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Veteran Calvin University cross country coach taking helm of nationally ranked GRCC team

Aug. 22, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Rob Hyde, who has worked 25 years as a coach in Calvin University’s respected cross country team, will take the helm of the nationally ranked Grand Rapids Community College team. The men's cross country team is looking to get back to nationals for the third straight season. Last season it finished in seventh place with two runners -- Joshua Kipkoech and Coleman Clark -- receiving All-American honors for their top-15 performance.     "I am very excited to get this opportunity to be the head men's coach at GRCC," Hyde said.  "I am looking forward to helping continue to grow this program and work with these amazing athletes to achieve their personal and team goals.  It's my honor to be a Raider now and can't wait to see where we can go together from here!" Hyde ran for Calvin for four years from fall 1993 to spring 1997, and then became a student assistant coach. He stayed at Calvin until fall of 2021, coaching as an assistant to the varsity team and leading the junior varsity program.    Some of Hyde's former athletes would go on to be MIAA All-Conference, All-Regional, Division 3 All-Americans, with one former athlete becoming a national champion in the 10,000 meters in track. During Hyde's 34-year running career, he has been an all-state runner for Godwin Heights High School, a cross country All-American at Calvin University, placed 31st at the Chicago Marathon, and was Michigan Runner's Masters of the Year when he turned 40.  He holds impressive personal records, including a 2:24 marathon, 31:04 10K and 15:06 5K. Hyde has coached middle school, high school, college cross country and worked as a private coach. He currently coaches the Grand Rapid's adult running group, RunGR. Hyde also created his own business, Run With It MI, LLC, where he organizes 14 races a year. Hyde replaces Garrett Lacy who recently landed an assistant coaching position at Northwood University for the cross country and track and field teams.

Christopher Jones

A versatile, engaging percussion artist and musical polymath, Christopher G. Jones brings his unique blend of energy, artistry, and personality to his multifaceted career. Equally comfortable in solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings, he blends various aspects of modern percussion techniques into captivating and unparalleled performances. He is a founding member of the innovative flute and percussion group, A/B Duo, and serves as the Executive Director of the percussion quartet, Clocks In Motion. An advocate for the commissioning and cultivation of new works for percussion, his work with these ensembles have led to over thirty new pieces for percussion, including those from composers Jennifer Bellor, Andrew Rindfleish, Ivan Trevino, Olivia Kieffer, Ken Ueno, Drew Baker and Brendon Randall-Myers.  In addition to his work with A/B Duo and Clocks, he has had the pleasure to collaborate with groups such as Ensemble Dal Niente, Third Coast Percussion, Fonema Consort, and Chamber Cartel. He has appeared in solo and chamber series at the University of Chicago, Virginia Tech, SUNY-Fredonia, University of Illinois,  Skaneateles Festival, Fringe Festival of Rochester, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, and the Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta. Having developed his career as a freelancer in various parts of the country, Chris has performed with a number of orchestras including the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Finger Lakes Opera, International Beethoven Project Orchestra, Conway Symphony Orchestra and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. He currently performs as percussion/asst timpani with the Holland Symphony Orchestra. Chris currently serves on faculty at Grand Rapids Community College, teaching applied percussion and music theory, as well as directing the percussion ensemble. He has held positions at Trevecca Nazarene University, Tennessee Technological University, and the University of Central Arkansas. He received his Bachelor of Music from Florida State University and his Master of Music and Doctorate of Music from the Eastman School of Music. His teachers include Michael Burritt, John Parks, James Ross, Bill Cahn, Charles Ross, Rich Thompson, and John Evans.  He currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his lovely wife Monica, and their two dogs, Trooper and Dozer Degrees and Certifications Doctorate of Music - Eastman School of Music Bachelor of Music - Florida State University Master of Music - Eastman School of Music

My Story Started at GRCC: Corbin Jensen is working to cure childhood cancer at St. Jude Children's Hospital

Aug. 22, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Corbin Jensen’s life-changing moment came in a GRCC classroom: a cell biology course taught by Todd Tiano, a professor in the Biological Sciences Department. Start at GRCC and go anywhere. Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. “I was able to do DNA extraction and other really cool science experiments for the first time in my life,” Jensen said. “Being able to visualize what had previously been an abstract concept, like DNA, changed the way I viewed science. “I have done countless DNA extractions and gel-electrophoresis experiments since then, and I still think it is fascinating and cool. The exposure to hands-on science is one of my favorite things about my time at GRCC.” That moment changed more lives than just Jensen’s. The interest in biology sparked in that class led him to study it further after he left GRCC in 2014. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Michigan State University and a doctorate in cancer biology from the University of Arizona, where he received the Jim Cockrum Innovation Award. He is now doing a research fellowship studying childhood cancers at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Jensen, who was born in Romania, credits his “underdog mentality” and the support he received at GRCC with setting him on his career path. Tiano and professor Greg Forbes encouraged him to apply for the Meijer internship program at the Van Andel Institute, and Jensen did research under the mentorship of Physical Sciences professors Jennifer Batten and Tom Neils. “Without the help of GRCC faculty, I would not have pursued my internship at the VAI,” Jensen said. “Not only did they expose me to opportunities that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise, but they were also invaluable resources after I graduated.” Preparation can lead GRCC students to exciting opportunities, he said. “GRCC is what you make it,” he said. “If you seek the stars, it can be a launchpad as you reach for the moon, or it can be a building with four walls and a chalkboard – the choice is up to you.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at  grcc.edu/apply

GRCC volleyball bounces back, wins first two matches of the season

Aug. 20, 2022, ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team picked up its first two wins of the season on Saturday, bouncing back after dropping the team’s first two matches in the McHenry College Invitational Tournament.   “I think for it being our first real outing we came out pretty strong,” sophomore outside Audrey Torres said. “Obviously it would have been great to defeat Iowa Central in the first game, but I loved that we were able to incorporate every player this weekend. We have lots to improve on, but everyone played a huge role so I’m really proud of everyone’s performance.” GRCC faced Carl Sandburg College in its first match, scoring the first five points, including three aces by Torres. Carl Sandburg had a six-point run late to get back in the game, but GRCC held on to win 25-22. GRCC dominated set two by winning 25-17, but the opponent from Galesburg, Ill., took the third set 25-22. The Raiders responded in the fourth, and picked up their first win of 2022 after a 25-18 victory. Sophomore outside hitter Kara Hecht had a match-high 15 kills and added 11 digs and a block. Torres finished with 13 kills and a match-high 17 digs.  Eliza Thelen had a career-best 14 kills and hit .367 while Karissa Ferry hit a match-high .467 with eight kills and just one error. GRCC concluded the tournament by defeating State College of Florida in straight sets, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22. Torres had a double-double, with 14 kills and 10 digs. Thelen, Hecht, and Ferry all added eight kills. Alena Visnovsky, GRCC’s leading blocker, led the team with four blocks. The sophomore middle now has 17 blocks. GRCC on Saturday travels to Perrysburg, Ohio to participate in the Owens Express Invitational Tournament. The Raiders are scheduled to take on three teams, including two matches against top-ten teams. The matches will be streamed on the team's Facebook site.
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