As a recruiter for the Grand Rapids staffing agency Aerotek, former Laker linebacker Charles Hill, ’14, meets and works with people who have varied backgrounds in engineering, light industrial work and maintenance.

In order to successfully recruit and place people with West Michigan companies, Hill said he spends a lot of time with his clients, getting to know their personalities, their leadership and work styles. He enjoys his work and said he is successful, in part, because he knows the details of his own leadership style and how best to approach and work with others.

Hill is an alumnus of the Laker Leadership Development Program (LLDP). The program started five years ago as a way to enhance the leadership skills of student athletes. Capped at about 20 participants per year, Laker coaches nominate student athletes for the program, and faculty members nominate non-student athletes who are business or sports management majors.

Keri Becker, athletic director, said LLDP fits well with the mission of Laker athletics. “We work hard for athletics to play a part in fulfilling the mission of the university, by educating student athletes beyond the classrooms that we call courts, fields, tracks and pools,” she said. “We want to coach the whole student athlete, and this program is an extension of that philosophy.”

She added that LLDP also aligns with the passion of donors who support the program because it helps to build leaders who will graduate and be well prepared for the workforce.

Hill was nominated for LLDP prior to his senior year when he was named a captain of the football team. He said learning his leadership style (vocal, influential) helped when communicating with teammates on the football field, and peers in his classes. He now applies the same principles when he communicates with co-workers and clients at Aerotek.

A summer retreat is the program’s highlight. For two days in August, students who attend LLDP listen and learn from Laker coaches and community leaders, and participate in leadership assessments and team-building sessions. Several events continue throughout the year to engage the LLDP cohort and program alumni.

“At the retreat, we took an assessment of our leadership skills and got a lot of feedback,” he said. “That’s something I take with me nearly every day, knowing how I can impact certain people, and how to best work with different types of people.”

Damon Arnold, director of student services for Laker Academics, was instrumental in helping design the content for LLDP; he said he drew largely from NCAA programming.

Learning the leadership style of each person on a team or in an office also helps with conflict management, Arnold said.

“Great leaders are flexible and can work with a lot of different people,” he said. “You need to first understand their vision and then understand your piece of the puzzle to work together.”

Becker and Arnold said they were grateful to the donors who support the program. For more information about LLDP, visit gvsu.edu/lakeracademiccenter/.

More ways to give to Grand Valley athletics

Don Lubbers Excellence in Athletics Facilities Fund

President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers is a passionate supporter of Laker athletics. During his presidency, Lubbers believed that Grand Valley’s campus community and student life would be strengthened with a solid athletic program.

Making a gift to the Don Lubbers Excellence in Athletic Facilities Fund helps to honor his efforts. Past gifts to the fund supported the renovation of Lubbers Stadium, and a golf clubhouse.

These projects provide student athletes with the resources they need to excel in their sports. Visit gvsu.edu/giving/dleaf for more information or to make a gift.

Irwin Athletic Fund

The Irwin Athletic Fund is named for Charles H. Irwin, the first chair of the physical education department and athletic director. Irwin established the foundation for athletics at Grand Valley, and believed that individual lifetime sports were an important part of the physical education curriculum. His teaching philosophy was to emphasize learning, not winning.

Giving to the Irwin Athletic Fund helps support students by providing opportunities to improve their skills and overall health. Learn more information or make a gift by visiting gvsu.edu/ giving/irwinclub.

Tim and Terry Selgo Student Athlete Scholarship Endowment

Tim Selgo and his wife, Terry, were honored for their commitment to Laker athletics by the creation of a scholarship in their name.

The Tim and Terry Selgo Student Athlete Scholarship Endowment was established last fall by two alumni and the fund quickly grew with support from other alumni and friends of Grand Valley athletics. Selgo served as athletic director from 1996-2016. Under his leadership, Grand Valley has earned a national reputation for having one of the top NCAA Division II athletic programs in the country.

The scholarship will be given to student athletes who have completed their athletic eligibility but have remaining coursework to complete their degree, and demonstrate financial need. Visit gvsu.edu/giving/selgo to learn more or to make a gift.

Boand and Rowe Endowment for Advancement of Women in Sports and Physical Activity

Joan Boand and Patti Rowe are known as pioneers of women’s sports and physical activity at Grand Valley for encouraging and promoting women on campus to participate in athletics and physical education classes.

They were honored in 2013 with the establishment of the Boand & Rowe Endowment for Advancement of Women in Sports & Physical Activity. The endowment fund supports professional development opportunities and scholarships for students. To make a gift or learn more about Boand & Rowe Endowment, visit gvsu.edu/giving/boandrowe.