Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy 2025 Celebration of Graduates
April 24, 2025
The team was thrilled to celebrate the newest class of Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy Fellows. As our 2025 graduates prepare to enter the next season of life, we gathered to celebrate the impact they have made on the Grand Valley community.
The program included remarks by Hauenstein Center staff, a guest keynote, and commencement by the graduates as they receive their CLA certificates.
Full Event Recording
Keynote Speaker
Chavala Ymker
Chavala Ymker (they/them) is a proud Grand Valley State University alumni and Cook Leadership Academy Fellow who spent three years as a fellow, lead fellow, and student coordinator for the Hauenstein Center. They now manage development communications for Shedd Aquarium in Chicago while pursuing their masters in strategic communication. In their free time they enjoy spending time by Lake Michigan, experiencing Chicago's storefront theater scene, and reading eight books at once.