Growing up in Holland, Michigan feels like a world away from the dreams that I have for my career in sports journalism and broadcasting. As a little kid I grew up dreaming of commentating the sports I love so much. Football, baseball, basketball, and hockey all make up some of the best memories of my childhood and recreational life. Up until my time at Grand Valley, I hadn't had the opportunity to pursue that dream. As I approach graduation in one year, there is so much that I'm looking forward to doing before then. So much that I need to do. I grew up as the son of a GVSU alum and first-generation college student. This school is in my blood.

I'll be the sports editor for The Lanthorn, and I'm expecting commentating opportunities to work out with The Whale. I want to host a show on The Whale and continue to do a weekly DJ spot for WLSX radio. Beyond that, once I leave college, there's no specific place or job I expect to do. I want to find the best opportunity and attack it. I have a connection to a college football show producer at ESPN, which may be my first step out the door of GVSU. Ultimately, I want to commentate the biggest sporting events on major networks. One brick at a time I feel like I can make it happen.

Honestly, I can't understate how much this means to me. This scholarship is life-changing because it allows me to pursue those opportunities to their fullest. I get to fully immerse myself in the school for one last year, as I get to gain valuable experience doing real work in the multimedia journalism field at the university. Thank you so much. I'd love to meet you if that's possible.

Hello! I’m Macenzie, and I am honored to receive the Robert Nelson Foundation Scholarship. I’m a junior at Grand Valley State University studying multimedia journalism. I chose GVSU because I heard fantastic things about the journalism program, and I wanted to be close to all the opportunities Grand Rapids has to offer. I’m originally from Imlay City, MI, which is a small farm town in the thumb, so it's been an adjustment. I’m expected to graduate in December 2024, so hopefully I’ll get accustomed to the area by then! I’ve enjoyed my time here so far. This upcoming school year I’m looking forward to getting an internship; I’m hoping to get one in radio because that’s what I’m most passionate about.

I have always enjoyed school, and college is no different. Most days it doesn’t feel like I’m actually in school because all of my journalism projects feel more like a fun pastime than actual homework. I don’t find myself dreading going to class or putting off assignments, and not many can say that. I thoroughly enjoy what I’m doing, and I want that in a career as well. If work doesn’t feel like work, you did something right. I would love to get a career in radio. I participated in one of our campus radio stations WLSX last school year and I fell in love with it. I think it would be awesome to interview musicians and athletes while playing music I enjoy. I think radio creates a strong sense of community as well, which is very important to me. I could do fundraisers for animal shelters, donate concessions to local youth sports leagues, run contests, among so many other things. I would love that opportunity to give back while truly enjoying my work.

I want to say thank you for choosing me for this scholarship as it does not go unappreciated. I work full-time to help fund my education, and it leaves little room for doing much else. Because of this scholarship, I will now have some cushion to be able to explore my future career by getting an internship or starting my own radio show on campus. I will continue to focus on my school career, and I am happy to have more people supporting me along the way. Your investment in my education will not be forgotten! Thank you again for your generous gift.

Multimedia Journalism

My name is Gillian Hanton and I am an incoming senior multimedia journalism major at Grand Valley. I am originally from Sterling Heights, Michigan, a city on the east side of the state in the Metro Detroit area. However, I am currently working for the summer in St. Ignace, Michigan, a small town in the Upper Peninsula. This is a place my family frequented on vacations while I was growing up, so it genuinely feels like a second home to me.

It is very difficult to describe how thankful and honored I am to receive your scholarship, and how profoundly it will impact my future at Grand Valley State University. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, I had to become a part-time student because of some personal issues with my health and my family's health as well. As a result, I have had to add on an additional semester to my educational career at Grand Valley. I was very concerned about how I was going to pay for this extra semester, and I have considered taking on an extra job for the next year to reduce some financial stress, as my other academic scholarships will expire after only four years. With this scholarship, you have given me the greatest gift an academically invested student can receive: the ability to spend my time in college doing what I love, without having to worry about financial difficulty.

Writing and journalism are my greatest passions, mainly because I love learning about my community and sharing their stories with the public. I was a staff writer for the Grand Valley Lanthorn, our school newspaper, last year, and it challenged me to become more involved in all aspects of life at Grand Valley, whether that be in sports, volunteer efforts, or the arts. In more ways than one, it made me a better, more well-rounded person.

This coming year, I am looking forward to participating in one of my other passions, theatre. Because performances were halted for well over a year due to the pandemic, I can't wait to get back onstage and create important art with some of my best friends. I have deeply missed the endless rehearsals, opening night jitters, and countless mistakes made while creating a production. My senior year (plus one more semester) would not have been the same without these experiences, as well as your support.

Multimedia Journalism

Thank you so much for your generosity. This scholarship will make an enormous difference in my life. Now, I have an opportunity to focus more on academics, rather than worry about my finances.

I'm originally from Michigan's east side. I've worked extremely hard to surround myself with projects and work that I am passionate about since moving to Grand Rapids to attend school. I'm currently working as a production assistant for WGVU Public Media and am an intern at Local Spins. I take pride in my work and love being able to work in multimedia journalism. Thank you again!