May 19, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 17)
Graduates of the Battle Creek Pipeline Scholars are pictured during a celebration in the Kirkhof Center.
Students who participate in the Battle Creek and Thompson scholar programs celebrated graduating seniors and the Cook Leadership Academy recognized its newest cohort of fellows during late April events.
Battle Creek
Parents, supporters, campus and community partners of the
Battle Creek Scholars Program gathered at the Kirkhof Center to
celebrate 12 graduates, the largest graduating class in the program’s history.
The program was established through a partnership among the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek Public Schools and Grand Valley. Today, this partnership is funded by two of the largest grants on campus. What began in 2020 with just six students has grown to support 72 scholars, including 52 students during this academic year.
Lalro Mawii and Noah Prysock delivered student keynote speeches. Mawii spoke about her journey as a first-generation student and refugee immigrant. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and has accepted a position in oncology nursing at Trinity Health. Prysock graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and hospitality tourism management.
“The Battle Creek Scholars Program has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey,” Prysock said. “It wasn’t just financial support. It was a community and belonging. Being a scholar meant representing my hometown with pride, carrying the stories of the people who raised me, and proving that students from Battle Creek are capable of incredible things."
Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury, associate dean for the College of Education and Community Innovation, gave remarks and highlighted the transformative power of community partnerships and investment.
Before and after the ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to
explore Photovoice Projects created by first-year students and
graduating seniors, capturing their journeys through a powerful
collection of stories, images and personal reflections.
— Written by Estefany Paniagua-Pardo, assistant director of
WWKF/Battle Creek Public Schools/GVSU Partnership Grant
Thompson Scholars
Thompson Scholars, their guests and the Thompson Foundation staff
gathered in the Kirkhof Center April 14 to celebrate graduating students.
Taurean Allen gave remarks, saying the program created a community where students can thrive.
“From things like leadership workshops to the community service that we do and even checking in with success coaches, being a Thompson Scholar really gave me a place to belong and room to grow while I was at Grand Valley," Allen said. "It taught me that success is never built alone.”
Bob and Ellen Thompson have created the largest scholarship program at Grand Valley; nearly one in 15 undergraduate students is a recipient of a Thompson scholarship.
The celebration concluded with President Philomena V. Mantella handing each graduating student a Thompson Scholar honor cord.
"What makes this program so powerful is that it's not just
incredibly generous, but it is also very intentional," Mantella
said. "To move forward together, we must share the investment in
one another."
— Written by Cass Wainwright, student writer for University
Communications, who graduated in early May with a bachelor's degree
in writing.
Cook Leadership Academy recognizes newest cohort of fellows
The Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy honored its 2025-2026 cohort
of fellows during its graduation celebration on April 30 at the DeVos
Center on the Pew City Campus.
Program Manager Christine Mutch said the group’s 59 fellows represented a broad swath of undergraduate and graduate students across Grand Valley’s 30 majors.
Mutch said the foundation of the program is a series of workshops designed to guide students through the ethical and interpersonal dimensions of leadership. Topics include emotional intelligence, listening skills, conflict resolution and collaboration.
“These are basically leadership development workshops where we do skill building and figuring out their core values, and how do they make ethical decision-making based on those,” Mutch said. “This isn't just about the fellows, but it's for the greater good of those around them.”
Mary Dailey Brown, president and CEO of SowHope and a CLA graduate,
delivered the keynote address.
— Written by Brian Vernellis
This article was last edited on May 19, 2026 at 9:20 a.m.
Participants spent 10 weeks in an accelerator program offered by the DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, in partnership with GVSU's Northern Michigan Region.
Featured
July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)
Article by
Shannon Owen
The vice president for Enrollment Development and College Futures discusses the successful launch of "The Pathways Project Podcast."
July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)
Messages during the keynote presentations and breakout sessions focused on authentic communication and practical ways to tell the GVSU story.
July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)
Article by
Michele Coffill
