Feb. 25, 2022, CENTREVILLE, Mich. – A big third quarter helped the Grand Rapids Community College women's basketball team earn a 60-53 victory over Glen Oaks Community College on Friday to conclude the regular season. The Raiders scored a season- low 18 points in the first half, but exploded for 25 in the third quarter. GRCC was just three of 19 from three-point range in the first half, but improved to six for 10 in the third. The nine three-pointers was a season best for GRCC. Their previous high was seven on Dec. 4. "It was a consensus in the locker room at halftime that in the first half, we were getting good looks and defending well, we just weren’t taking advantage by hitting open shots," Coach David Glazier said. "This group again answered the bell and played much closer to their potential in the second half. Proud of the efforts tonight to finish the regular season with a win." Freshman Sally Merrill led the Raiders with 23 points, including four of 8 from long range. Allison Kellogg was the lone GRCC player with a double-double, with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Emersyn Koepke and Marlene Bussler each dished out five assists and had two three-pointers. GRCC finished 18-10 overall and 14-4 in the conference, good enough for third place in the MCCAA Western Conference, behind Jackson College and Muskegon Community College. The team will await its opponent in the regional tournament as the regular season plays out for several teams. GRCC will take on the No. 6 seed at home on March 1 at 6:30 p.m. 

Feb. 25, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College student Perla Mascorro has faced obstacles during her pursuit of a medical career. Her hard work has helped her overcome some of them; a scholarship from the GRCC Foundation helped transcend others. The foundation plans to distribute $1.4 million in more than 300 scholarships to more than 1,000 students this year, and students can apply by filling out just one application. The priority deadline is March 15. The application and additional information can be found at grcc.edu/scholarships . “I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformation in students when they get help overcoming financial challenges,” said Dr. Kathryn Mullins, vice president of College Advancement and the foundation’s executive director. “Scholarships take a burden off our students, allowing them to focus on their academic goals.” The GRCC Foundation awarded $1.28 million in scholarships to students last year, including Mascorro. “I came to the United States six years ago without knowing how to speak a single word in English,” said Mascorro, who is enrolled in GRCC’s Medical Assisting program. “Today, I am about to fulfill my dream!” The foundation’s Spectrum Health Care Professionals Education Scholarship has been vital to her education, especially with the gas she needs for hour-long commute to classes. “The scholarship was important for me because it helped me to pay part of my education to achieve my goal and improve my life,” said Mascorro, who is working and raising a son while attending college. This semester, one in five GRCC students has tuition covered by a scholarship, grant or state program, removing cost as an obstacle to a life-changing education. Many more students could take advantage of foundation scholarship free-tuition programs if they complete the FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students can connect with GRCC financial aid specialists by phone at (616) 234-4030; email at financialaid@grcc.edu; or virtually or in-person by appointment. Photo by Andrew Schmidt.  

February 25, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College professor Leigh Kleinert prioritizes community building in her classes to ensure the success of her students Always remember, at GRCC, you are surrounded by people who want you to be successful and are ready to walk with you on your educational pathway. GRCC students have access to talented faculty members who are experts in their fields. Professor Kleinert's excitement for teaching stems from meeting people both in and out of the classroom. But her expertise comes from a lifelong passion for education, zoology and biology. She teaches human anatomy and physiology courses in her role as a biology faculty member at GRCC. She also has expertise in zoology and academic service learning, and has recently stepped into the role of interim associate dean in the School of Arts and Sciences. Kleinert builds connections among her students, despite the pandemic, by volunteering to teach in-person classes along with her online classes. “I am trying to connect students as much as I can,” she said. “In my online classes I use exam reviews, virtual office hours and small study groups.” Whether online or in person, you’ll find that almost all of GRCC’s biology courses have a hands-on laboratory component, and they all present students with real life applications for what they are learning. But Kleinert knows this is not the only reason why her students receive an education second to none. “The strength of our courses is that they are taught by instructors with incredible passion and enthusiasm for the subject,” she said. Kleinert knew from personal experience that providing ways for students in her classes to build a community is important. “I learned through trial and error that when learning the anatomy and physiology of the body: studying with others really does help!” she said. “When I started graduate school I was new to the area and knew no one. Also, many folks in my small program were younger than me and I felt like I could study better on my own. In my second semester, when I finally happened into a study group, I learned that the group helped me identify what I did not know, taught me different ways to learn, and I helped teach them things I knew which helped me learn better. I also had some familiar faces on campus after that.” Kleinert’s passion for education and biology started early and did not waiver. “I began college with a plan to work in a zoo on captive breeding and species survival,” she said. “I contemplated changing to education my sophomore year. I applied to the College of Education and was accepted; many of my friends were denied or waited-listed. I was still so unsure, so I turned down my spot and completed by B.S. in zoology over the next couple years. In a twisty road over the next few years. It led me straight to education.” Education is a field Kleinert is extremely passionate about, and she would not trade working with students for any other job. Her mantra is, “Know who I am and be my authentic self in the classroom; teach to my heart.” She’s inspired by the work of Parker Palmer, an activist who focuses on issues like education, community and social change. Kleinert also is inspired by her parents, who taught her about empathy, encouraging her to picture things from someone else's perspective before judging them. “I do not think I realized how wise they really are until I became a teacher and a parent,” she said. Kleinert earned her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Michigan State University and her Master of Health Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Grand Valley State University. She began teaching at GRCC as an adjunct faculty member, and moved into a full-time faculty role in 2004. Kleinert balances her role as a parent, and her passion for education and biology, with outdoor activities, cooking and traveling. And when that is not enough, she looks to her own personal heroes, her parents, as a compass. “I look to them because they have suffered through adversity and taught me how to look at the experiences as how it has made them stronger and the positive lessons from those experiences,” she said.        

