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ST U D E NT- R U N P U B L I C AT I O N S / / P R I N T . O N L I N E . M O B I L E / / L A N T H O R N . C O M
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MONDAY, MAY 4
NO. 61
100 K STRONG GVSU celebrates graduation milestone
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| SPENCER MILLER
ach year, commencement looks to honor the most recent graduates from Grand Valley State University. This year, the 100,000th alumni of GVSU was honored with a surprise acknowledgement from the university. “Just imagine, 100,000 Lakers making a difference,” said Thomas Haas, president of GVSU. “It’s a remarkable milestone for the university and for any university for that matter and we also recognize that each one of you have your own incredible milestone today.” This university-wide milestone and accomplishment was celebrated at the afternoon commencement ceremony April 25 in the Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids. Throughout the day, over 3,000 students walked across the stage during the two ceremonies. Dale Boedeker a health communications major and advertising and public relations minor was announced as GVSU’s 100,000th alumni. He was given a $1,000 check and various items from the GVSU Alumni Association.
Additionally, Diane Paton, a 1967 alumna and the first ever accepted student at GVSU was there to take part in the ceremony and see how much the university’s population has grown since her time at GVSU. “I still can’t believe it,” Boedeker said. “When I went up there and they stopped me and all the stuff went down I though maybe it was a joke and then they said I was the 100,000th (graduate) and I still kind of don’t believe it.” This is also an important milestone for GVSU as enrollment continues to grow and more than 5,600 students received a degree during the 2014-2015 academic year, setting a record for number of graduates. According to Haas, the university will reach 200,000 graduates in much less time than it took to get to the first 100,000 alumni. Michael Jandernoa, former CEO and current board member of Perrigo Company, spoke at the morning ceremony, and Paula Kerger, president
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BY HANNAH LENTZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
CONGRATS: Dale Paul Boteker, GVSU’s 100,000th graduate, stands with President Haas after receiving an award during the 2015 GVSU commencement ceremony.
Meet the president Q & A with 2015-2016 student senate leader, Maddie Cleghorn and I’m looking forward to seeing how that translates into next year’s he new student sen- hard work and results. HL: What’s something you think ate president for the 2015-2016 school you could improve on? MC: I would like to see more year is Maddie Clegcross-committee work on the body horn. The Lanthorn sat down with her to find out what (of the student senate). We work best when we have people with different makes her tick. strengths and perspectives working HL: How many years have you served on student senate and what together on a project. I would also like to work with our vice presipositions have you held? MC: This will be my third year on dent for public relations to ensure senate, and last year I served as the students know that senate exists as vice president for external relations. a resource for them, and that they know how or why they might want HL: Could you give me bit of a to reach out to us. personal bio? HL: Could you give me a brief, MC: I am a junior majoring in broad summary of the duties as political science and minoring in Spanish, and I hope to go to law president? MC: The duties of the president school after graduating from Grand involve a wide range Valley State Univerof responsibilities, sity. I spent last sumbut one of the largmer studying abroad “I was ecstatic est is serving as the in Spain where I spent and/ eight weeks traveling to be elected and representative or spokesperson for and practicing lots of so humbled by the student voice and Spanish. Aside from senate, I am also a the support of my senate’s work in faculty governance, the member of Phi Mu fracolleagues and board of trustees, and ternity, where I served friends.” a number of other as vice president of the committees, boards, cabinet for the 20142015 year. I have also MADDIE CLEGHORN and initiatives at the university. The presiSTUDENT SENATE recently been accepted dent chairs the cabinet, PRESIDENT into the Cook Leaderand works very closely ship Academy, which I with the executive vice am really looking forpresident and seven other vice presiward to in the coming year. dents, serving as a sounding board HL: What is your favorite part and source of information. The presabout senate? MC: My favorite part about sen- ident is also responsible for commuate is being able to work with people nicating information from senate to who are so passionate about GVSU’s administration, and vice versa. HL: What was your reaction when success and the success of our fellow you were elected? Lakers. It really is a unique experiMC: I was ecstatic to be elected ence to have a group of people, with strengths and skills in all different and so humbled by the support of my areas, work together for the purpose colleagues and friends. It is incredof making GVSU the best place it ibly exciting to hear the optimism can be. Everyone has his or her own reason for loving GVSU so much, BY HANNAH LENTZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
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| KEVIN SIELAFF
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HALL OF SCIENCE: The GVSU board of trustees will name the new science building on the Allendale Campus
after P. Douglas Kindschi, a former dean and the current director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute.
Board approves name for new science building BY STEPHANIE BRZEZINSKI ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM
he Grand Valley State University board of trustees met on April 24, when it named the new science building in Allendale the P. Douglas Kindschi Hall of Science. Formerly a dean, Kindschi has been a faculty member at GVSU for more than 30 years. He is currently a professor in the mathematics and philosophy departments, and he serves as the director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute, where
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he is interested in the dialogue between science and religion. Kindschi said he has mixed feelings about having a building bear his name. “It’s an honor, but a little bit embarrassing,” Kindschi said. “I do things because I think it’s the right thing to do, not for any recognition. But, I am very pleased. It’s an opportunity to give back to the community.” In addition to his work in math, Kindschi has also been involved in the sciences at GVSU. He and his wife Barbara have established an endowment for research and education.
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Kindschi said they are providing the “funds to enhance the work of science at Grand Valley. It’s connected to the building, but indirectly.” “It’s been a wonderful part of my career to be part of Grand Valley and to have had a significant part in the development of science at the university,” Kindschi said. “It’s always a good time to be part of Grand Valley.” Through the years, enrollment in the sciences has grown at GVSU. When Kindschi was dean, he was involved in the building of Padnos Hall SEE BUILDING ON A2
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