Commencement Saturday

A mother and son from Muskegon will be among the more than 500 students in caps and gowns at Grand Valley State University's Fall 2000 Commencement Ceremony, that took place Saturday, December 9, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse on the Allendale campus.

A total of 1,172 students are eligible to graduate in December 2000. Of the 591 expected to participate in commencement ceremonies, 484 are bachelor's degree recipients and 107 will receive master's degrees.

Mayor of Kentwood presents commencement address

Giving the commencement address will be Bill Hardiman, mayor of Kentwood since 1992. Hardiman received a bachelor's degree in behavioral science from Grand Valley in 1977 and was honored with the GVSU Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1993. He received his master's of public administration from Western Michigan University.

Hardiman is active on many boards of directors and in community organizations serving the West Michigan area and has been recognized as a state leader by Governor Engler with several committee appointments. In addition to his mayoral duties, he is founder and current chairman of the Greater Grand Rapids Community Marriage Policy Steering Committee.

Mother and son graduate on the same day

Among those graduating on Saturday are Lois Williams, 59, and her son Eddie Williams, 23, both of Muskegon.

Ms. Williams , 59, a former high school dropout, will receive her master's degree in public administration from the GVSU School of Public and Nonprofit Administration. The degree, she said, will aid her in her efforts to help others in her current position as executive director of the Mission for Area People, a nonprofit agency in Muskegon providing meals, a food pantry and clothing for needy people. She previously worked for 17 years at Every Woman's Place in Muskegon, most recently as Crisis Center manager.

Ms. Williams has come a long way from when she dropped out of high school in Alabama. In addition to her master's degree, she has a bachelor's degree from Baker College in Muskegon and two associate degrees from Muskegon Community College. She has four children.

Her son Eddie Williams will graduate from Grand Valley on Saturday with a bachelor's degree in marketing.

'Outstanding Educators' honored ¿

Outstanding Educator awards are given each December to GVSU faculty members whose professional standards demonstrate Grand Valley's emphasis on quality teaching. The recipients are selected by those in the best position to evaluate them ¿ GVSU alumni.

Honored at Saturday's Commencement are Johnine Callahan, professor in the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences; Donald Klein (Grand Rapids),professor of accounting and taxation in the Seidman School of Business; and Sandra Portko (Grand Rapids), psychology professor.