Pictured at left is Anita Crouch, a Student Reporting Labs educator
from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, with Preston Donakowski,
an East Kentwood High School teacher and one of four GVSRL educators.
A piloted partnership among Grand Valley’s Office of Charter Schools,
School of Communications, College of Education and Community
Innovation and WGVU is helping students develop their storytelling
skills through multimedia and video journalism.
The Grand Valley Student Reporting Lab (GVSRL) welcomed students from
four West Michigan high schools to participate in its summer boot camp
July 17-19.
Students from East Kentwood High School, Grand River Preparatory High
School, Sparta High School and Wayland Union High School spent three
days on the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses.
Under the guidance of faculty members from CECI and the School of
Communications and WGVU staff, students learned how to communicate
effectively through the medium and employ critical thinking skills by
addressing issues that affect them.
Students heard from Detroit educators who are using the SRL
coursework, Victor Fernandez, youth media program director at PBS
NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, and Allison Nelson, the education
advisor for Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health.
Through the GVSRL’s duration this school year, participating high
schools will also receive support from GVSU faculty and staff as well
as two GVSU students: a teacher apprentice from CECI and a production
assistant from the School of Communications.
A grant will provide funding for the GVSRL through the 2024-2025
academic year, enabling high schools to implement curriculum laid out
by the PBS NewsHour
Student Reporting Labs.
Aviation students can complete the Bachelor of Applied Science degree program in Traverse City, or online, and have tangible professional benefits within the industry.
A Detroit News article centered on university governance and a Brookings article called the Thompson Scholars program a model solution for increasing access for students from middle-income families.
Now working in the Division of Enrollment Development and College Futures, Ngassa discusses how his background serves as a bridge between enrollment and academic affairs.