Laker athletics honored Boand's achievements October 17 in the
Fieldhouse by unveiling a wall of champions named for her.
The display begins in 1966 and continues to 1999, when Boand retired.
Keri Becker, director of athletics, said the wall leads to a display
of Grand Valley's NCAA championships, adding it's not a coincidence
that 18 of 23 national champions are in women's sports.
"Joan has said all along that it took one word to get it
started, and that word was 'yes,'" Becker said. "Yes turned
into, 'I will,' and 'I will' turned into 'We did.' Your impact will
never be forgotten and know that your legacy lives in every female
student athlete who wears the GV on their chest."
President Philomena V. Mantella called Boand inspiring for becoming
an early leader in women's sports.
"I'm really inspired that before you had to be regulated by
Title IX, to open up opportunities for women who wanted to compete,
you were down that road as one of the leaders," Mantella said.
"That to me is so meaningful. It's the way we have to think. The
regulations will follow if we do the right thing."
Boand was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame and has
received a lifetime achievement award from Women Leaders in College Sports.
She coached the Laker volleyball team for 26 years, compiling a
557-330 record and winning six Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference titles. Her women’s basketball teams won four straight
league titles from 1974-1978.
