Despite a chilly, overcast evening that felt far more like early spring than mid-May, the Richard M. DeVos Center was filled with energy as families, teachers, and PK-12 students from schools across Kent and Ottawa counties gathered for a vibrant celebration of student learning, stewardship, and community impact.

Since 2009, local teachers have been corralling their students, packing up displays from their classrooms, and meeting together each spring to share stewardship projects conducted in the community. Over the last 17 years, this event has evolved and looked a little bit different year to year, but some things have stayed the same. There is a PBS character taking pictures with families, students share their projects and moments of learning with the community, and the evening is emceed by the incredible Shelley Irwin from WGVU Public Media. This is the Groundswell Student Project Showcase, an annual celebration of local place-based stewardship education hosted by the Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP) as a part of the Groundswell Stewardship Initiative. Staff work hard in the months leading up to this event to support PK-12 students in engaging with the outdoors through inquiry, exploration, and hands-on action projects. 

The evening of May 13 saw all of these efforts coming to fruition in the 2026 Groundswell Student Project Showcase. Some educators have been working with this program since its inception, building on their knowledge and expertise in outdoor learning with a new group of students each year. Other teachers are brand new to the program, like Emma Witkovzky, who was featured in the GVNext article highlighting the event.

By late afternoon, teachers and students were already checking in with projects in tow, eager to begin setting up before the doors officially opened. Volunteers greeted attendees with warmth and enthusiasm in the DeVos Plaza, while in the south area of the building, WGVU interview stations buzzed with activity as our PK-12 presenters answered questions about their research and stewardship work on camera. Students shared insights about the projects they had spent months developing during the school year, interviewed by WGVU media hosts Shelley Irwin and Jennifer Moss. Throughout the hallways, excitement steadily built as families, educators, and community members poured in to experience the showcase firsthand.

A special reception was held in the University Club, where Dean Soman and the CEP team welcomed legislators, community leaders, donors, and sponsors.  These special guests included Michigan State Senator Mark E. Huizenga, Grand Rapids City Commissioners Linda Knight and Melinda Ysasi, and Kent County Commissioner Kris Pachla. Staff from the offices of U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, State Senator Winnie Brinks, and Representative Carol Glanville also attended to learn more about Groundswell. Long-time funders for Groundswell also attended, including leaders from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust, The Wege Foundation, and the Baldwin Foundation, to learn more from teachers and partners such as the John Ball Zoo, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes Energy, and the Michigan Center for Civic Education. The reception offered these attendees a deeper look into the work Groundswell carries out during the academic year, highlighting both the scale of the program’s impact and the meaningful relationships that make this work possible. 

By 5:00 p.m., the student exhibits filled the halls, and attendees gathered in the Loosemore Auditorium to officially begin the evening’s program. Guests were welcomed and the many educators, partners, volunteers, and organizations were recognized for their dedication to making place-based stewardship education possible in our community.

The evening also featured remarks from Provost Jennifer Drake, who spoke about the importance of empowering young people to become active stewards within their schools and communities. Several outstanding teachers were also recognized with awards for their outstanding outdoor teaching and leadership throughout the school year; to read about each teacher and their accolades, visit the CEP Blog on the subject. 

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when two special guests, Louie the Laker and The Lorax, made their appearance to enthusiastic applause. Their presence added an extra layer of joy, and after the presentation, they visited students around the event to take photos and meet with special guests and attendees. 

Our 2026 Showcase saw an extraordinary range of projects that reflected both scientific inquiry and personal passion from the students. Visitors explored displays featuring live butterflies, native plant plugs, seed classification activities, live insects and macroinvertebrates, watershed models, posters, demonstrations, and detailed dioramas. Students eagerly shared their work with visitors and one another in an atmosphere of infectious enthusiasm and positivity. 

Community partners added even more opportunities for hands-on learning and engagement. Attendees connected with community organizations and GVSU departments, including Admissions, the Sustainable Agriculture Project, and the GVSU Regional Math and Science Center. Each offered interactive activities exploring their respective areas of engagement, sustainability, and stewardship. Outside, families enjoyed lawn games courtesy of the Grand Valley Career Center, while those in the plaza gathered over slices of Jet’s Pizza and conversation between exhibits.

The evening concluded with a raffle celebration for participating students, featuring GVSU merchandise, tree saplings, and other prizes that sent students home smiling. After exhibits were packed up, teachers, volunteers, and Groundswell staff shared a well-earned meal together. The 2026 Groundswell Student Project Showcase was a powerful reminder of how stewardship doesn’t wait, that passion is infectious, and that community support is what really creates ripples of change. From the youngest littles presenting their preschool projects to the graduating high school seniors, students demonstrated knowledge and creativity, and also a genuine commitment to making a difference. The evening was inspiring; a true celebration of stewardship in action.

As featured in the June 15th College of Education and Community Innovation unit spotlight newsletter.