February 24, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Parking at Grand Rapids Community College will be easy as A-B-C when students return from spring break. The college’s three main parking ramps will have new names, making it easier for students and community members to find them, part of a comprehensive wayfinding system that will touch all areas of the downtown campus. The new sign system will help pedestrians and motorists navigate their way through the campus, connecting them with classes and services. Changing the names of the parking ramps will eliminate confusion, as people often looked for entrances on the streets included in the name of the ramp. Floors will be identified by colors. The Bostwick Ramp will be Ramp A, the Lyon Ramp will be Ramp B and the DeVos Campus Ramp will be Ramp C. New signs are planned to be set in place in the week ahead, and other signs across campus will follow. The $600,000 wayfinding project includes building signs as well as directional aids near roads and on pedestrian plazas, including fresh, modern designs that allow for future growth. It is the first major change to campus signs since the college transitioned from Grand Rapids Junior College 30 years ago. The college worked closely with Grand Rapids city planners to arrive at an eye-catching style that fits well within the aesthetics of the historic Heritage Hill neighborhood. Corbin Design of Traverse City was the lead firm, working with GRCC’s Facilities Department and Communications Department graphic design team. Universal Sign Systems of Grand Rapids heads the construction phase of the project. The design is similar to the one used to highlight GRCC students on banners attached to streetlight poles throughout campus. Large signs with the current logo will be erected at key intersections to identify where the campus begins and ends. The Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse and Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center will have video display boards to inform students and community members about campus events. Building addresses will be featured prominently on external signs to assist people following directions on their mobile phones and other devices. Pedestrian signs with maps are intended to help people traverse the campus on foot, especially those looking to between the nearby DeVos Campus and the Main Campus. GRCC has made parking on campus less expensive in recent years, part of an overall effort to make a college education more accessible and affordable. Since fall 2020, students can enter and exit GRCC student parking lots multiple times each day while only being charged once for parking. Drivers must swipe their RaiderCard when entering and exiting the ramp for this feature to work. Students will be charged $3.50 when they exit the first time and will be able to enter and exit the rest of the day for free. They must use their RaiderCard for all entries and exits for this feature to work. Money can be added to RaiderCards through machines on campus or online.  That change made it easier for students to leave campus between classes for work or home responsibilities, or drive between the DeVos Campus and Main Campus and not pay more than the daily $3.50 rate.      

Feb. 23, 2022, PLYMOUTH, Ind. – Grand Rapids Community College's men and women's basketball went down in defeat to the Ancilla Chargers on Wednesday night.  The women suffered a 53-38 loss while the men lost 116-99. The women's basketball team played without starting forward Grace Lodes, and couldn't find any rhythm on the offensive end. The team scored a season-low 38 points, and shot a season-worst 22.6 from the field, including just two of 24 from three-point range. "Not our best outing by any means," Coach David Glazier said.  "We’ve struggled the past few games to consistently score the basketball, which caught up with us tonight. We will get back to work tomorrow to prepare for Friday night's season finale at Glen Oaks." Sally Merrill scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Raiders. Despite the outcome of their next game, the Raider women will finish in third place in the conference, and take on the sixth-place team in the first round of regional tournament next week. The Raider men concluded their 2021-22 campaign by scoring 65 points in the second half, but couldn't overcome the outstanding three-point shooting from Ancilla College. The Chargers were 17 of 34 from deep, compared to 11 of 33 for the Raiders.  “Tough one to end the season,” Coach Joe Fox said. “We had some solid individual efforts but needed to gel better as a team on both ends. We did a much better job offensively in the second half, scoring 64 points, but needed to execute better defensively. I’m grateful for my two sophomores, who did a great job of leading the team this season, on and off the court. I’m excited to follow their careers moving forward.” Freshman point guard Danyel Bibbs scored a game-high 32 points and dished out six assists in just 25 minutes.  Sophomores Ryel Daye and Drew Moore ended their GRCC careers with solid performances.  Moore totaled 24 points on nine of 13 from the field, including four three-pointers.  Daye finished with seven points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Moore and Daye finished one and two on the team in scoring, averaging 20.1 points per game and 17.5.  Daye led the team with 11.9 rebounds per game. The men's team finished with a 10-19 overall record and 5-13 in the conference. The women's team still has one more game in the regular season, playing on Feb. 25 at Glen Oaks Community College.  The team will host a first-round game on March 1 in the regional tournament against a team to be determined.    

