Nearly 700 graduates are expected to participate in convocation; 177 will receive masters degree certification and 522 will be newly certified educators. The ceremony is a precursor to Grand Valley's Commencement, scheduled for April 24 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
During the convocation, East Grand Rapids High School teacher Janice Rocque will receive the Outstanding Educator Award. Rocque received a master's degree in gifted and talented education from GVSU in 1999. Now in her fourth year at EGR, Rocque teaches social studies and is the coach of "We The People," a competitive constitutional law team. The team has won the Michigan high school championship for four consecutive years. Rocque lives in East Grand Rapids.
Susan Laninga, Kent Intermediate School District curriculum consultant, will receive the Outstanding Administrator Award. She graduated from Grand Valley in 1976 and later earned a master's degree from Aquinas College. Laninga is responsible for curriculum development of the Language Arts and Social Studies components of the Kent County Collaborative Core Curriculum, or KC4. Prior to joining the Kent ISD, Laninga taught at Kenowa Hills Public Schools for 23 years. She lives in Rockford.
