Students celebrate founders of Grand Valley
Oct 26, 2016
Students participated in the Buck-a-Brick Contest, which raised money
for the Student Legacy Scholarship.
The Grand Valley community celebrated the founding of the
university during a day of activities October 25.
The fourth annual Founders Day recognized the 282 individuals
who came together to start the vision and foundation for Grand Valley.
Bill Seidman, recognized as the founder of Grand Valley, convened some
of these individuals on October 25, 1958, to discuss what an
institution of higher education would look like in the Grand Rapids area.
The day included "birthday cake" in the form of
cupcakes that were handed out on the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids
campuses. Additional events included the Founders Day Festival and the
Buck-A-Brick Contest, which raised money for the Student Legacy
Scholarship.
In 1960, Grand Valley became Michigan’s 10th state-supported
college. In 1963, Grand Valley State College enrolled its first 226
students, and has since become one of the nation’s most successful
regional universities. The Founders Day tradition celebrates how
vision and passion culminated in a tremendous philanthropic outpouring
and the establishment of Grand Valley.
The celebration was organized by the Laker Traditions Team in
Student Life.
For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/foundersday.
Learn more about Grand Valley’s history at www.gvsu.edu/anniversary.
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