Students to celebrate founders of Grand Valley

The Grand Valley community will celebrate the founding of the university during a day of events and activities October 25.

The fourth annual Founders Day will celebrate the 282 individuals who came together to start the vision and foundation for Grand Valley. Bill Seidman, recognized as the founder of Grand Valley, convened some of these individuals on October 25, 1958, to discuss what an institution of higher education would look like in the Grand Rapids area.

The day will start with "birthday cake." Cupcakes will be handed out from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses. At 11:30 a.m., President Thomas J. Haas will join the celebration in Kleiner Commons, where cupcakes will also be available.

Additional events include a Buck-A-Brick Contest, presented by the Future Alumni Association, and the Founders Day Festival on the Kirkhof Center Lawn. Both events take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

In 1960, Grand Valley became Michigan’s 10th state-supported college. In 1963, Grand Valley State College enrolled its first 226 students, and has since become one of the nation’s most successful regional universities. The Founders Day tradition celebrates how vision and passion culminated in a tremendous philanthropic outpouring and the establishment of Grand Valley.

The celebration is organized by the Laker Traditions Team in Student Life.

For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/foundersday. Learn more about Grand Valley’s history at www.gvsu.edu/anniversary.