Grand Valley State University kicked off their 60th anniversary celebration on Oct. 25 this year. GVSU was founded in 1960, and the first enrollment had 530 students. Sixty years later, that enrollment has swelled to 23,530 students.

For the anniversary celebration, 60 for 60 videos were set up for all to see. The videos will consist of 60 people sharing a 60-second story over video about their experiences at GVSU. These videos will be uploaded to GVSU’s YouTube page over the next few weeks.

Efforts to support the celebration are supplemented by Alumni Relations, who are “especially excited” about the 60 for 60 project.

There are also digital opportunities for students to learn about GVSU’s long history. Students visit www.gvsu.edu/universityhistory, which was information about the story of GVSU.

Despite difficult circumstanced amid the pandemic, GVSU is still trying to celebrate its creation. Founders Day, which was Oct. 25, is a recognition of the people who crafted GVSU in 1960, as well as those who laid out its trajectory. Usually a larger celebration, GVSU President Philomena Mantella said the university has had to adapt in bringing the event to its virtual students.

“Largely, given our current environment events are virtual, so we are trying to make things really exciting and interesting in a new way,” said Mantella

Due to the pandemic, all events for the anniversary will be virtual. The 60 for 60 videos are presented through social media from GVSU in hopes that students, faculty and staff, alumni, and more will find out some interesting information or stories that they never knew before.

“These videos tell the story of the kind of university we are,” said Mantella.

To keep up with 60th Anniversary information, make sure that you frequently check the 60th Anniversary highlight located on the university history page, as well as GVSU’s social media – YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.