Deadline approaching for Celebrating Women reception nominees

Nominations for awards at the Celebrating Women reception will be accepted by the Women’s Commission until Feb. 22.

The Celebrating Women reception is an annual event that honors both men and women at Grand Valley State University who are making a positive impact on the lives of women.

Examples of awards include the Maxine Swanson award, the Positive Black Women Scholarship, the Unsung Hero award and the Outstanding Student award, among others.

The Celebrating Women reception is set to take place on March 29.

President Haas signs civic engagement agreement

President Thomas J. Haas pledged to strengthen Grand Valley State University’s commitment to civic engagement through the signing of a new agreement this past week.

By signing the Campus Compact 30th Anniversary Action Statement on Civic Engagement, Haas agreed that GVSU will take the necessary steps toward preparing students for civic engagement, in addition to creating partnerships that benefit the surrounding community.

The Campus Compact is a nonprofit coalition of 70 college and university presidents with the goal of creating campuses environments in which its students, faculty and staff learn to engage with their communities.

Campus Compact will hold a conference and president’s summit celebrating its 30th anniversary on March 20 in Massachusetts.

Open Mic Night

Students will be given the opportunity to showcase their talents for a live audience at the next Open Mic Night on Feb. 19.

Hosted by Spotlight Productions, Open Mic Night is a monthly event that allows students of diverse talents to take stage. The event is open to the entire campus community and will include free brownies.

Open Mic Night is set to take place from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Area 51 in the basement of the Kirkhof Center on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus.

Those interested in performing are required to send an email to [email protected].

Black History Month: Taste of Soul

In celebration of Black History Month, the Office of Multicultural Affairs will be hosting a food-tasting event aimed at educating community members on the tradition of soul food on Feb. 19.

Students, staff and faculty members will be given the opportunity to try foods from the Southern African American tradition of soul food that originated when enslaved Africans were forced to eat leftover scraps. Through scrap pieces of corn, molasses, flour, vegetables and other items, slaves managed to create a variety of dishes that are now revered as tradition by many.

“Taste of Soul” is set to take place from noon until 1 p.m. on Feb. 19 in the Kirkhof Center lobby.

For additional information about the event, contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at (616) 331-2177 or [email protected].

GV students place in business competition

Three GVSU students competed the Global Family Enterprise Case Competition on Jan. 14 through Jan. 16 at the University of Vermont were awarded second place overall in the competition.

The competition was comprised of 24 teams from five continents from all over the world. GVSU’s team included Josué Rigueiro, a management major, Sydney Ecker, an accounting major, and Melissa Atkins, a supply chain and management information systems major.

The team had to give a 20-minute presentation to a group of judges about a case analysis of family businesses. They were tasked with solving the case in a practical way for the family owners of the business.

In addition to second place, Atkins received the Best Presenter award.