Hurwitz earns top AP award during celebration luncheon

May 13, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 17)

Dan Hurwitz accepts an award from a woman

Adam Harris is greeted by a group of people

Mackenzie Ware holds a certificate in a frame while being hugged by Jennifer Drake

Dan Hurwitz accepts the AP Achievement Award from Erica Herwig, assistant controller and AP Awards Committee chair.

Photo Credit: Emily Zoladz

Dan Hurwitz, associate vice president for University Development, received the Achievement Award during the Administrative Professional luncheon held April 28 in the Kirkhof Center.

The Achievement Award is the highest honor awarded to an AP staff member. It recognizes the outstanding contributions of a staff member to the university, professional field and surrounding community.

Hurwitz leads University Development's external and community engagement team and the operations of the Grand Valley University Foundation. Nominating letters said Hurwitz has played a pivotal role in securing millions of dollars in funding for scholarships, university programming and capital projects, including Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall and the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health.

Beyond campus, Hurwitz serves on numerous local boards, bringing an ability to build bridges and advocate for students.

Other awards presented are listed below:

Outstanding Academic Advising and Student Services Award: Mackenzie Ware, student engagement and academic resourcing specialist, Kirkhof College of Nursing
Outstanding Team Project Award: NOAA BWET Team/Great Lakes MWEE Toolkit; Through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant, this team created a one-stop shop for a collection of resources for K-12 educators. Team members were Vicky Wright, Allison Palm, Mara Spears, Clayton Pelon, Amanda Syers, Andrew Murray, Alan Helzer, Shelley Irwin, Jennifer Moss, Melissa Wright and Sheila Newton.
Commitment to Diversity: Mei Mah, associate director, Center for Educational Partnerships
Service to Community: Adam Harris, director, TRIO Upward Bound Detroit
Commitment to Students: Ben Siebert, academic advisor, Padnos College of Engineering Advising Center
Innovation Award: Nicholas Olle, chemistry laboratory instructional staff; Olle transformed curriculum from a standard set of experiments to a group research project that allows each group to come up with a different reaction.