In the tenth year of battle, SVSU claimed victory against Grand Valley State University in both the fundraising competition and football game. SVSU raised a total of $30,224.60 for the Great Lakes Bay Miracle League, and won the football game by a close score of 55-52.
Grand Valley raised $1,100 for the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan.
“The SVSU population truly came together this year to raise funds for our charity,” said Sean Khatib, Student Association campus events director and Battle of the Valleys chairman. “It is great to see everyone united for a mission to make an impact for children in need.”
Battle of the Valleys (BOV) events began Sunday, Nov. 4 with a campus-wide scavenger hunt and kickoff party. The kickoff party promoted the upcoming events and showed a video clip featuring the Great Lakes Bay Miracle League, a non-profit organization that enhances the quality of life for special needs children and their families by giving them the opportunity to participate in recreational programs.
“I loved the charity Student Association chose this year,” said communication sophomore Andrea McAulay. “Since BOV week ends with a football game, it was fitting that the charity is sports-related.”
Residence Housing Association (RHA) sponsored the Casino Night and Election Results party Tuesday night in the Thompson Student Activities Room. The room was transformed into a casino with tables for black jack, craps, roulette and the big money wheel. A $5 admission fee bought students food catered by Hooter’s, mocktails and a raffle ticket for the chance to win a 32” TV.
“RHA hosts a casino night every year,” said RHA Vice President of Public Relations Amber Swanson. “This year, we collaborated with Student Association to make the event bigger and better to raise funds for BOV.”
As students took their turn at casino games, the presidential election results were streamed on the projector screen. Music education and theater freshman Andrew Whitman was the dealer at a black jack table for the night.
“This event was a great opportunity to bring students out to watch the election results and support the charity,” Whitman said. “Most students would be watching the results anyway, so this event is a way to have fun while doing so.”
One of the most well-known BOV fundraisers is the car smash, sponsored by the Kinesiology Department and Kreager Towing. Students paid $1 for one swing or $5 for unlimited swings at a car painted blue to represent Grand Valley.
Exercise science sophomore Rayshawn Williams took his turn at the car smash.
“I had never seen something like this before today,” Williams said. “It is definitely a fun and different way to raise money. I saw a lot of students doing it and having fun, so I decided to give it a try for a good cause.”
On Thursday, sororities Alpha Sigma Alpha and Kappa Tau Epsilon hosted the annual BOV “Date Auction” in the Thompson Student Activities Room. Nearly 40 students were “auctioned off” to raise funds.
The highest overall bid was $45 for a “double date” with psychology sophomore Kari Lahar and exercise science sophomore Kristina Tschirhart, both members of Alpha Sigma Alpha.
“The date auction was a great way to get more involved to help raise money for a great cause, and at the same time have an opportunity to bond with sisters and meet new people,” Tschirhart said. “It was great to see so many organizations come together to raise money that will benefit those who need it the most.”
The week concluded with concert-style entertainment at Project X Party on Friday night and a pre-game tailgate sponsored by SA on Saturday morning.
Week-long events included t-shirt sales, purchasing a “Caged Louie” and a campus-wide silent auction. Nearly 40 items were auctioned off, including a mini iPad, various SVSU paraphernalia and the opportunity to be a guest football coach at the game.
