WRT Dept 25th Anniversary Celebration
Description of Celebration
This fall, the Department of Writing at Grand Valley State University will celebrate 25 years since becoming an independent department in Fall 2001.
The Silver Jubilee celebration will feature events designed to welcome current students, alumni, current and former faculty, and friends of the department. It will be an opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the milestone. On Friday, October 2, 2026, guests can participate in a “living archive” of the department's history, attend workshops and readings, and hear from alumni about the diverse paths that writing makes possible. At the center of the celebration is the Silver Jubilee Reception, where alumni, students, and faculty are invited to mingle over light refreshments, revisit shared experiences, and make new ones. The reception will include a department trivia event, highlighting moments from the past 25 years, along with opportunities to participate in raffles and support the new WRT Legacy Fund.
The celebration will also mark the release of a WRT Dept Silver Jubilee Commemorative Publication.
Anniversary logo designed by WRT Major, Kelsie Manor ('26).
Schedule at a Glance
October 1, 2026
GVSU Writer Series Presents: Katie Jean Shinkle ('07)
October 2, 2026
- Check-in and Commemorative Button Pick-up
- 25 for 25: Artifact Showcase
- Living Archive
- Commemorative fishladder Poster Display
- Campus Tours
- Writing Workshops
- Alumni and Faculty Lightning Reading Series
- Alumni Panel on AI in the Workplace
- Alumni Writing Center Consultant Meet-Up
- Silver Jubilee Reception (hors d'oeuvres, cash (contactless) bar, gift bags, class photos, department trivia, raffles, and more!)
October 3, 2026
- Alumni Homecoming Tailgate (RSVP required for entry!)
- Homecoming Football Game vs. Wayne State University (purchase game tickets on your own)
Detailed Schedule
|
Thursday, October 1 Events |
Location |
Time |
|---|---|---|
|
GV WRITERS SERIES PRESENTS: KATIE JEAN SHINKLE ('07) Craft Talk - 4pm; Reading and Q&A - 6pm
|
LOH 178 Library Multi-Purpose Room |
4:00pm 6:00pm |
|
Friday, October 2 Events |
Location |
Time |
|---|---|---|
|
REGISTRATION |
LOH 3rd Floor |
9:30am-3:00pm |
|
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP |
TBD |
10:00am-11:30am |
|
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN |
Your choice! |
11:30am-1:00pm |
|
LIGHTNING READING SERIES Share your work or simply enjoy the readings. Participants have 2-minutes to read original writing. Limited number of readers; advance sign-up required on RSVP form. |
LOH 164 |
1:00pm-1:50pm |
|
WRITING ALUMNI CAREER PANEL: THE IMPACT OF AI |
LOH 174 |
2:00pm-3:00pm |
|
WRITING CENTER CONSULTANT MEET UP or CAMPUS TOUR Reconnect with fellow Writing Center consultants and writing faculty or join a guided campus tour to revisit familiar spaces and explore what's new. |
LOH 168 |
3:15pm-4:00pm
|
|
DEPARTMENT SILVER JUBILEE RECEPTION Celebrate with alumni, faculty, and students at our evening reception. Enjoy refreshments, a cash (contactless) bar, gift bags, department trivia, raffle prizes, and remarks (at 5pm) celebrating 25 years of the Department of Writing. Free event, but you must register by September 28! |
Grand River Room (2250 Kirkhof Center) |
4:00pm-6:00pm |
|
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 EVENTS |
LOCATION |
TIME |
|---|---|---|
|
ALUMNI HOMECOMING TAILGATE Join members of the Department of Writing at the University-sponsored Alumni Homecoming Tailgate and enjoy alumni-owned food trucks, live music, yard games, face painting, and activities for the whole family. Bring your own beverages or grab a drink in the Alumni Tailgate Tent from Farmhaus Cider, Long Road Distillers, and Trail Point Brewing (while supplies last). RSVP to claim your two FREE drink tickets!. An RSVP is also required for entry into the tent. From there, we'll head to the Homecoming football game together. Game tickets are not included (purchase tickets here).
|
Outdoor basketball courts near the Kelly Sports Center |
1:00pm 3:00pm Kick-off |
Silver Jubilee Commemorative Publication
This Silver Jubilee Commemorative Publication celebrates 25 years of the Department of Writing's history, community, and impact. Through photographs, alumni memories, infographic milestones, student voices, and academic, creative, and professional work, the publication honors the people and experiences that have shaped the department across a quarter century. More than a retrospective, it also looks ahead to the future of writing, communication, and storytelling in a rapidly changing world. Designed for alumni, students, faculty, and friends of the department, this commemorative publication highlights the creativity, collaboration, and curiosity that continue to define the Department of Writing and the generations of writers connected to it.
Limited copies available; pre-purchase ordering form coming soon!
WRT Legacy Fund
In honor of the 25th milestone anniversary, the Department of Writing is launching a new WRT Legacy Fund. The WRT Legacy Fund will continue to support the next 25 years of writing students through supplemental unpaid internship support, student conference travel, books, technology, visiting writer events, writing contest prizes, department-sponsored student organization support, etc. Please consider contributing today!
https://www.gvsu.edu/giving/give-now-writing-student-support-gifts-1234.htm
RSVP Today!
Please RSVP for all the events you plan to attend during our 25th anniversary celebration by September 14, 2026.
