Grand Valley honors Ehlers

U.S. Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers will be given an honorary degree by Grand Valley State University in a special convocation on Friday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center.

Ehlers is being recognized for his work in science and government by Grand Valley's Science and Mathematics Division and Social Sciences Division.

Ehlers, of Grand Rapids, has the distinction of being the nation's first -- and only -- Ph.D. physicist in Congress. After many years of teaching serving as the physics department chair at Calvin College, he served in the state Legislature for more than 10 years. In 1993, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ehlers serves on the Science Committee, where he is the chairman of the subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards. He was selected in 1997-98 to rewrite the nation's science policy. He also introduced the National Science Education Acts, aimed at reforming the U.S. K-12 science, mathematics, engineering and technology education.