Award ceremony honors LGBT community influencers

Grand Valley’s Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center hosted the Pride Awards March 29 to celebrate and honor those who made a positive impact on the LGBTQIA+ community this academic year. 

Seven faculty and staff members and 11 students were honored. The fifth annual event took place in the Kirkhof Center and featured student performances.

Award recipients: 

• Milton E. Ford Leadership Award: Grace Huizinga, assistant professor in Kirkhof College of Nursing

• Faculty Engagement Award: Jae Basiliere, assistant professor of women, gender and sexuality studies

• Service to Community Award: Mark Sampson, psychologist and clinical director for the University Counseling Center

• LGBT Faculty/Staff Association PRISM Award: Marla Wick, assistant director of the LGBT Center; Paul Cook, assistant professor of chemistry

• Solidarity Award: Connie Dang, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs; Ashley Schulte, victim advocate and Violence Against Women Act grant coordinator 

• Outstanding Student Leader Award: Ashlyn Rowell, Eliza Ruffner, Skylar Wolfe, Ezra Smith, Artemis Tally, Andie Bell, Emily Dusicska

• Emerging Leader Award: Ruby Hensley, Finn Marcks, Erin Veltman, Tanisha Islam

For more information about the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, visit www.gvsu.edu/lgbt.