Current Issue Winter 2012

Features

Sports clubs turn heads

They beat teams from universities like Harvard and Ohio State and are regional and national champions. They are determined, hard-working and can usually be found in sweat-soaked gear.

They are the 1,500 students who are members of the more than 50 sports clubs at Grand Valley.

Finding your path and career passion

Amanda Tamburrino had been a pre-nursing major because she thought she wanted to work in a hospital. After taking several science-based courses, Tamburrino knew it wasn’t for her. She changed her major to business because of its varied possibilities.

She continued to fine-tune her path of study at the end of her second year, choosing health communications as a minor to “tie both my wishes together — medical and business,” she said.

Moving beyond stereotypes

Jews are cheap and always try to bargain, Muslims are violent extremists and Christians are closed-minded. Unfortunately, that’s what some people think. Grand Valley is part of a yearlong initiative geared toward helping to change misperceptions.

The derogatory stereotypes above were the topic of a lively discussion initiated by Professor Sheldon Kopperl in his Liberal Studies 100 class. The class discussions were modeled, in part, after interfaith dialogues occurring throughout West Michigan. They are part of a larger project, the 2012 Year of Interfaith Understanding, designed to cultivate peace through community interest, understanding and acceptance of all faiths.

Students engage in life-changing research on Medical Mile

The type of research being conducted on Medical Mile has the potential to change the future of medicine and health care, and Grand Valley students are right in the middle of it.

Undergraduate and graduate students are serving internships and landing jobs at research facilities like the Van Andel Institute, Spectrum Health, Syzygy Biotech and Avalon Industries, all located in a one-mile stretch near and along Michigan Street in downtown Grand Rapids, known as Medical Mile.

Q&A Jeff Chamberlain

The Grand Valley Frederik Meijer Honors College is home to about 1,200 high-achievers. Running such a tight-knit program that’s best described as a living-learning community takes work, compassion, and an unending desire to do whatever it takes to help students succeed. Jeff Chamberlain has been the director since 2007.