June 7, 2021
SVSU’s Student Association invites Great Lakes Bay Region nonprofits to apply for support
One nonprofit organization from the Great Lakes Bay Region stands to benefit from the fundraising efforts of Saginaw Valley State University’s Student Association. The student government is now accepting applications for beneficiaries of Battle of the Valleys, one of SVSU’s proudest and most meaningful traditions. Applications will be accepted through June 11 and can be found at svsubattle.com
“Battle is a huge part of the Cardinal culture and it shows just a little bit more about the kind of people we have on our campus,” said
Student Association Member and Battle Co-Chair Madeline Lowry. The rehabilitative medicine major from Lake Orion added, “One of my favorite sayings about battle is ‘half the size, twice the heart.’ Our campus is half the size of Grand Valley, but we have twice the heart with each year we win.”
Battle of the Valleys harnesses the friendly rivalry between SVSU and Grand Valley State University to raise funds for charitable organizations in each university’s respective community. The 2021 Battle of the Valleys – the 18th – kicks off on Sept. 26 and will culminate with the presentation of a check to the selected beneficiary during the SVSU-GVSU football game on Oct. 2. This year’s game will be held at SVSU.
“One of our traditions is bringing SVSU’s attention as to why we battle,” said SVSU Student Association Battle Co-Chair Josie Koenigsknecht, a communication major from Fowler. “This awareness allows students and faculty to recognize that we battle for many more reasons other than simply raising funds. We battle to support, to serve as a friend, to engage in community involvement, and to bring SVSU and the community together.”
Since 2003, the SVSU Student Association has donated more than $464,000 to Great Lakes Bay Region nonprofits. The annual fundraising competition is held the week preceding the SVSU-GVSU football game. Between 2003 and 2018, SVSU won the Battle challenge 13 out of the 16 years. In 2019 and 2020, SVSU’s Battle fundraising efforts were unrivaled; GVSU’s student government had decided to suspend participation in the competition. Grand Valley is back in the competition for 2021.
“Student Association is proud to serve charitable organizations throughout the region, but Battle of the Valleys is so much more than a fundraiser," said Koenigsknecht. "Maddie and I are eager to lead Battle of the Valleys 2021, but it would not be possible without the support from SVSU and the community.”