President Haas a Newsmaker finalist

President Thomas J. Haas has been named a 2015 Newsmaker of the Year finalist in the education category by the Grand Rapids Business Journal.

President Haas is a finalist along with Teresa Weatherall Neal, superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, and John Dunn, president of Western Michigan University.

Finalists in 16 different categories will be honored January 27 at the Newsmakers of the Year breakfast at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

The top selection from each category will be recognized with an industry Newsmaker award, and from those 16, the Newsmaker of the Year will be selected.

In 2012, Grand Valley State University was named Newsmaker of the Year by the Grand Rapids Business Journal for its impact on the West Michigan economy through two construction projects, the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning & Information Commons and the L. William Seidman Center.