Feb. 22, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC Athletics fans can now support their teams and athletes with customized Raiders apparel, available for a short time through an online store. The Athletic Department is partnering with BIG Team Store to make official Raiders jackets, shirts, caps, and other items available through March 8.  “We’re proud of our student-athletes and our programs, and we’re excited for this opportunity for students and supporters to have official GRCC Raiders apparel,” GRCC Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “This is gear people can wear while cheering in the stands or representing Raider Nation around town.” Adidas is the official supplier of GRCC athletics and all apparel will include GRCC athletic logos. This is the first time that apparel with the current GRCC Raiders logo is available to the public. The apparel is available at bigteamstore.com , and the passcode RAIDERS22 will lead to the GRCC merchandise. The store is open now, and the deadline to order is 11 p.m. on March 8. Products will be delivered in mid-to-late April.

Feb. 21, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College's men and women's basketball team's survived games on Monday to complete the season sweep over Lake Michigan College. The women won 47-42, and the men were 77-75 winners. The greatest attribute of David Glazier's women's basketball team has been its defense, and team held Lake Michigan to just 20.6% from the field. "I thought we followed up what might have been our worst half of basketball with our most inspired," Glazier said.  "This group has an innate ability to find a way.  Proud of their fight and the way they finished." GRCC leads the 21-team Michigan Community College Athletic Association conference, holding opponents’ field goal percentage to just 31.3.  GRCC started slowly, trailing 14-6 after the first quarter. But the team bounced back by out-scoring LMC 41-28 for the remainder of the game.  Freshman point guard Marlene Bussler led all scorers with 14 points.  Grace Lodes had nine points and 12 rebounds. Allison Kellogg contributed with 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds off the bench. GRCC improved to 17-9 overall and is in second place in the conference with a 13-3 record. The Red Hawks dropped to 18-8, and 12-5 in the conference.  The win also guaranteed the Raiders a first-round home game in next week's District Tournament. LMC's men's team jumped out to an eight-point lead, but the Raiders grabbed their first lead at 16-15 and wound up with a 45-34 advantage at the half. Although the visitors didn't regain the lead in the second half, they did make it a one-point game on six occasions. With the score tied at 75, sophomore Ryel Daye hit a tough layup with four seconds remaining. After an LMC timeout, the Raiders’ Brockton Kohler deflected the pass on the inbound to secure the win. Daye finished with a game-high 21 points and team-high 14 rebounds. Drew Moore, the team's leading scorer, scored 20 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Kohler had a solid 17-point, eight-rebound performance. “I am really pleased that we brought home a win on sophomore night,” Coach Joe Fox said. “Couldn’t script a better home finale for Ryel and Andrew after how much they’ve given the program. Our two leading scorers all year really brought it tonight, hitting big shot after big shot, including the game winner for Ryel. It’s been a season of ups and downs, and it was great to close out our last home game on a high note.” The men's team improved to 10-18 overall, 5-12 in the conference. LMC fell to 10-15 and 8-8. Both teams will be on the road Feb. 23 at Ancilla College. It will likely be the final game of the season for the men’s team.  The women still have a chance to win the conference championship should they win their final two games and Jackson College loses on Wednesday. 

