GVSU rowing coach receives national award

After 34 years of serving as the rowing coach for Grand Valley State University, John Bancheri was presented with the 2015 Men’s Collegiate Coach of the Year Award on Dec. 12. Bancheri was honored during the 23rd annual Joy of Sculling Coaches’ Conference in New York in which head rowing coaches from across the country gathered together. Among other achievements, Bancheri is responsible for leading the GVSU rowing team to six American Collegiate Rowing Association Team Points National Championships.

Past and present recipients of the award have been chosen by coach colleagues from their respective colleges and universities.

For more information about the GVSU rowing team, go to www.grandvalleyrowing.com.

GVSU awarded $98,708 from Consumers Energy

Consumers Energy presented Grand Valley State University with an incentive rebate check worth $98,708 as part of the company’s Energy Efficiency program.

Through the Energy Efficiency program, GVSU was promised the incentive rebate check as long as the university exceeded required energy standards on its latest construction projects – the P. Douglas Kindschi Hall of Science and the Laker Marketplace.

Facilities Services received the check during a ceremony on Jan. 7. Tim Thimmesch, associate vice president for Facilities Services, and Diane DeRyke, data entry coordinator for Facilities Services, were both in attendance at the ceremony.

GVSU United Way campaign raises $173,000

The Grand Valley State University United Way campaign raised approximately $173,000 this year, the majority of which will be invested in the areas of education, health, and income within local communities.

In comparison to last year’s campaign, GVSU’s 2015 campaign saw an increase in $6,000. Participation also rose 4 percent with 1,922 out of 2,538 participants donating.

The majority of the funds raised through the campaign will be donated to United Way organizations in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan counties, though nearly two dozen counties total will be benefited.

To learn more about the United Way campaign, go to www.gvsu.edu/unitedway.

Interfaith leader to speak to the West Michigan community

A prominent voice in the interfaith community will discuss the importance of interfaith leadership for both the world and the West Michigan community on Jan. 11.

Eboo Patel, Interfaith Youth Core executive director, will lead a student workshop as well as a separate presentation.

The student workshop, “Interfaith Dialogue and Service: The Time is Now,” will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Commons Annex Lecture Hall at Calvin College, located in Grand Rapids.

Earlier in the day, Patel will give another presentation titled “Interfaith Leadership: Engaging Religious and Philosophical Diversity in the 21st Century,” at 12:30 p.m. in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium at Calvin. This event is free to the public.

For more information, along with how to register for the student workshop, call (616) 331-5702.

Letting Go of Tobacco event

Individuals looking to quit tobacco use are invited to attend a free interactive class at Grand Valley State University on Jan. 13.

At the class, attendees will be taught how to create their own plans for quitting tobacco by identifying individual weaknesses as well as obstacles standing in their way.

“Letting Go of Tobacco,” will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 13 in Facilities Services Conference Room A, located on the GVSU Allendale Campus.

Hoverboards banned in campus housing

Grand Valley State University Housing and Residence Life sent out an email prior to the start of the semester to discuss the new tech craze, hoverboards.

The hoverboards – or, electric, two-wheeled, self-balancing scooters – have recently appeared on the market and have been seen throughout campus.

Since they are electrically powered, Housing and Residence Life noted that they are a potential risk of becoming a fire hazard and thus cannot be used or stored in any campus housing. Any student that is found to be using or storing a hoverboard will be asked to remove it from the building. Failure to do so could result in a conduct referral for failure to adhere to university housing standards.