Photos and video: Lakers move to Grand Valley 

New and returning students received a helping hand from more than 600 volunteers who carried boxes, furniture and bins into living centers during the university's annual move-in effort August 20-23. 

Hundreds of alumni, students, faculty and staff members helped more than 6,000 students move onto the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses. Loren Rullman, vice provost for Student Affairs and dean of students, joined President Thomas J. Haas, his wife, Marcia, to hand out ice cream to students and their families.

Two special orientation programs kicked off August 19. The second annual Black Excellence Orientation welcomed African American students to campus and Laker Familia Orientation brought together Latino/a students.

Transitions, Grand Valley's orientation program for new students, kicked off August 22 and continues August 23 at FanFest, when the Class of 2022 photo will be taken on the field at Lubbers Stadium. See the schedule at www.gvsu.edu/transitions. 

Faculty and staff members will welcome the newest class of students on Friday, August 24, during Convocation, a celebration that marks the beginning of the academic year. The ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Fieldhouse on the Allendale Campus. The Arend and Nancy Lubbers Student Services Center will be dedicated at 2 p.m. on the Allendale Campus.