Dec. 20, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College enrollment is expected to increase nearly 5% from a year ago, and students still have time to enroll before Winter 2022 classes start on Jan. 10. As of this week, 10,186 students have enrolled for the Winter 2022 semester, up 4.8% from the 9,715 students a year ago. About 50% of GRCC’s almost 2,000 available courses are being offered in person, in Grand Rapids and at the new Lakeshore Campus in Holland Township. Two state programs covering the cost of in-district tuition continue to have an impact, helping students start -- or restart – a transformational college education. “We’re excited to see more people are coming back and enrolling in their first college semester to take advantage of opportunities for a GRCC degree or certificate program to advance in their careers,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “Students can take as few as two classes a semester to access state financial aid programs and keep moving forward, working around their busy schedules. There is still time to look at courses that are available, and take those next steps.” Enrollment in Fall 2021 semester credit-seeking classes was up 4.4%. GRCC has 903 Winter Semester students enrolled through Michigan Reconnect, which is available to residents ages 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/reconnect, by emailing reconnect@grcc.edu or by calling (616) 234-3366. So far, 1,477 students have enrolled through Futures for Frontliners, which was available to residents who worked in essential fields during the state’s 2020 COVID-19 shutdown. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone also removes cost as a barrier to enrolling. Students are eligible for this program if they have lived in Grand Rapids since grade 11, attended one of the 24 high schools in the city limits and graduated. Additional details are at grcc.edu/promisezone, emailing promisezone@grcc.edu or calling (616)234-4321. Federal programs, such as Pell Grants, can also cover or reduce costs. Students can connect with GRCC financial aid specialists at financialaid@grcc.edu and (616) 234-4030 to learn more, or to receive assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. GRCC offers courses in several formats that have proven popular, especially with students looking to start or restart their education through Michigan Reconnect. Hybrid classes are conducted partly on campus and partly online. Virtual classes meet online at set times with opportunities to engage with faculty and classmates. Traditional online classes allow students to log in and get started at any time of the day. GRCC’s enrollment and admissions specialists are able to assist with the process and answer questions. The team can be contacted at admissions@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-3300, with additional information at grcc.edu/enroll.

Dec. 20, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Beverly A. Drake is being remembered as a champion for those in need and a mentor to community leaders across West Michigan. Drake, a Grand Rapids Junior College alumna and a member of the GRCC Foundation board of directors for 27 years, passed away Saturday. She was 80. “Bev was such a phenomenal person,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Mullins, GRCC’s vice president for College Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. “She devoted her life to helping others, caring deeply about helping people overcome obstacles to success, especially through education – and GRCC. So many people in our community respected her, and sought out her friendship and wisdom. She touched the lives of many and will be missed.” Drake was the executive director of Area Community Services Employment and Training from 1985 to 2011. The organization creates opportunities for economic self-sufficiency for low-income, economically disadvantaged, elderly, disabled, unemployed and underemployed people and dislocated workers. “My life’s work reflects helping those who were not ordinarily able to access opportunities, be that education, training or jobs,” she said in a 2015 interview. “I like to think that I was able to open doors for people and to help others because I had been helped.” Prior to working with ACSET, Drake served in various positions with the Grand Rapids government and Grand Rapids Area Employment and Training Council. Drake was a graduate of Grand Rapids’ South High School, attended GRJC, and Michigan State and Grand Valley State universities. She served on the GRCC Foundation board starting in 1994. Among her many honors is being named GRCC’s Distinguished Alumna in 1995. “We will miss Bev tremendously,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “But her influence on this community will long be felt through the people she helped. She was all about helping others as seen through her work with the workforce investment board as well as her commitment to our GRCC Foundation. She created opportunities that changed lives, and inspired many others to do the same. That’s a legacy they will be with us for many years to come.”

Dec. 20, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- 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. Gary Carey has two professions – and his GRCC experience has helped him with both. An Introduction to Marketing class taught by Mark Mulder helped him find one career. “Mark was a retired business executive and passionate teacher who challenged us to be inquisitive and understand the ‘why’ behind things,” Carey said. “My class experience was why I changed my career path and went into business for sales and marketing.” After getting his associate degree, he earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies with a leadership emphasis from Grand Valley State University. His 30-year business career has taken him to positions at IKON Business Solutions, Canon Business Solutions and Paycor. Currently, he is the Michigan market leader for Gibson Insurance. Public service is Carey’s other career: He has served on boards and committees in Walker since 1999. He was elected to represent the 2nd Ward on the City Commission in 2013 and became mayor in 2019. GRCC has helped Carey with that calling as well. “Just as our community has residents and businesses that come from diverse backgrounds and have different plans and goals in life, my time at GRCC was no different,” he said. “My experience in understanding that everyone has a story – and no one story is more important than another – has helped prepare me for a successful business career and serving in elected office.” Carey appreciated how his GRCC instructors helped him “connect dots” from the course materials to the real world. “This was done in smaller class sizes with instructors who are recognized in their field as subject matter experts,” he said. “Even today, I see some of those instructors out in our communities and it still surprises me they remember people and names, and still provide support for our lives outside the classroom.”  Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .

