April 23, 2003

Allendale, Mich. - Dave Siik has been honored as the 25th recipient of the Kenneth R. Venderbush Student Leadership Award at Grand Valley State University. This award is the most prestigious honor given to students at Grand Valley and this year marks the first time it has ever been presented to a student-athlete.

The award is given to students who have made a significant leadership contribution to the Grand Valley community by representing students, participating on a committee, or serving as a leader in a student organization. The candidate must be a senior and also display successful academic achievement along with his or her leadership accomplishments.

Siik has been a member of GVSU's track and field team for four years, serving as team captain for the past two seasons. He is also a member of the team's Dynasty Council, which monitors team study tables, mentors freshmen, organizes team dinners and functions many other tasks that has allowed the track team to be successful. Dave has also been on the GLIAC All-Academic Team for three years.

Besides being a leader on the track team, Siik has served as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years. With his leadership, the group has taken on many projects and activities.

Dave also participated in the Athletes Who Care program that sends GVSU student-athletes to inner-city charter schools to assist in the classroom. In addition, Siik is a member of the Passport Program, in which he serves on the Student Coordinating Team that plan substance abuse and non-alcohol activities on campus.

Siik also served as a Child Life volunteer in the intensive care, hematology, and oncology units at Devos Children's Hospital, as he is a member of the Pre-Med Club at Grand Valley.

Not only is Siik an athlete, he has some artistic talents as well. Siik participates as a double bass player in the GVSU symphony and the Marquette symphony and has served as a councilor and staff aid in the Superior String Alliance music camp for children. In addition, he is active in theater performances both on and off campus.

Dave has been a Student Building Supervisor for three years in the GVSU Fieldhouse, the highest-ranking position that can be attained. He has served as a group coordinator, in which he has played a leadership role in the marketing and supervision of large public groups hosted at Grand Valley.

Through all of his on campus activities and excelling in both the classroom and in athletics, Dave has displayed a tremendous amount of leadership and is a worthy recipient for this great award.