Melissa Kirkendolph, first-year nursing student, laughs while dancing
along with Zumba instructors during Laker Kickoff August 22.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
GVSU in Photos, August 2025: Moving in, multiple kickoffs and an epic celebration
Sep 2, 2025
Resident assistant Ayanna McClain, left, greets Lesley Mendez-Velasquez
with Laker Familia during move-in on the Valley Campus August 20.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Students take selfie photos of themselves as they play in a foam pit
during Laker Kickoff.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
The Class of 2029 photo at Lubbers Stadium was part of the Laker Kickoff
on August 22.
Image credit - Cory Morse
A group of students with Laker Familia, from left, Arianna Westbrooks,
Luz Martinez, Lesley Mendez-Velasquez and Lucero Orduna-Rivera laugh
together as they welcome students with posters and Anchor Up hand signs
during the first day of Valley Campus move-in.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Grand Valley cheer team member Robyn Anderson uses a megaphone to direct
students as they parade to the Laker Kickoff lawn party.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
GVSU players run under a football banner as they take the field
against Lincoln University at Lubbers Stadium on August 30.
Image credit - Lauren Roth
Left: Student athletes show the “Anchor Up" hand gesture as GVSU
accepts the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
(NACDA) Learfield Directors' Cup during halftime as GVSU hosts Lincoln
University in football on August 30. | Right: President Philomena V.
Mantella shows off her boots as GVSU hosts Lincoln University in
football on August 30.
Image credit - Cory Morse
President Philomena V. Mantella pumps up the football team during a
recording of "Philly on the Street" as they practiced at
Lubbers Stadium on August 20.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
GVSU women’s basketball player Nicole Kamin raises a foam finger to the
sky during Campus Life Night on August 24.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Kyle Syron carries a mirror to his sister’s dorm room during move-in
August 21. Syron said his sister, Kayla Syron, helped him move in at
Michigan State University, so he returned the favor by helping her move
in at Grand Valley.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Students make their way to the Seidman Center on Grand Valley’s City
Campus during the first day of classes August 25.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Laura Aikens, vice president for University Development, laughs after
running through the foam pit during Laker Kickoff August 22.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A student laughs and smiles while playing in the foam pit at Laker Kickoff.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Students pass a large beach ball as they wait to be dismissed for the
class photo in Lubbers Stadium during Laker Kickoff.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Laker Marching Band trumpet player Reed VanArsdale takes part in a
practice on the Valley Campus on August 18.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Andrew Martin, first-year business student from Spain, plays a water
carnival game during Laker Kickoff. Martin won a stuffed animal which he
gave to another student.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
(From left) Occupational therapy student Rachel Hoffman, physical
therapy student Christian Helmkamp and occupational therapy student
Jenny Herrygers tend to standardized patient Phil McCabe, portraying a
burn victim, at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on August 1.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Jazmine Rees blows bubbles during Laker Kickoff on August 22.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Tamar Stuart, of Kalamazoo, carries a framed Black Panther picture as
he helps his brother move into Pine Living Center on August 21.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
GVSU WR Griffin Shinrock (11) goes after the ball against Lincoln CB
Torian Clark-Stewart (26) at Lubbers Stadium on August 30.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Saniya Traylor, student and member of student organization Model
Entertainment, dances with a fan on stage at Laker Kickoff on August 22.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Left: Laker Marching Band cymbals player Blake Majors, left, jokes with
bass drum player Max Babcock, who was wearing a horse mask, during a
practice on the Valley Campus on August 18. | Right: Aiden Cobleigh,
6, left, and Beckham Kirkpatrick, 5, play in the phone booth inside
DeVos Center on the City Campus August 14. The two had relatives touring
Grand Valley.
Image credit - Left: Cory Morse | Right: Kendra Stanley-Mills
Students play inflatable games during the Laker Kickoff event on Kirkhof
Center lawn.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Ase Sabra does yoga near her daughter’s belongings after the two drove
from the east side of the state for move-in August 21. Sabra’s daughter,
Cali Diaz, is planning on studying nursing. “I’m excited for her to be
in the driver’s seat of her life,” said Sabra.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Shirts are fired into the crowd inside Lubbers Stadium as part of the
Laker Kickoff on August 22.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Students with the Frederik Meijer Honors College select flowers to use
in a bouquet-making activity during orientation activities on August 21.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Recruits take part in the Police Academy Graduation Ceremony at the
Louis Armstrong Theatre on August 21.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Guinevere Myers, a junior English education major, dons a pair of
sunglasses with FMHC (Frederik Meijer Honors College) written on them
during orientation activities on August 21.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Recruits stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner" after the
presentation of the Colors by the Allegan County Sheriff's Office during
the Police Academy Graduation ceremony at the Louis Armstrong Theatre on
August 21.
Image credit - Cory Morse
GVSU freshman wide receiver Will Korenstra stretches during the Lakers’
open football practice on August 16.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Valeria Rosas with Monarcas, a ballet folklorico dance group, performs
at Laker Kickoff on August 22.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Stage crew members set up for an evening of music and performances for
Laker Kickoff.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A person walks through the archway of the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand
Rapids Campus August 14.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Model Entertainment performs during Laker Kickoff on August 22.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Left: Students cheer as part of the Laker Kickoff. | Right: Rainbow
lights illuminate the stage with the Cook Carillon Tower in the
background at the Laker Kickoff event on August 22.
Image credit - Left: Cory Morse | Right: Kendra Stanley-Mills
Students sit on the Laker Letters during the Laker Kickoff.
Image credit - Cory Morse
A student runs past the Zumberge Pond fountain on the first day of
classes on August 25.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Students watch a drone show as part of the Laker Kickoff.
Image credit - Cory Morse
The Laker Kickoff is hosted on the Kirkhof Center lawn next to Zumberge pond.
Image credit - Cory Morse
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