May 21, 2010

Allendale, Mich. - The Grand Valley State men's and women's basketball teams are the winners of the second annual Life Skills Challenge, a program put into place by the Laker Academic Center that provides a competition between all GVSU athletic teams to win points for completing activities in several different categories.

According to the Laker Academic Center, "It is the goal of the Grand Valley State athletic department to have our student-athletes graduate from GVSU with the tools necessary to take the world by storm. Our students gain a lot of valuable skills from being athletes. It is also important that we show them the importance of other areas of personal development, as we want them to be able to create strong resumes that show employers that they can be an asset to any team."

Categories included - and points were awarded - in the Life Skills Challenge for participating in the Laker Honor Roll, Community Outreach, Blue Pride, Career Development, and Personal Development. While only one team (women's golf) was named the winner in the inaugural year of the Life Skills Challenge in 2008-09, the competition was extended to name winners from one male sport and one female sport.

The women's basketball team gained points and were tabbed as Life Skills Challenge winners by volunteering with the GVSU Children's Enrichment Center, feeding the homeless, supporting other Laker sporting team's events, attending Life Skills presentations, and taking part in GVSU Helping Hands, Allendale Boulevard Days, and Habitat for Humanity. Grand Valley State's men's basketball team also attended Life Skills presentations and supported other teams at their athletic events, while also volunteering with the Special Olympics, Kids Food Basket, and GVSU Helping Hands.

Both teams were awarded the Life Skills Challenge Trophy and will get to choose between having an ice cream party or a pizza party as their winning prize.