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A red-tailed hawk watches over the Ravines near the Little Mac Bridge at the Valley Campus.

GVSU in photos, July 2026: Trading football for film, research milestones and all the ways we saw the light

BY University Communications
Image credit - Top image by Cory Morse

Aug 3, 2026
left, a smoky sun is seen above a carillon tower as smoke creates a hazy sunrise. At right, a college student is reflected in a mirror as they change a lightbulb in a lamp.
At left, the sun rises through a thick haze over the Cook Carillon Tower at the Valley Campus on July 16. West Michigan's sky was blanketed under a heavy veil of drifting Canadian wildfire smoke. Right, Film major Cody Card works to set up lighting as part of the Summer Film Project production of "This Piano is Haunted" in Marne on July 27. The Summer Film Project, founded in 1995, brings students, faculty and industry professionals together on the production of a film.
Image credit - Cory Morse
A college student poses with their hand under their chin for a cellphone photo while on a movie set.
Film major Josilynn Hradowsky takes a moment to pose for a picture between setups while working on the Summer Film Project’s production of "This Piano Is Haunted."
Image credit - Cory Morse
A bee looks for pollen in an area of yellow flowers.
A bee looks for pollen in an area of yellow flowers near Koeze-Weed Living Center July 8.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A squirrel eats berries from a tree.
A squirrel eats berries from a tree in the Arboretum on the Valley Campus July 8.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
People walk down a set of blue green stairs as they point at artwork on a wall.
James Brock, center, tours the Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon with mother Emily Brock, top, and grandmother, Jane Krueger, during the AWRI 25th anniversary open house on July 11.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Left, two high school students laugh as they embrace each other in an icebreaker activity. Right, a young girl does a handstand on a football field while a movie plays in the background.
At left, Destiny Thompson, 17, left, and Ayanna Robinson, 17, from University Prep Art & Design High School in Detroit, laugh during an icebreaker for the REP4 Midwest Learner Design Summit July 15. Right, Belaney McClain does a handstand as the start of the movie Zootopia 2 plays during the GVSU Summer Movie Night at Lubbers Stadium July 22.
Image credit - Left: Kendra Stanley-Mills Right: Grace deBest
Families and friends lay on a football field with a GV logo in the center in preparation for a movie.
Families and friends gather on the football field in preparation for the start of the movie Zootopia 2 during the GVSU Summer Movie Night at Lubbers Stadium.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Two high-school students high five and laugh together as they play a game of pool.
J’Shon Calhoun, 16, left, and Zamaya Williams, 17, from University Prep Art & Design High School in Detroit, high-five during a game of pool while participating in activity time at the REP4 Midwest Learner Design Summit July 15.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Sunlight highlights an arrangement of tomatoes at a farm stand.
Morning light hits bright red and orange tomatoes at the SAP Farm Stand as part of the inaugural Wellness Summit July 29.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A portrait of a college student among mathmatical figures and numbers.
Mathematics major Micah Dykhuis is pictured with the Bridge Studio lightboard at the Kindschi Hall of Science on July 9. Dykhuis' research uses a custom mathematical model (VIPERS) to simulate how city-to-city commuting and localized vaccination gaps drive measles outbreaks.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Left, a white sculpture is framed by puffy white clouds. Right, University buildings and carillon tower as well as clouds are reflected in a pond.
At left, clouds pass over the Heaven and Earth sculpture by James Clover on July 23. Right, the Cook Carillon Tower and the Kirkhof Center are reflected in Zumberge Pond on July 7.
Image credit - Cory Morse
A drone photo of two boats docked in water.
The W.G. Jackson, left, and the D.J. Angus are docked at the Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon during the AWRI 25th anniversary open house on July 11.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Two people embrace with smiles on their faces.
Alan Steinman, right, is greeted with a hug during the 25 Years of Annis Water Resources Institute anniversary celebration. Steinman was the Allen and Helen Hunting Director of the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute for 21 years.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A high school student laughs into her notebook after answering a question.
Jamila Heard, 16, from University Prep Art & Design High School in Detroit, laughs while answering a question during the REP4 Midwest Learner Design Summit July 15.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A mourning dove sits in a nest built at the Lubbers Stadium press box.
A mourning dove sits in a nest built at the Lubbers Stadium press box on July 7.
Image credit - Cory Morse
A chipmunk nibbles on food while sitting on a wooden board.
A chipmunk nibbles on food near The Commons on the Valley Campus July 15.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A young child uses a small camera to take photos.
Wesley Johnson takes pictures during Alumni Night of the Summer Carillon Concert Series on July 7. Wesley was with parents Andrea ’18 ’21 and Sawyer ’18 Johnson and sister Lena.
Image credit - Cory Morse
The sun rises behind trees and an art sculpture of blue metal.
The sun rises behind the Transformational Link on the Valley Campus July 6.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Two people walk past a white sculpture framed by green trees on a college campus.
Two people in conversation walk past the sculpture Heaven and Earth in the Great Lakes Plaza on the Valley Campus July 1.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A little child wearing a princess dress, rubber boots, crown and wand twirls around on a football field.
Rylee Trombley, 4, came dressed as a princess to attend the GVSU Summer Movie Night July 22. Trombley spent much of the time twirling in the end zone with a princess dress, crown and wand rather than watching the movie.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Hands from a person wearing a suit rests on a cane.
GVSU President Emeritus Arend "Don" Lubbers rests his hands while in conversation during the 25 Years of Annis Water Resources Institute anniversary celebration. The event was held July 13 at The Lakehouse Waterfront Grille & Event Center on the shores of Muskegon Lake.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A worker wearing safety gear works on the roof of a building with a blue sky in the background.
A construction worker wearing a safety harness holds a rope lifeline while working on the roof of the DeVos Center on the City Campus July 30.
Image credit - Eliana McGlinchey
A marching band sculpture is seen against blue sky and puffy white clouds.
Marching Band, a sculpture by Stuart Padnos, is seen in the foreground of a blue sky decorated with puffy white clouds on the Valley Campus July 8.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
A university president stands among a group of student athletes, a construction worker and a senior leadership member.
President Philomena V. Mantella, center, talks with Facilities Planning project manager Adam Rogalla, far right, after seeing the renovation construction of the basketball arena at the Fieldhouse on July 29. Also pictured are student athletes, director of student-athlete experience Sara Corman and vice president for People, Equity, and Culture Robert Shorty.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Two people embrace as one sits and the other, wearing a straw hat, stands by their side.
President Emeritus Arend "Don" Lubbers talks with Becky Eckstrom, ’80, during Alumni Night of the Summer Carillon Concert Series on July 7.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Three people share a laugh while at a celebratory dinner event.
Scott Blinkhorn, center, laughs with founding director of the Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Doug Kindschi and his wife, Barbara Kindschi, during the 25 Years of Annis Water Resources Institute anniversary celebration July 13.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Two people wearing blue shirts stand in a field of flowers and remove invasive plants.
Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Volunteer Program Supervisor Carly Garvelink and Recreation and Wellness Assistant Director Joe Bitely cut the seed head of an invasive teasel to prevent further spread at Grand Ravines Park North as part of the Wellness Summit.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer

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