Nurturing Future Generations
Jason '96, '05 and Chapri '95 Paulateer with their family
Compassion, kindness, and commitment to help others is what comes to mind when you meet the Paulateer family. In 25 years of marriage, Jason ’96, ’05 and Chapri ’95 Paulateer have raised 10 children. In addition to providing for their loving family, Jason and Chapri still find ways to nurture the next generation of Grand Valley Lakers.
While Jason and Chapri both attended Cass Tech High School, they didn’t meet until they came to Grand Valley. What started as a friendship eventually grew into a Laker love story. They continued to stay connected with their alma mater after graduation. However, it was a 2015 alumni event that inspired the couple to become even more involved.
“One of the speakers shared some statistics about Grand Valley. It was eye opening to hear the high percentage of enrollees who were first-generation college students, and how most of the students successfully completed their degree programs,” Jason said. “It was a moment of extreme pride in what Grand Valley had built and how my college experience set me up for success.”
From that moment on, both Jason and Chapri knew that they needed to serve as alumni leaders and share their Laker story with as many people as possible.
“Grand Valley was once considered Michigan’s best kept secret. We cannot afford for it to remain that way,” Jason said. “As many people as humanly possible need to know what Grand Valley has to offer. Any way that I can help get the word out, I’m there for it!”
One of the ways Jason has chosen to share his story is by joining GVSU’s Southeast (SE) Michigan Ambassador Program. The SE Michigan Ambassador Program brings Grand Valley alumni and business leaders together to share their stories and to see how they can partner in the future. It is also a great opportunity to introduce prospective students to the university.
“There are so many alumni in Southeast Michigan that it is only logical for the university to connect to this side of the state,” Jason explained. “A vast majority of the Michigan population is concentrated here, which presents a massive recruitment opportunity. GVSU still presents a huge economic value for all families looking at education options for their children.”
In addition to their leadership on the Southeast side of the state, Jason and Chapri also give financially to the university with gifts to the Legendary Lambda Pi Legacy Endowed Scholarship. In 2019, the Lambda Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. established this scholarship to celebrate its 45th anniversary at Grand Valley. Chapri was part of this chapter’s graduating class, and the scholarship is near and dear to their hearts.
“I witnessed all the work and leadership that it took to make this happen,” Jason recalls. “We are committed to helping future generations have the same opportunities to benefit from all that Grand Valley has to offer.”
Jason and Chapri's excitement for others to share in the Laker experience is contagious. Their generous hearts are leaving a lasting legacy at Grand Valley that will benefit learners for generations to come.