GVSU in 2025: A review of the headlines, images and moments
Dec 17, 2025
Grand Valley in 2025 was as energetic as ever, filled with milestones, statewide impact, celebrations and lots of good memories.
A new – and successful – way to kick off the fall return to GVSU
Students pass a large beach ball ahead of the class photo in Lubbers
Stadium during Laker Kickoff August 22.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
The inaugural Laker Kickoff on the Valley Campus celebrated a new school year and what it means to be at Grand Valley. Read about the buzz that permeated through campus on August 22, from Lubbers Stadium to the lawn outside the Kirkhof Center .
GVSU's $3 billion annual economic impact on Michigan
Paul Isely, associate dean and professor of economics, speaks at a press
conference to share GVSU’s economic impact report. The press conference
was held in the L. William Seidman Center on the City Campus October 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A study released in October shows that GVSU generates more than $3 billion in annual economic impact for the state. Read more about the study that underscores GVSU's strong return on public investment and its role as a vital economic engine for Michigan.
A national title for the GVSU women's basketball team
GVSU celebrates the 70-58 win over Cal-State Dominguez Hills in the NCAA
Division II National Championship at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in
Pittsburgh on March 28.
Image credit - Cory Morse
The Grand Valley women's basketball team capped off a dominating season with a national title , the second in the program's history. Other crownings this year included the women's track and field team earning its fifth national title at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, the women’s cross country team claiming its second straight national title and a host of individual national titles across multiple sports.
A partnership with Michigan Central to enhance Detroit's regional talent pipeline
President Philomena V. Mantella poses with TRIO Upward Bound Detroit
students during the October 21 announcement.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Grand Valley is joining Detroit's historic Michigan Central to integrate the university's students, faculty and adult learners into Michigan Central's ecosystem. Read about how GVSU will deliver high-impact, place-based initiatives to expand its impact in Detroit .
A summer of robust GVSU research
Mya Harmer, a staff member with the Steinman Lab, uses a water-quality
monitoring instrument at McLaren Lake in Oceana County on June 24. The
work was part of the Annis Water Resources Institute's inland lake salt survey.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Summer was busy as ever for GVSU faculty and student researchers as they worked to more deeply understand our world. Read about the research conducted over the summer that enhanced Grand Valley's impact on campus and in our communities .
National recognitions for making campus life better
Graduate student Ausar Martin, left, participates in a mindfulness
exercise during the Mental Health Summit held in Kirkhof Center’s Grand
River Room October 15.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Several GVSU programs and initiatives were lauded nationally. They include:
A celebration of the Battle Creek Innovation Hub
The ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renovated Battle Creek
Innovation Hub was October 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Leaders from Southwest Michigan and Grand Valley celebrated both longstanding partnerships and a renovated, 30,000-square-foot Battle Creek Innovation Hub during a ribbon-cutting ceremony this fall. Learn more about how a $10.4 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation helped transform the building .
Commencement
A graduate hugs President Philomena V. Mantella as they receive their
diploma during the Commencement ceremony on December 6.
Image credit - Ashley Streeter
We get to celebrate our graduates twice a year during Commencement, and they are always the most joyful times at Grand Valley. Here are some of the stories and images we captured this year.
Winter 2025 Commencement: Stories about our graduates and photos from the ceremonies
Fall 2025 Commencement: Stories about our graduates and photos from the ceremony
A video of good cheer to end the year
Here a few more favorite photos from December
Students gathered to celebrate their upcoming graduation at the Toast to
the Class of 2025.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Joyce Malicha talks about her research with Ali Raza, associate
professor of computing, at the College of Computing Innovation Day at
the Loosemore Auditorium on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.
Image credit - Steve Jessmore
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Some scenes from the Valley Campus as the winter weather takes hold.
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