Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2015 - (Page 9)
AT H L E T I C S
A hop, skip, dribble and lob to Grand Valley
International students join varsity teams
They may be new to
Grand Valley, but
they're not new to
the game. Of the 452
students who play a
Laker varsity sport, a
handful are international
students who are
bringing their athletic
talents to Grand Valley.
These students bring a
fresh perspective and
a lot of motivation to
the game.
by Leah Twilley
photos by Amanda Pitts
Alex Van De Steenoven
Ernijs "Ernie" Ansons
Carola Orna
ROWVILLE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
EXERCISE SCIENCE
RIGA, LATVIA
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MARKETING
VERONA, ITALY
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
PROUD MOMENTS
PROUD MOMENTS
Winning the state championship in
high school and being selected to play
and be the team captain for the Victorian
State Team.
I was selected to play on the National
Latvian Basketball Team when I was 16,
18 and 20 years old. I was also selected for
the Canarian Basketball Academy in Spain,
where I got to play with basketball players
from all over Europe for a year.
FUN FACT
This is my first time in the U.S. and the first
time I've ever seen snow. My mom and dad
wanted me to send them a photo of the
snow because they've never seen it either.
It's hot and dry in Australia.
CHOOSING GRAND VALLEY
I looked at other schools, like Michigan
State and Virginia Tech, but guys on the
tennis team from Grand Valley reached
out to me on Facebook and told me about
the university and how great it is, and they
were right. That caught my attention.
FUN FACT
I speak three languages:
Russian, Latvian and English.
LAKER FAMILY
I've played on many teams, but
this one has become my family.
We're all really close and that means
a lot, especially living so far away
from home.
PROUD MOMENTS
Making it to nationals and being ranked
No. 2 in the country when I attended
William Carey University. Another proud
moment was when I came to Grand Valley
and we beat Northwood University during
the GLIAC finals last season.
FUN FACT
I have played tennis since I was 4 years old.
My parents are both tennis players.
SOUTH, THEN NORTH
When I came to the U.S. two years
ago, I decided I wanted to experience as
many cultures as I could. So I attended
a university in the South, then found out
about Grand Valley by doing some
research online.
9
Grand Valley Magazine
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2015
Campus News
Athletics
Donor Impact
Arts
RMSC celebrates silver anniversary
Get a job
Another man's treasure
YGR
Research
Sustainability
Q&A George Grant Jr.
Off the Path
Focal Point
Alumni News
Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSpring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineWinter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineFall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSummer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSpring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/Spring2016GVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/Winter2016GVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/2015FallGVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/Summer2015GVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMSpring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMwinter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/Grandvalley/GVMFall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/Grandvalley/grandvalleymagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/fall_2013
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