GVSU students volunteer as way of giving back

As students at Grand Valley State University prepared for exam week, around 50 members of a fraternity and other students pitched in to help the university's facilities staff as a way of saying thank you.

Members of the Theta Rho Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity International spent the day helping out as part of the Altruistic Campus Experience project sponsored by the national fraternity. The purpose of the project is to instill pride and respect for participants' alma mater by performing philanthropic activities specifically benefiting the university, its faculty, staff or administration.

The fraternity also treated facilities staff to lunch on Friday at noon in the facilities warehouse.

"It's our way of acknowledging that we appreciate the great educational experience that Grand Valley is giving us," said fraternity member and event chairman Quentin D. Groce. "We want to do this to show our appreciation for all the work facilities staff does in the background that contributes to our great learning environment."