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Holiday lights twinkle behind a person wearing a blue mortar board cap and 2024 tassel.

GVSU in Photos: Celebrating Lakers for a Lifetime at December 2024 Commencement

BY University Communications
Image credit - Photos by Cory Morse, Kendra Stanley-Mills, Macayla Cramer and Ashley Streeter

Dec 10, 2024
A graduate and her daughter share a moment.
Soon-to-be graduate, Kelly Smedley, and her daughter share a moment before the Fall Commencement at Van Andel Arena December 7. More than 1,200 students graduated in the Saturday afternoon ceremony.
A graduate holding high heels hugs a person.
Carrying their shoes, a soon-to-be graduate is greeted by loved ones outside of the Van Andel Arena prior to the Fall Commencement ceremony December 7.
A graduate strikes a pose in front of a banner that reads "GVSU Alumni Laker for a Lifetime."
A graduate poses for a photo.
Wearing Laker blue caps and gowns, graduates line up to pose in front of the Alumni banner for photos prior to the Fall Commencement ceremony at the Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids.
A mother and her daughter wearing a cap and gown take a selfie together.
Lori Blaney, left, takes a selfie with her daughter, Haley Blaney, before the Commencement ceremony where Haley would receive her master's degree in occupational therap
A person in academic regalia is seen through a window where a city scene is reflected behind them.
A graduate smiles while waiting in line with others.
Dean Zelenak, a finance and economics major, smiles with other soon-to-graduates as they wait in line to enter the Van Andel Arena before the start of the Fall Commencement ceremony December 7.
A group of graduates pose for a photo.
A group of master's of occupational therapy graduates line up for a photo before the start of the Commencement ceremony where more than 1,200 students received their degrees.
A detail photo of a cellphone picture of a group of graduates.
A mortarboard detail of an anchor.
A mortarboard detail that reads, "I did it Grandpa."
As seen from above, a group of graduates wearing blue mortarboards and gowns.
A dad wearing a cap and gown holds his young infant son.
Philip Lam holds his 8-month-old son, Braxston Lam, while waiting for the Commencement ceremony to start inside the Van Andel Arena. Lam, who earned a degree in exercise science, said he's off to graduate school next.
Two graduates laugh together.
Two soon-to-be graduates laugh together as they wait for the start of the Fall Commencement ceremony to begin.
A graduate smiles at the camera.
Two graduates laugh as they put their arms around each other.
One graduate fixes the tassel of another.
A group of graduates pose together for a selfie.
A group of friends take a selfie together before the start of the Fall Commencement ceremony. "We're saying our goodbyes," they said.
A detail of a mortarboard.
A detail of a mortarboard's message written in Spanish.
A mother in cap and gown kisses her young daughter.
Taylor Culver, a bachelor of science graduate, gets a kiss from her daughter, Elora Culver, 2, before the start of the ceremony December 7.
A graduate laughs among other graduates.
A graduate fixes the stoll of another.
An overall photo of an arena full of graduates sitting for a commencement ceremony.
Van Andel Arena was filled with over 1,200 graduates alongside their supporters, faculty and staff as the GVSU community celebrated the Fall 2024 graduating class.
A group wearing academic regalia process in to a ceremony.
A group of faculty in regalia process into a commencement ceremony.
A burst of light is seen behind a Grand Valley State University blue flag.
A student speaker wearing blue cap and gown speaks at the lectern.
The ceremony's student speaker was Hannah Hosfelt, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education.
A university president in academic regalia speaks at the lectern.
President Philomena V. Mantella welcomed graduates and commended the courage and persistence they displayed throughout their time at Grand Valley, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A graduate is silhouetted against the commencement stage.
A group of graduates in blue caps and gowns listen to the speaker.
A singing group performs during a commencement ceremony.
A speaker wearing a cap and gown with a golden tassel is highlighted by a beam of light.
Guest speaker Chris Hammer, '09, shared his remarks. Hammer, who ran track and cross country in his time at GVSU, is a world and Paralympic champion and a 2022 inductee into GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
A university president stretches out her hand to shake the hand of a graduate.
A guest speaker in regalia addresses a commencement crowd at the lectern.
Graduates line up to walk on a stage as stage lights are seen above them.
A graduate hugs a dean on stage.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate hugs a person on stage after being hooded.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A overall photo showing an arena full of graduates as well as their families and supporters.
Van Andel Arena was filled with over 1,200 graduates alongside their supporters, faculty and staff as the GVSU community celebrated the Fall 2024 graduating class.
A graduate crosses the stage for their diploma.
A graduate shakes the hand of the university president after receiving their diploma.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma with a hug.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma with a hug.
People in the audience hold up a sign that shows the letters to spell HOLLY.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate reacts to receiving their diploma.
A graduate moves their tassel from right to left to signify their graduation.
Graduates clap and smile at the end of the commencement ceremony.
Graduates smile while wearing blue caps and gowns during the end of a commencement ceremony.
A person wearing a blue cap and gown poses with a selfie with the university president.
A large crowd of graduates and their supporters spill out of an arena at night.
Crowds fill the sidewalks outside Van Andel Arena after the conclusion of the Fall Commencement December 7.
A graduate with their eyes closed relishes the many lei around their neck in honor of the graduation given by family.
Samantha Castanos relishes the moment after family and friends individually placed a lei around the new graduate's neck one-by-one. Castanos said their mother's side of the family is from Hawaii, where this is tradition.

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