Oct. 6: Renowned R&B singer Jason Derulo will make a stop on his first nationwide tour to play GVSU’s sold-out homecoming concert at 8 p.m. in the Fieldhouse arena.

Derulo, who is relatively new to the spotlight, has made a name for himself in the past year with hits “Whatcha Say,” “In My Head” and most recently “Ridin’

Solo.” The singer has made clear his intent to stay at the top of the pack while on tour in a post on his website.

“I don’t want to stay in the box,” Derulo said. “I’m just going to try to be the best I can be. And when I get to that level, I’ll figure out a way to get better.”

Oct. 10: The second annual ArtPrize competition, which began on Sept. 22, will end on this day. Founder Rick Devos has already called this years contest “way bigger” than last year’s, which was a key commercial success for Grand Rapids. The winner of this year’s competition will take home $250,000, with $100,000 going to the second place finisher, $50,000 for third and $7,000 to each of the other artists who make up the top 10.

In an interview with Paul W. Smith of Detroit’s WJR-AM 760, Devos said that last year’s contest exceeded his expectations, and that he was looking to build off that success to benefit Michigan in the sophomore contest.

“The idea and the real core goal is really about creating a creative culture in West Michigan and Michigan as a whole,” Devos said.

The GVSU Outdoor Art and Sculpture Exhibition Center at 301 and 401 West Fulton, as well as the lawns of the DeVos Center, Eberhard Center and Kennedy Hall of Engineering will be among the host sites for showcasing the artwork.

Oct. 1-3, 7-10: GVSU’s Shakespeare Festival will present a modern day adaption of “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare in the Performing Arts Center. The setting will take characters, including Rosalind, on an escape from Manhattan into the countryside. Director and communications professor Roger Ellis said the modern-day setting will still embody the elements that have made the play successful for hundreds of years.

“We’ve put a modern-day spin on Shakespeare’s most delightful romance, which is filled with wonderful poetry, four marriages, unbelievable clownery an magical enchantment, with down-home songs,” Ellis said.

Tickets for the show are $6-$14 and are available at the GVSU Box Office from noon to 5 p.m.

Oct. 8: Homecoming Weekend will feature a 50th anniversary presidential address by GVSU President Thomas Haas, a pancake breakfast, 5K walk/run, the Shakespeare and Renaissance Festivals, a women’s soccer game, women’s volleyball game and a home football game against Northern Michigan University.

Oct. 18: A 50th anniversary commemorative book signing will occur in the Thornapple Room of the Kirkhof Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. President Emeritus Don Lubbers, former President Mark Murray and current President Thomas Haas will attend the event to personally sign the books.

Oct. 21: The October events conclude with a poetry reading by former GVSU student Bob Hicok and Great Britain’s Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy on

the second floor of the Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids. The event is free and open to the public, beginning at 7 p.m.

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