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Before it became GV Talks, it was known as Viking EDGE lecture series. No matter the title, overall this program has allowed faculty and now students, share their stories to the Grand View Community.

“A group of us wanted to bring a Viking edge series to bring people on campus to deliver a message that would inspire our students in ways that will motivate them about learning and discovering their vocation.”

This spring was the first time students took the stage as the speakers. Four students were chosen and each created a 12-minute speech, which covered topics such as: engaging in community to discerning your life purpose, growing in leadership or educating with integrity. Three of these presenters were Jaidin Ross, Chris Dejoode and Pedro Cardoso.

Jaidin Ross is a senior majoring in Health Promotions and Mass Communications. Ross grew up in Omaha Nebraska in a predominantly black neighborhood. Ross talked about a topic familiar within the black community, light skin verses dark skin. Ross will be sharing her experience growing up within the community where a shade of your skin can influence how people treat you.

She will also address the role of media and how much influence it has skin tone. “My goal is wanting people to be okay with going through a process of finding themselves,” Ross said “it is okay because everyone goes through some kind of insecurities during their lives.”

Chris Dejoode is a senior at Grand View University double majoring in accounting and business finance. Dejoode’s talk centered around his journey with weight loss. “I lost 86 pounds since my freshmen year at Grand View University.” By sharing his story, Dejoode is hoped that his story will encourage someone else.

“I wanted to loss the weight because I want to be a better runner, I wanted to compete my senior year and to qualify for the national for track and cross country,” Dejoode said

Now that he has 86 pounds less; Dejoode is able to compete with other runners and not being held back by his weight. His goal for this presentation was to explain to others that if they set goals they can accomplish them by having people doing a set process, getting people around who are positive around you and work hard.

Pedro Cardoso is a senior majoring in business with a minor in sociology and psychology. Last may Cardoso was in a car accident that caused him to be in coma for hours. This event was life changing for Cardoso.

“I feel like I have been given a second chance in life and I want to do something meaningful.” Cardoso said

After the accident Cardoso used this newfound passion to draw attention to an important environmental topic, climate change.

“The seed has always been there because of my background, my parent always talk about climate change,” Cardoso said.