Successful Alumnus addresses Program

Michigan Sen. Bill Hardiman (R-Kentwood) will be the guest speaker at Grand Valley's Educational Connections award program on Wednesday, May 21, in Loosemore Auditorium at the DeVos Center, 401 W. Fulton.

The award program will begin at 6 p.m. and highlight accomplishments by area middle, high school, and adult ed students served by Educational Connections. The federally funded program, which falls under TRIO, assists those who meet income guidelines, would be the first in their family to attend college, or are returning adult students. About 900 students area students are enrolled in the program.

Rondey Brown, principal at Crossroads Alternative School, said Educational Connections advisers meet regularly with students at the Kentwood school to help them prepare for college by offering career and academic advising, help with college admissions and application forms, and arranging campus tours.

'So many of our students have been earmarked by others as 'not successful,'' Brown said. 'They might have fallen through the cracks without the help of this program.'

Hardiman earned a bachelor's degree from Grand Valley in 1977 and a master's in public administration from Western Michigan University.