First Grand Valley graduates to celebrate 50th reunion

Fifty-one people from Grand Valley's first graduating class will celebrate their 50th reunion June 23-24.

Courtney Geurink, assistant director of Alumni Relations, said the number of participants represents roughly one-third of 138 members of the Class of 1967.

Geurink said activities during the reunion include a campus tour, luncheon with current students as panelists, and a dinner.

"The campus has changed so much since this class graduated, they wanted to see the changes and have lots of time together," she said. 

Don and Diane Paton met when classes convened at Grand Valley in 1963; they both served on the reunion planning committee. The Patons remember when the campus consisted of one building, Lake Michigan Hall, where students took classes and socialized. Don said it was important to the planning committee to schedule bus and walking tours to show the university's growth.

Diane said it will be nice to reconnect with classmates who took a chance in 1963 on Michigan's newest college and its 15 faculty members.

"Even though we were the first graduates, Grand Valley prepared us well for our careers, just as it does today," she said.

Grand Valley 1967 vs. 2017

• 1967: 138 graduates; 2017: 3,200 (April commencement)

• 15 faculty members; 1,763 faculty members

• 6 majors; 124 majors (graduate and undergraduate degree programs)