The nation's top education official, United States Secretary of Education Rod Paige, will deliver a special address to new graduates at Grand Valley State University's Commencement Ceremonies, held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, at the Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids.
Paige, who was a teacher, coach, university dean, and school district superintendent before being confirmed by the U.S. Senate to his present post in January 2001, is uniquely qualified to address students as they stand at the crossroads of school and career.
Also speaking to students in an address titled "A Call to Service and Leadership" will be Ralph W. Hauenstein, a former World War II Army colonel, chief intelligence officer and adviser to President Dwight Eisenhower. Through a gift from Hauenstein, Grand Valley established the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies in 2001. President Mark A. Murray will honor Hauenstein with an honorary degree, the Doctor of Humane Letters.
The Distinguished Alumni Award will be awarded to John Apol, class of '69, who has had a distinguished career as an attorney and law professor at Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law.
Linda Goossen, assistant professor of biomedical and health sciences, will be honored with Grand Valley's 2004 Outstanding Educator Award. Goossen, who was selected for the award by past graduates, is known for artfully blending curriculum and theory with real-life clinical experience. Goossen is an alumna of GVSU; she received a master's of health science from Grand Valley in 1984, and went on to earn a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. She lives in Rockford.
Nearly 1,400 graduating students plan to walk in the commencement procession, including 250 graduate students. The total number eligible to receive bachelor's and master's degrees this spring tops 2,300.
Traverse City Commencement held April 27
A separate commencement ceremony for graduates of the GVSU
program in Traverse City will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April
27, at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme. Grand Valley President Mark
A. Murray will deliver the commencement address. About 100 graduates
will walk in the procession to receive their degrees.
