Grand Valley hosts student leaders from Grand Rapids

Students from Harrison Park Elementary School in Grand Rapids visited Grand Valley February 1 to learn about the importance of pursuing higher education.

Twelve student leaders from sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes met with Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas, visited the Admissions Office and toured the campus.

President Haas invited the students to visit Grand Valley when he met with more than 150 students from Harrison Park last October. “Right now is the time to dream big with steps along the way including college,” Haas told the students. “Do well in high school so you can go to college, become a leader and achieve your dreams.”

The visit is part of a partnership between Grand Valley and Harrison Park Elementary School through a grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The grant supports Challenge Scholars, a program that prepares, encourages and provides resources for students to attend college.

Grand Valley has been working with the school to get students excited about having the opportunity to attend college.

Haas offered advice to the group of students: “Try to learn something new every day. That’s what I do; I learn from our students, faculty members and the people I work with every day.”