Commencement features many firsts

There will be a number of “firsts” occurring when Grand Valley celebrates its winter semester graduates on April 28 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

For the first time, commencement will be held in two ceremonies: at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This change accommodates more graduates and their family members. Also, the university will honor its first doctoral students from physical therapy.

The 10 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates from the College of Community and Public Service, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, College of Health Professions, Kirkhof College of Nursing and Seidman College of Business.

The 3 p.m. ceremony is for graduates from the College of Education, College of Interdisciplinary Studies and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

David Van Andel, chairman and CEO of the Van Andel Institute, will be the morning commencement speaker. Martin J. Allen, chairman emeritus of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation, is the afternoon speaker.

Van Andel has served in various positions at Amway Corporation since 1977. He is the current chair of IdeaSphere, Inc., and most recently served as executive vice president and COO of Alticor’s Pyxis Innovations Business Unit. A graduate of Hope College, Van Andel is also co-owner and chair of the Grand Rapids Griffins.

He is active in numerous business and community organizations including The Right Place Program, American Cancer Society Foundation, Great Lakes Division, and Hope College Board of Trustees.
Allen is the former senior vice president of Old Kent Bank. His involvement with the Grand Rapids area is extensive. He continues his commitment to the Ford Foundation as chairman emeritus and lifetime trustee. Allen also serves on the Grand Action Executive Committee and remains active with the organizing committee of the Fifth Third River Bank Run, which he co-founded 30 years ago.

Allen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s of business administration degree from Michigan State University. He also served with the U.S. Navy and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander.

An alumna from New York City and a faculty member will be honored by Grand Valley’s alumni.

Gail L. Freeman, who graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in public administration, will received the Distinguished Alumna Award. Freeman has worked in philanthropy and non-profit management. Her leadership and expertise in that field has led to an appointment as vice chairperson of the Board of Governors for Indiana University’s Center for Philanthropy.

An advisory committee member for Grand Valley’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, Freeman has taught at many colleges and universities.

Ben Lockerd, professor of English, will receive the Outstanding Educator Award, as chosen by a survey of alumni. Lockerd joined Grand Valley’s faculty in 1984 and is regarded as one of the country’s foremost authorities on the work of 20th century poet T.S. Eliot. His students said that Lockerd’s knowledge and enthusiasm for Eliot and other great writers makes their work come alive in class.