Skip to Main Content

News from Grand Valley State University

Adrian King, of the Ojibwe and Oneida nations, performs during the All Walks of Life Traditional Powwow at the Fieldhouse on April 4.

(Photo releases on file)

GVSU in photos, April 2026: Reveling in spring, marking milestones and honoring a legacy of stewardship

BY University Communications
Image credit - Top image by Cory Morse

May 1, 2026

Students with shovels stand in a greenhouse ready to work.

(From left) Farm manager and educator Isak Davis instructs student volunteers wildlife biology major Amelia Helms-Gleason, environmental and sustainability studies major Grace deBest, dance major Caitlyn Spoelman, geology major Alexis Crosslin and environmental science major Tegan Burri, at the SAP Farm on April 3. Davis was instructing the students how to prepare the soil for planting inside a hoop house.

Image credit - Cory Morse

A red-winged blackbird takes flight outside of Eberhard Center on the City Campus April 15.

A red-winged blackbird takes flight outside of the Eberhard Center on the City Campus April 15.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A group of people seen past a row of yellow flowers listen to a person giving a tour.

Students and the campus community listen as junior biology and natural resources management student Keely Carlson, not pictured, gives a tour of native plants in campus landscaping on the Valley Campus April 14.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A portrait of a film and video college student standing with equipment in front of a green screen wearing a blue cap and gown smiles at the camera.

Film and video production major Jaiah Jones is pictured in the University Communications studio on April 7. Jones minored in theater and African American studies.

Image credit - Cory Morse

A college student with a camera to her face smiles as she takes photos of a tree.

Junior environmental and sustainability studies student Grace deBest takes photos during a tour of native plants in campus landscaping on the Valley Campus this month.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A research boat makes its way through the water as seen from a drone on a foggy day.

Students from Hilda Durán's Zeeland Christian fifth-grade class take an educational trip aboard the D.J. Angus in Spring Lake on April 13. The AWRI's 45-foot vessel serves researchers and educational groups out of Harbor Island in Grand Haven.

Image credit - Cory Morse

Two college students pose for a photo in front of a colorful photo backdrop.

Sigma Gamma Rho sorority sisters Lauren Cold, left, and Shayna Davis pose for a photo in a photo booth during Toast April 22.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A person with a microphone speaks with a colorful pattern of a room partition is seen.

Ryan Otter, interim vice provost for Research and Innovation, speaks as part of the Laker Club Talks series at The Commons building on April 1.

Image credit - Cory Morse

A university president tosses her hand into the air in front of a screen that reads Toast while a "Laker for a Lifetime" signs hangs nearby.

President Philomena V. Mantella gives the crowd of soon-to-be graduates the Anchor Up hand sign during Toast held on the City Campus April 22.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A boat captain wearing red hangs out of the door of the boat.

Captain Jill Johnson prepares to take students from Hilda Durán’s Zeeland Christian fifth-grade class on an educational trip aboard the D.J. Angus in Spring Lake on April 13. The AWRI’s 45-foot vessel serves researchers and educational groups from Harbor Island in Grand Haven.

Image credit - Cory Morse

A college student gestures with his hands as he talks about his research as seen through a sculpture.

Brian Rowe, a senior information systems major, talks with another student about his research entitled, “Predictive Algorithm Bias Detection Through Unsupervised Learning” during Student Scholars Day April 8.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A hand rests on the trunk of a tree.

Tegan Burri, a first-year environmental and sustainability studies major, rests a hand on a tree as junior biology and natural resources management student Keely Carlson gives a tour of native plants in campus landscaping on the Valley Campus April 14.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A college student poses for a portrait as they pose among theatre costumes.

Syd Sturgis, a senior classics major with a minor in theater, will be part of Student Scholars Day with a zine that shows their research. Sturgis is photographed with theater costumes in the Haas Center for Performing Arts April 2.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A row team practices on a river with water splashing in front of the boat.

Sophomore Drew Oderkirk, junior Dave Montreuil, first-year Carter DiMercurio and sophomore Taha Ibrahim power through a practice row on the Grand River on April 3 the night before the Lubbers Cup. The four are part of the Laker Navy men's novice eight. Novice crews focused on mastering timing, blade depth and steady rhythm, the rowing fundamentals.

Image credit - Macayla Cramer

Four university presidents sit on a stage during a panel discussion.

President Philomena V. Mantella hosted the three past three living GVSU presidents – from left, Thomas J. Haas, Mark A. Murray and Arend "Don" Lubbers – for a conversation focused on stewardship April 15 in the DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A college student smiles as they hug a college mascot, Louie the Laker.

Abryannah Chanthana hugs Louie the Laker during Toast April 22. The event was held at Eberhard Center on the City Campus.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

During a portrait of a college student a beam of light hits their face and a blue wind tunnel.

Annika Mattson received a Glenn A. Niemeyer Award at the Student Awards Convocation April 13. She served as president of the Laker Racing team, working with other students to design and construct a race car for competitions.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A painted turtle is reflected in a body of water as it sits on a rock.

A painted turtle lounges on a rock in Zumberge Pond April 21.

Image credit - Eliana McGlinchey

A group of smiling and laughing college students as they take a group selfie during an event.

Students laugh as they take a group selfie as they receive their stoles to recognize the accomplishments of Asian and Asian American students in preparation for Commencement in May.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A person wearing a suit and tie smiles as they hold up a large Seidman Cup trophy.

Dave Weaver, of Gordon Food Service, holds the Seidman Cup at the L. William Seidman Center on April 14. Weaver was one of the 2026 Seidman Cup inductees honored by The Seidman Mentorship Program for "Seidman stakeholders who exemplify innovation, leadership, and community impact,” according to the program.

Image credit - Cory Morse

A college student is seen through greenery as they listen to a tour.

Mackenzie Davis, a senior natural resources management student, listens as junior biology and natural resources management student Keely Carlson, not pictured, gives a tour of native plants in campus landscaping on the Valley Campus April 14.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

A bird chirps as it rests on a tree branch, left. At right, a couple sit near Zumberge Pond is reflected in the water.

Left, a House sparrow chirps while on a branch near James H. Zumberge Hall during a sunny day on the Valley campus April 23. Right, first-year students Daronna Abdul-Mujib, left, and Corey Coil sit along Zumberge Pond on April 13 to enjoy the spring weather on the Valley Campus. The two are both from the Detroit area but didn’t know each other until they met at Grand Valley. Abdul-Mujib is studying elementary education and Coil is studying cybersecurity.

Image credit - Left: Eliana McGlinchey; Right: Kendra Stanley-Mills

A college track athlete jumps into the air wearing a blue cap and gown.

With his time as a student athlete at Grand Valley winding down, Marcus Gelpi isn’t just closing one chapter in his life. He’s preparing to begin the next, with his focus on the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills

Tags

Subscribe

Sign up and receive the latest Grand Valley headlines delivered to your email inbox each morning.