Fall 2019 Wrapped
Semester Recap
Written by Leah Erben
Posted on December 12, 2019
The Fall 2019 semester is over! Give yourself a pat on the back for making it out alive, and join us in looking back at some of the highlights and monumental moments from the past four months.
Inauguration
On Nov. 15, 2019, President Philomena Mantella was officially inaugurated as Grand Valley's fifth president! At the ceremony, Mantella outlined a series of goals for the university and expressed how excited she is to be a part of our GVSU family.
First Fall Break
The Fall 2019 semester was the first time the GVSU calendar has ever included a fall break! We were thrilled to have two restful days with no classes.
Making Waves Initiative
This year, the university began the Making Waves Initiative. This program aims to define Grand Valley, build community between students, faculty, and staff, and use discussions of water to prepare students for the real world. The two-year campaign has already started teaching students about GV’s extensive sustainability efforts and working to engage the entire campus community.
Football Season Recap
Thousands of passionate GVSU football fans came to Lubbers Stadium to cheer on the Lakers this year, and we ended the 2019 football season with a record of 8-3.
Homecoming 2019
This year’s Homecoming brought us fun-filled events such as the Pumpkin Painting Contest, Pep Rally, Lip Sync Battle, and so much more. It was an exciting week filled with Laker pride, ending with the Homecoming football game at which Jessica Fillmore was crowned Homecoming Regent.
GVSU Earned Silver Seal for Campus Democracy
Sept. 24 was National Voter Registration Day, and the Community Service Learning Center (CSLC) helped 288 Lakers get registered to vote. GV continues to provide students with the resources they need to get politically engaged, and we were awarded the Silver Seal for Campus Democracy by the All In Campus Democracy Challenge.
Bus Upgrades
Big things are starting to happen — the Laker Line is on its way! This semester, we got new covered bus stations that shield us from rain, sleet, and snow. This is just the beginning as many more bus improvements are yet to come.
Farewell Argo
It’s been announced that Argo Tea, located in the Mary Idema Pew Library, is leaving us. This was Argo’s very last semester with us (RIP), but it will be replaced with a brand new Starbucks next semester.
Campus Climate Survey
Students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to complete the Campus Climate Survey this semester. This was our chance to make our voices heard and share our thoughts about life at GV. The Campus Climate Survey was part of an initiative to make Grand Valley a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.
GVSU named Green College
The Princeton Review has named Grand Valley one of the country’s most environmentally responsible colleges for the tenth year in a row. The university has continued its environmental efforts through programs such as Sustainability Week. From Sept. 30 to Oct. 5, students joined together to pick up trash, reduce waste, and learn about other ways we can help the environment as students at GV.
Thank you Lakers for helping to make this semester so memorable. Happy holidays, and we’ll see you in January!