With the new logo on the building, the sun sets behind the Kirkhof
Center October 7 on the Valley Campus.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
GVSU in Photos, October 2025: Vibrancy abounded in a jam-packed month of Laker activity
Nov 3, 2025
Maria Gambino is the new Padnos Distinguished Artist-in-Residence.
Gambino is deeply inspired by the environment and is working with the
natural beauty of the Valley Campus to create a living art sculptural
botanical garden for the GVSU community.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Occupational science and therapy volunteer Claire Dolislager
demonstrates the Bridge Studio lightboard during the GV Technology
Summit at DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health on October 2.
Image credit - Cory Morse
A couple strolls over a walkway that hugs the southern shore of Muskegon
Lake at Heritage Landing October 1. A press conference was held at the
same park celebrating the Muskegon Lake Area Area of Concern (AOC)
delisting.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Kella Elswick, Grand Valley student and president of the Native American
Student Association (NASA), right, laughs with other students as they
gather for Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Sustainable Agriculture
Project farm October 13. They shared a meal, watched a movie outdoors
and had a bonfire.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
The sun peeks through red maple leaves on a sunny October 16th on the
Valley Campus.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Senior studio art with a sculpture emphasis student Aria Thomas sits
around a bonfire during a gathering for Indigenous Peoples Day at the
Sustainable Agriculture Project farm October 13. The group shared a
meal, watched a movie outdoors and had a bonfire to honor the day.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Students file by the altar and momentos at the end of the Day of the
Dead event in the Mary Idema Pew Library Cafe October 29. The display
will remain up until November 3.
Image credit - Steve Jessmore
Grand Valley women’s basketball players, including Page VanStee who
yells in excitement, celebrate a successful timed drill during practice
October 22.
Image credit - Steve Jessmore
People dance during the Hispanic Heritage Celebration on October 10.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Adam Harris, director with TRIO Upward Bound Detroit, right, walks with
students through The Station at Michigan Central in Detroit October 21.
Grand Valley announced it was joining Detroit's historic Michigan
Central as a new key partner in its innovation ecosystem.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Dancers from Monarcas perform during the Hispanic Heritage Celebration
on October 10 in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room. The showcase
featured traditional and contemporary Hispanic cultural performances.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
GVSU Women's Basketball Head Coach Mike Williams talks to players at the
end of practice October 22.
Image credit - Steve Jessmore
Members of the group Sharp Feather performed before and after author and
speaker Anton Treuer as a part of Grand Valley’s Native American
Heritage Month celebration on October 28.
Image credit - Martin Hogan
“I often describe it as one of the few team sports in the art world,”
said visiting professor Gabrielle Egnater. Egnater is referring to the
iron pour held outside of Calder Art Center October 31. The pour was
part of the class, Art 372 Mold Making and Casting: Digital Foundry in
Sculpture.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Kella Elswick, Grand Valley student and president of the Native American
Student Association (NASA), left, starts the gathering for Indigenous
Peoples Day at the Sustainable Agriculture Project farm October 13 by
smudging. They then shared a meal, watched a movie outdoors and had a
bonfire.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Students from Forest Vegetation of the Great Lakes class do a timed
nature scavenger hunt during an outdoor classroom activity on October
16.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Mary Williford, lead Professional Support Staff (PSS) and administrative
assistant for the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, pushes her
daughter on a swing during the Harvest Party at the SAP Farm on October 3.
Image credit - Cory Morse
A student walks past the Zumberge Pond fountain during a sunny October 7
fall day on the Valley Campus.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
An angler and Canada geese use Muskegon Lake as a press conference
celebrating the Muskegon Lake Area Area of Concern (AOC) delisting at
Muskegon’s Heritage Landing was being held October 1.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A gull flies over a press conference celebrating the Muskegon Lake Area
Area of Concern (AOC) delisting at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing October 1.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
(From left) Anthropology major Lily Schinbeckler plays the guitar,
English and secondary education major Jaden Moser plays the guitar,
anthropology major Aiden Zemaitis plays the fiddle, computer science
major Aiden Mack plays the cello, and biochemistry major Kayla Shook
plays the fiddle during the Harvest Party at the SAP Farm on October 3.
