April 4, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is offering commencement in two sessions to provide students with a safe, in-person celebration.
The college plans to hold ceremonies on Friday, April 29. Students in the School of Arts and Sciences will attend a 4:30 p.m. commencement, and students in the School of Workforce Development will be at a 7:30 p.m. service, all at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse, 111 Lyon St. NE.
Students can have up to five tickets for the event.
“Holding two ceremonies will allow everyone to spread out safely as we continue recovering from the pandemic,” said Registrar Valerie Butterfield, who is overseeing commencement. “This is a special moment in the lives of our students, and we want them to be able to share it with their friends, families and other supporters.”
Birgit M. Klohs, recently retired as president and CEO of The Right Place, will provide the keynote address at each ceremony.
Klohs has spent more than four decades working to enhance economic development in West Michigan. Under her leadership, The Right Place Inc. created or retained more than 50,000 jobs and stimulated more than $5 billion in new investment. Among the projects she worked on were the opening of Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and the creation of the Manufacturers Council.
Since stepping down from The Right Place in 2021, Klohs has served as a director for the New Community Transformation Fund, a venture fund she co-founded for entrepreneurs of color.
Last year, GRCC hosted four ceremonies over two days and did not allow guests because of the pandemic. The 2020 commencement was provided virtually.
Additional details on this year’s event will be posted at grcc.edu/commencement