At Grand Valley State University, being a Laker means more than representing your team in competition. It means showing up for others, building meaningful connections, and making a difference in the community. Recently, members of the GVSU Men's Wrestling, Women's Golf, and Women's Lacrosse teams put those values into action by coming together to revitalize the playground at the Children's Enrichment Center.

Armed with paintbrushes, creativity, and a willingness to give back, student-athletes spent time cleaning playground equipment, painting colorful sidewalk designs, and transforming the outdoor space into a brighter, more welcoming environment for children to enjoy.

From encouraging hopscotch squares and colorful flowers to playful creatures and race tracks, the additions brought new energy to the playground. But beyond the fresh paint and clean equipment, the project represented something much bigger: the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families in the community.

For Men's Wrestling student-athlete Braylenn Aulbach, the experience was a reminder that even small acts of service can make a meaningful difference.

"Being able to transform the area these kids play in was not only fun, but felt impactful. It is important that these kids have a clean and colorful play area that they can go to and enjoy. When the kids can enjoy the play area it can give the parents peace of mind that they can work and know their kid is happy, while also in a clean environment."

While the project focused on creating a positive environment for children, it also provided student-athletes with an opportunity to strengthen relationships with one another outside of practices and competition.

Braden Broderick reflected on the value of giving back alongside his teammates.

"Helping clean up the playground was a great opportunity to help others out, while also being able to grow closer together as a team."

That sense of connection was echoed by Tyler Parmeter, who emphasized the importance of coming together for a shared purpose.

"Coming together not only as a team but as a family to benefit our community, felt really impactful. It’s important for the kids to have fun, but also have a clean welcoming space to do so."

Community engagement provides student-athletes with opportunities to develop leadership, empathy, and a greater understanding of the impact they can have beyond their sport. By stepping outside their everyday routines and working toward a common goal, they are reminded that teamwork and leadership extend far beyond the playing field.

For Brice La Fleur, the experience combined team bonding with the excitement of creating something children could enjoy.

"I feel like helping clean up and decorate the childcare center allowed me to connect more with my teammates and give the kids fun things to interact and play with involving the paintings that we did."

The project also highlighted the power of gratitude and the importance of recognizing opportunities to serve others.

Blake Sloan shared how meaningful it was to contribute to a space that children use every day.

"Being able to come together as a team and do this event for the kids was a huge thing for us and we were grateful we had the opportunity to give the kids a clean place for them to play and decorate it for the kids!"

For student-athletes, community engagement is not simply about completing a service project. It is about recognizing the support they receive from the community and finding ways to return that same care and encouragement.

Charlotte Goersch reflected on the importance of that responsibility.

"Being able to clean up and decorate the playground was a fun way of making a positive impact for the children. It is important to take the time and give back to the community that supports us."

More Than Athletes, More Than a Game

Through the Office of Student-Athlete Development, GVSU Athletics continues to encourage student-athletes to embrace opportunities for personal growth, leadership, and community engagement.

Projects like the Children's Enrichment Center playground revitalization demonstrate how student-athletes can use their time, energy, and teamwork to create meaningful change. While the children will get to enjoy a cleaner, more colorful place to play, the student-athletes walk away with something equally valuable: stronger relationships, shared memories, and the knowledge that their efforts made a difference.

The impact of this project will continue long after the paint has dried. Every hopscotch game, every race along the sidewalk, and every smile on the playground will serve as a reminder of what can happen when people come together to give back.

Because at Grand Valley State, being a Laker isn't just about what you accomplish in your sport. It's about the impact you leave on the people and communities around you.

Once a Laker, always a Laker. Always making an impact. 💙⚓

If you would like to request GVSU Student-Athletes for a community engagement opportunity, please email [email protected] or [email protected] with the following information:

1. Organization Name
2. Contact Name, Email, and Phone Number
3. Date, Time, and Location of Event
4. Description of Event
5. Number of Student-Athletes/Team(s) Requesting
6. Activities/ Requirements of Student-Athletes
7. Other information we may need to know