The Alumni Association will celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of five Lakers during Homecoming activities.
Recipients are detailed below. The Distinguished Alumni, Alumni Service, Young Alumni and Outstanding Educator will be presented at an October 21 celebration. Read more about Homecoming activities on October 21-22 online.
Marisa Kwiatkowski is an award-winning investigative reporter with USA Today. Kwiatkowski earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Grand Valley and a master’s degree in business administration from Indiana University.
Kwiatkowski and her Indianapolis Star colleagues earned numerous national and state awards for their investigation into USA Gymnastics’ handling of child sexual abuse allegations, including those against Larry Nassar.
She has earned more than 60 journalism awards. Kwiatkowski helped launch the GVSU Alumni Indianapolis Network.
Janean Couch is a program director for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Michael Couch is the vice president for enrollment management at Martin University. Janean earned a bachelor's degree in public and nonprofit administration and a master’s degree in adult and higher education. Michael earned a bachelor's degree in movement science in 2006, a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Western Michigan University, and a doctoral degree from Ferris State University.
The Couches met on their first day of a Math 110 class. They were both Transition leaders and helped with summer orientations. The couple established the Michael and Janean Couch Black Excellence Scholarship at Grand Valley, which assists Black students who are the first in their family to go to college.
Ricardo Benavidez is a senior associate at Ktisis Capital. Benavidez earned bachelor's degrees in history and public and nonprofit administration, and a master’s degree in public administration. During his time at Grand Valley, he served as president of Student Senate and received the Seykora Leadership Award for making significant and outstanding contributions to the campus community.
Benavidez’s public service work keeps him tied to his West Michigan roots. He serves on the City of Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission and is the board president of Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities and co-chair of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s LGBT Fund Advisory Board.
Adrienne Wallace, associate professor of advertising and public relations, has a passion for student-to-professional development. Wallace has been teaching at Grand Valley for more than 14 years. She advises the award-winning, student-run PR firm, GrandPR, and the university's Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.
Wallace earned bachelor's degrees in health communications and advertising/public relations, and master’s degrees in communication and public administration. She earned a doctoral degree in public affairs, policy and administration from Western Michigan University. Wallace serves as a planning commissioner for the City of Grand Rapids.
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