Feb. 21, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – One in five Grand Rapids Community College students has tuition covered by a grant or scholarship program this semester, removing cost as an obstacle to a life-changing education. Many more students could take advantage of free-tuition programs if they complete the FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is required to tap into federal, state and college programs that cover tuition, and GRCC has specialists and resources to guide students and families through the process. This online form requires financial and tax information for students and, if the students are dependents, from families. “The FAFSA is the key that can unlock opportunities many students don’t know are available for them,” said Kristi Welling, GRCC’s associate director of Enrollment Services and president of the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association. “We don’t want anyone to miss out on a life-changing college education. GRCC has specialists who can help students and families navigate the application and learn about ways to potentially lower or even eliminate college costs.” The FAFSA can be completed at studentaid.gov using a computer, tablet or mobile phone. The U.S. Education Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid also has information for students and families available at StudentAid.gov . Students also can download the MyStudentAid app that is available via IOS or Android as another way to complete the FAFSA. The form can usually be completed in under an hour. Students can connect with GRCC financial aid specialists by phone at (616) 234-4030; email at financialaid@grcc.edu; or virtually or in-person by appointment. The state Treasury Department’s MI Student Aid team is hosting virtual college financial aid nights. Sessions will be available on Feb. 22-24 from 6:30- 8 p.m. Registration and information is available online . Of the 11,376 students enrolled at GRCC in the Winter 2022 semester, 2,346 – nearly 21% -- have their tuition covered. The Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs cover the cost of in-district tuition for eligible students. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone covers education expenses for students living in the city and graduating from public, public charter, and private schools based in Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation also requires a FAFSA for students to be eligible for scholarships. The foundation awarded $1.4 million in scholarships last year to GRCC students. The priority deadline to apply for a foundation scholarship is March 15. Information and universal applications are available at grcc.edu/scholarships. The FAFSA also is required for students to receive federal Pell Grants, which can cover all expenses for some students.

Feb. 21. 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Ben Holwerda didn’t really know what he wanted to do with his life, but that didn’t matter at GRCC. 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. “GRCC not only gave me the space and freedom to explore my academic curiosities, it equipped me with the foundational skills to succeed in whatever career I wanted,” Holwerda said. After receiving his associate degree in 2010 – with fond memories of Raider Grill breakfasts – he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and then a Juris Doctorate from William & Mary Law School. While a law student, he worked as an intern with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He also competed in moot court competitions around the country. In 2017, he passed the bar exam on his first try. Holwerda composed draft opinions and advised on law and case disposition as a clerk with Michigan’s 49th Circuit Court until becoming an assistant attorney general in 2018. “I am truly blessed to be where I am today,” he said. “However, it would not have been possible without the skills and knowledge that I obtained from GRCC. “GRCC laid the foundation for my career as an attorney and as a public servant, teaching me to think critically about issues and to write and speak persuasively.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .

Feb. 19, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College's women's basketball team kept its conference championship chances alive with a 68-60 victory over the visitors from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The GRCC's men's team made a great second half comeback, but fell just short, 91-80. Sally Merrill tied a career-high with 15 rebounds to go with her team-high 20 points for the women’s team.  GRCC, one of the best rebounding teams in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association, out rebounded the Cougars 54-42, and had a staggering 21-3 advantage in second chance points. Grace Lodes put up triple-double-like numbers for the second consecutive game with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven points. Karissa Ferry had seven points and eight rebounds while point guard Marlene Bussler added 15 points and seven rebounds. "Proud of our kids again finding a way to win when we were challenged," Coach David Glazier said. "Credit to Kalamazoo Valley. That group is playing well and it understands its roles. It was a quality, late season MCCAA Western Conference win that was important to get." GRCC improved to 16-9 overall and stayed in second place in the conference with a 12-3 record.  The Cougars dropped to 5-16 overall and 5-11 in conference play. KVCC's men's team jumped out to a 14-point lead and never looked back despite a valiant effort down the stretch by the Raiders.  "Great effort from our sophomores to help us go toe to toe with one of the top teams in the conference," Coach Joe Fox said. "These games are great learning experiences for our young guys, but we have to be able to do the little things down the stretch. Looking forward to celebrating our sophomores on Monday night, who have been great representatives of GRCC on and off the court." Andrew Moore, one of the league's top scorers, connected on three free throws with four minutes left, making it just a two-point deficit. But that was as close as his team would get. Moore scored 25 points on 9 of 16 from the floor and 6 of 8 from the free throw line. Ryel Daye played all 40 minutes, finishing with 16 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.  Nyuon Nhial was nearly perfect from the floor, going 7 of 8, scoring 16 points, but was limited by foul trouble and played just 19 minutes. The men's team’s record drops to 9-18 overall, 4-12 in the conference. KVCC improved to 21-7 and 12-4.  GRCC will have just one day off before hitting the hardwood at Hunsberger Arena again on Feb. 21 against Lake Michigan College. This will be the regular season finale for both teams.