Image credit - Cory Morse
President Philomena V. Mantella hugs accounting major Joy Murerwa after
Murerwa gave a talk during the REP4 Student Design Accelerator Showcase
held in Chicago October 30.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Elise Tchieng, a junior majoring in behavioral neuroscience, sits at the
check-in desk at the "Moonlit Decade": 2025 Fall Reception and
10 Year Celebration hosted by the Asian Faculty and Staff Association
October 6.
Image credit - Eliana McGlinchey
Exercise science first-year student Evan Therkildsen works on his math,
psychology and chemistry homework inside the Mary Idema Pew Library
October 7 as he prepares for his upcoming midterms. As a new student
Therkildsen said about Grand Valley, “I like the atmosphere, the
buildings, colors and trees. It’s really nice.”
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
The Laker Marching Band performs during the Battle Creek Innovation Hub
ribbon cutting ceremony October 9.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
(From left) Law major Nick Carlson; occupational therapy major Jack
Burleson; journalism, broadcasting and digital media major Griffin
Williams; exercise science major Kayli Mohror; communication studies
major Taylor Muth; and nursing student Trista Glowacz cheer as GVSU
football hosts Davenport at Lubbers Stadium during Laker Family Weekend
on October 4.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Tessa Brumels, a sophmore majoring in English and Spanish, poses with
President Philomena V. Mantella at the photobooth at the "Moonlit
Decade": 2025 Fall Reception and 10 Year Celebration hosted by the
Asian Faculty and Staff Association October 6.
Image credit - Eliana McGlinchey
Felicia Jaramillo is the owner and founder of DelectABLE Treats and
Sweets. The cafe is the first incubator of Food Reimagined in the Battle
Creek Innovation Hub.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Riley MacDonald, a graduate clinical dietetics student, listens to Sam
Conkling’s heartbeat using a stethoscope during the “Swalloween”
dysphagia-awareness event in the Center for Health Sciences on GVSU’s
Pew Grand Rapids Campus on October 24. The interdisciplinary event
invited students from dietetics, speech-language pathology and
occupational therapy to practice clinical skills and explore aspects of
swallowing and patient care.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Grand Valley defensive back Jimmy Downs watches the play develop during
the Battle of the Valleys game against Saginaw Valley State at Lubbers
Stadium on October 18.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
First-year student Chloe Heethuis of the Laker Dance Team finishes a
routine during the Grand Valley State vs. Saginaw Valley State game at
Lubbers Stadium on October 18.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Randy Thelen, president and CEO The Right Place, introduces President
Philomena V. Mantella, left, to speak at a press conference to share
GVSU’s economic impact report. The press conference was held at the L.
William Seidman Center on the City Campus October 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Members of the GVSU softball team pet President Philomena V. Mantella’s
dog, Lily, while Mantella greets fans at a tailgate before GVSU football
hosts Davenport during Laker Family Weekend on October 4.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Shoppers at the Laker Store on Monroe Center can now purchase items with
a purpose. Proceeds from a recently launched collection will directly
benefit GVSU scholarships. Inspired by President Philomena V. Mantella’s
deep commitment to proudly displaying her Laker pride, the “Philly’s
Faves” line-up is a curated, limited-edition selection of items
hand-picked by the president and available exclusively at the Monroe
Center store.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Dr. Peter Riemersma, geology professor at Grand Valley State University,
faces off against seniors Michael Baldus and Andrew Neckermann, both
geology majors, in a friendly two-on-one ping-pong match during his
“Office Hours” event in the Kirkhof Center on October 9. Riemersma’s
weekly sessions combine games and conversation to create an inviting
space for student engagement outside the classroom.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Guests take in the view of the Chicago skyline during the REP4 Student
Design Accelerator Showcase October 30.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Subscribe
Sign up and receive the latest Grand Valley headlines delivered to your email inbox each morning.
