Grand Valley State helps fallen military heroes' survivors

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. -- Grand Valley State University announced a new scholarship today that will be awarded to a survivor of a West Michigan service member who died while serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.

President Thomas J. Haas made the announcement before playing in the Fallen Heroes Golf Tournament held at the Grand Haven Golf Club. This tournament raises money for the education of children who have lost a parent in Iraq. 

“The university is honored to recognize the ultimate sacrifice these service men and women have made for this country,” Haas said. “Grand Valley is pleased to create this scholarship and a pathway to a better future for a deserving student."

Those who are eligible for The Fallen Heroes Scholarship include the surviving spouse or children of a West Michigan service person killed in Afghanistan or Iraq. They also must live in the tri-county area of Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon. The recipient must meet the academic requirements for admittance into Grand Valley and must remain a full-time student in good academic standing.

Grand Valley will make the first award during the 2008-2009 academic year. Full details of the Fallen Heroes Scholarship will be announced at a later date.

Grand Valley State University attracts more than 23,000 students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley is the comprehensive regional university for Michigan’s second largest metropolitan area and offers 70 undergraduate and 26 graduate degree programs. It has campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids, and Holland and centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships.

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