AR) infused campus of the future.
Image credit - Amanda Pitts
Grand Valley's Toast to the graduating class took place April 17 at the
Eberhard Center.