G.R. Lettinga Campus Traditions

It's Happening Here!

Davenport University's Grand Rapids Lettinga campus is an active community, jammed with great programs, events and traditions old and new. Find your favorites by trying them all!

Panther Prowl

Panther Prowl is a three day transitional program full of fun activities to familiarize first year students with everything DU.

  • Get introduced to Davenport
  • Learn about the local community
  • Meet other students
  • Be involved in many fun activities!

When: August 28th-30th, 2013

Pantherpalooza

Pantherpalooza is the official kick off to the school year!  It’s an exciting, free event for all DU students, faculty and staff. It's a big welcome that includes:

  • Great food
  • Student organization booths
  • DU department reps
  • Local business contacts 

Area restaurants and much more! This is a great opportunity to:

  • Meet new people
  • Catch up with old friends
  • Find out about the latest involvement opportunities on campus
  • Connect with local employers and opportunities in the community.

When: Pantherpalooza will take place on Friday, September 13, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Aux Gym. 

Panther Pack

Come join Student Life at athletic events throughout the semester. Join the Panther Pack at one of the following games and win a chance to receive a free t-shirt and Student Life giveaways. Support Davenport Athletics and show your school spirit!

When: Game dates to follow!

Constitution Day

Student Life recognizes Constitution Day. The U.S. Congress set this as a national day of recognition to promote awareness about the U.S. Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787. You'll find:

  • Constitutional trivia
  • Campus constitution display

When: Generally, every September 17. (If September 17 falls on a weekend, an alternate date will be posted.) For 2012, the official date is September 17.

Homecoming

This year's Homecoming week will take place November 12th to the 17th, leading into the Women's & Men's Basketball Games versus Marywood.

Homecoming. A week jammed with DU spirit for students, alumni, faculty and community friends! The 2012 Homecoming blitz celebrates six years of official "homecoming" celebrations, since the Grand Rapids Lettinga campus opened in 2005. Homecoming has a lot to celebrate, including:

  • Davenport alumni support and success
  • Our community partnerships
  • DU's incredible athletic teams 
  • Davenport University as a community

Annual "don't-miss" homecoming events include:

  • Student Activities BBQ Bash
  • Panther Recreation Chili Cook-off, 
  • Powder Puff Football Game 
  • Alumni Tailgate

Applications for Panther Ambassadors are now available!

When: We're busy planning! Watch the Events Calendar for specific activities, dates and times.

Fall Crawl

Dust off your running shoes and take your marks! The annual DU 5K Run/Walk is a popular part of our Family Weekend festivities. This event is open to the public. The cost is $10 for students and $20 for community members/family members. The cost for DU faculty and staff is $15.  All proceeds from the race will go to our DU Cares Project.  

 http://www.snapregistration.com/110150/

When: 2011 Fall Crawl coincides with Family Weekend. Date and time coming soon. Check the Events Calendar often!

Sibs and Kids Weekend

Grab your little brother, sister, cousin, or favorite babysitting tot and get ready to laugh. This annual weekend promises to be a blast. We like to mix it up, so watch for details, but you can look forward to activities such as:

  • Attending DU athletic events
  • Movies
  • Night in the Student Center
  • Bowling
  • Food and fun

When: Usually in January. Watch the Events Calendar for 2011/2012 dates.

Spring Fling

Spring Fling not only shakes off the chill of Michigan winter, it says "boo-yah!" to the end of the academic year. Student Life cooks up a random roster of ways to kick back, from

  • Gym games and competitions
  • Tie-dyeing shirts
  • Eating food (let's say "guaranteed" to this one!)
  • Jamming to music

When: Watch the Events Calendar for 2011/2012 dates.

March Madness

Everybody goes crazy for college basketball! DU is no exception. Stop in and watch the games on four different screens. There will be some great food, and guests will be able to participate in a bracket for prizes.  T-shirts will be $2 for students and $5 for Faculty/Staff.  

When: Thursday March 15th.  Watch the Events Calendar for specific info.

DU Days of Service

Panther Prowl Service Saturday (Aug)  |  Make a Difference Day (Oct)  |  MLK Day  (Jan)  |  Into the Streets  (Apr)

Don't shy away from volunteering! It's a true "feel-good" opportunity and it gets noticed on your resume. Our four “DU Days of Service” banner events are just the beginning. Contact the Volunteer Center any time you'd like to donate your time to a good cause,  whether on your own or with a group of friends! Tell us what works for you and we'll put your day to good use, helping others.  Every hour you donate to DU Days of Service and other Volunteer Center projects qualifies for the Davenport University Community Service Honor Roll.