Retired dean passes away

Bob Toft, retired Grand Valley State University dean and director, passed away on Jan. 28 at the age of 81.

He has been a leader in the GVSU community since he arrived in 1972 as the founding dean of College IV. He went on to become the director of federal grants before retiring in 2000.

Toft continued to work in the community after his retirement when he established and began coordinating the Gay Married Mens’ Association, located in Grand Rapids.

The Toft family has requested that instead of sending flowers to the hospital, donate money to GVSU’s LGBT Resource Center or the Faith Hospice in Grand Rapids.

Van Andel Global Trade Center celebrates 15 years

Feb. 6 signals the 15th anniversary for the Van Andel Global Trade Center, an organization known for helping companies to rise above the competition in the worldwide marketplace.

Around 6,800 businesses and 20,000 people have benefited from support provided by the VAGTC. In addition, 30 Grand Valley State University students were afforded an opportunity through the organization to take part in hands-on experience in international market research and projects around the world.

An event commemorating the anniversary will take place from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the L. William Seidman Center in Grand Rapids.

For more information on the celebration, contact the Van Andel Global Trade Center at (616) 331-6811.

Group panel to discuss the future of education

The future of education in the state of Michigan will be examined in-depth through a group panel discussion in addition to a presentation by State Superintendent Mike Flanagan.

Titled “The State of Education in Michigan,” the event is sponsored by Grand Valley State University’s College of Education and will feature superintendents from Grand Rapids, Hudsonville and Fennville public schools.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 inside the Loosemore Auditorium at the DeVos Place. A reception will run until 6:30 p.m. followed by the panel discussion and a presentation by Mike Flanagan.

For more information concerning the event, call Ann Homrick in the College of Education at (616) 331-6290.

Voice of Laker Football passes away

Grand Valley State University mourns the passing of Dick Nelson, the longtime voice of Laker football.

Nelson lent his voice to Laker football for 37 years. In the near four-decade career, Nelson only missed two games. He left his position before the 2014 football season due to health concerns.

Friends of Nelson can pay their condolences to the Hodson family on Friday, Feb. 6 in the Alumni House. The Hodson family has suggested that those gifting flowers should instead think about contributing to the Dick Nelson Memorial Sports Broadcasting Scholarship.

Lakers study food and agriculture in new program

Due to a growing interest in agriculture and food from the student body, Grand Valley State University has created the 15-credit Sustainable Food Systems Certificate program.

The 15-credit Sustainable Food Systems Certificate program allows GVSU students to learn about sustainable food systems through courses such as plant biotechnology, the science of soil, international food and culture, and sociology and food.

The program coordinators have students doing hands-on work through gardens, hoophouses and an agriculture share program, all of which are provided at the Grand Valley Sustainable Agriculture Project in Allendale.

For additional information about the program, contact Kelly Parker at [email protected] or Jim Penn at [email protected].

Grand Rapids Symphony to headline latest Arts at Noon

The Grand Rapids Symphony is set to perform at the next Arts at Noon session at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 4 in the Grand Valley State University Cook-DeWitt Center.

The Grand Rapids Symphony has been a part of the community in West Michigan for 85 years now.

The performance will be conducted by Associate Conductor John Varineau and will include compositions such as “Antonin DvoYak’s Serenade in E Major” as well as “Bohuslav Martino’s Nonet.”

For more information about the event, the Music and Dance Department can be reached at (616) 331-3484.