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. 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.
MEDIA NOTE: Coverage of either commencement ceremony is encouraged. Skybox 101B has been reserved for media. The box offers a mult box and an elevated, unobstructed view of the podium and platform. For more information, contact Grand Valley's News and Information Services Department at (616) 331-2221.
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.
About the speakers
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David 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.
- Martin J. 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.
Alumni Awards
An alumna from New York City and a faculty member will be honored by Grand Valley’s alumni.
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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.
Doctorate in Physical Therapy
For physical therapy patients, seeing a therapist who has a clinical doctoral degree has multiple benefits.
“We’re able to make more difficult diagnoses and more advanced clinical decisions,” said Allison Smith, one of 35 Grand Valley students who will earn doctorates in physical therapy at commencement April 28.
It’s the first Grand Valley class to graduate with a terminal degree. John Peck, director of the physical therapy program, said the process of changing from a master’s-level program to a doctoral level began in 2002, along with most other universities that offer physical therapy. Grand Valley’s first class was admitted in 2004.
Smith, who received the Glenn A. Niemeyer Award at the annual awards banquet, was offered a fellowship at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Her classmate Kari Brown will work at a sports medicine practice in Portage. Both said, following certification exams in the summer, they feel very confident about entering the workforce.
“We’ve had a lot of extra clinical time and more rotations,” Brown, who earned the Outstanding Service to Community and Profession award, said.
Brown’s interest in physical therapy began in high school when she suffered a knee injury. “The therapists were able to help me get back on my feet quickly, and then I decided that’s what I want to do,” she said.
Statistics about GVSU's 2007 commencement
- Number of students eligible for degrees: 2,943
- Number of bachelor's degrees: 1,700
- Number of master's degrees: 233
- Number of doctorate degrees: 35
- Students participating in morning ceremony: 876 (168 master's, 673 bachelor's, 35 doctorate)
- Students participating in afternoon ceremony: 1,092 (65 master's, 1,027 bachelor's)
For more information, contact News and Information Services at (616) 331-2221.