Dec. 17, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Sally Merrill scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds, but the Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team fell to Lake Land College – the defending national champs, on Friday 84-50. Lake Land, ranked No. 7 in the latest NJCCA Division II poll, jumped out to a 22-7 lead after the first quarter and would never look back, outscoring the Raiders in every quarter and improving its record to 9-4 on the season. GRCC snapped a three-game win streak and fell to 4-6 to conclude non-conference play. Lake Land coach David Johnson was presented with the game ball after he picked up his 500 th career. Johnson is in his 24th season at Lake Land, located in Mattoon, Ill. The Lakers scored 25 points off 15 Raider turnovers, compared to six points on nine turnovers for the visitors. The Lakers’ Lexi Niebrugge, five of nine from long range, led all scorers with 19 points.  Lake Land totaled 14 three-pointers in all while shooting 48.3%. The Raiders were successful in 36.4% of their shots outside the arc. Merrill, a freshman from Allegan, added three assists and a steal in 37 minutes of action. Grace Lodes, of Comstock Park, added 13 points, with three blocks and four rebounds.  Allison Kellogg, a freshman from Jenison, scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds. GRCC won't be back in action until Jan. 3 when the team begins conference play against Mid Michigan College.   

Dec. 17, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The transformation of the Mable Engle House into Grand Rapids Community College’s Steven C. Ender Hall has earned project architect Progressive AE national honors for historic preservation.  American School & University, a magazine covering operations of educational facilities, saluted the project in its 2021 Architectural Portfolio edition, highlighting it in the Outstanding Design in Historic Preservation category. “Steven C. Ender Hall looks wonderful,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “But more importantly, it helps our college meet our students’ needs. We are grateful for Progressive AE’s thoughtful collaboration on this project, making Ender Hall a place that will serve our students and community for decades to come.” The building, 455 E. Fulton St., was constructed early in the 20th Century by a lumber baron for his family. GRCC purchased it from Davenport University for use as offices. The 3,850-square-foot Steven C. Ender Hall is used for student-focused departments, including the Experiential Learning and the Honors programs, and Student Employment Services. It also provides space for Student Life clubs and organizations to meet. A ribbon-cutting was held in August. “Preserving landmark buildings like this is the right solution for maintaining a connection to the past, while making a strong commitment to the future,” Progressive practice leader Tod Stevens told the publication. “One of the best ways to be sustainable is to renovate rather than building new, so giving new life to the historic structure was a great first step.” Progressive AE worked with GRCC, local building officials, and the city’s Historic Preservation Commission on the $3.4 million renovation. “It was a good challenge for us, recovering the building’s grand interior after more than a century of renovations that had significantly changed the upper floors,” Stevens told the publication. “A space like this is what make a community college so vital today – they are critical in helping students transition from high school to the next stage of their learning journey, whether continuing education or entering the workforce. We have found that success comes when a student feels comfortable, and when they feel that they belong. To that end, the space is designed to create this sense of belonging – relaxed, low-threshold, inviting and accessible so students feel safe, welcome and included to engage their full potential.” The project earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification for Commercial Interiors, a national standard established by the U.S. Green Building Council. GRCC held a ribbon-cutting in August for the building, which was named for President Emeritus Steven C. Ender.

Dec. 17, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- 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. We are here to help! Meet Wayne Hsieh. You will find Wayne in the Math Department or in the Math Prep & Learning Lab at GRCC. Wayne teaches courses from algebra to precalculus, but primarily teaches MA 97 and MA 98 classes, which the Math Prep and Learning Lab supports. When asked his favorite class he shared, "I think I'd pick MA 97 because it has a lot of daily applications like percentages, rates and geometry." Helping students connect math to their daily lives is just one of the ways Wayne connects students to the material when he is teaching and tutoring. "I get to help students from a variety of math backgrounds and it can be very challenging at times," he says." "Tutoring helps me realize that it’s not only about knowledge in math, but also about presenting information in multiple views that the student can understand -- since no one learns the same way." Wayne is also the Coordinator of the Math Prep & Learning Lab, where he helps students in developmental math classes with homework questions. He also helps students in other programs that are trying to brush-up on their math skills. The Math Prep and Learning Lab offers both in-person and online tutoring support for students to: Get help navigating the study tool in ALEKS PPL in order to improve their math placement score. Brush up on their skills before enrolling in MA 97. Access services specifically designed to help students prepare for and succeed in MA 97 and MA 98. Wayne, and tutors across campus, are focused on meeting the needs of individual students. "I really enjoy it when students come back and tell us they passed the test or class, and show us how important the lab is to them," he said. "In the lab, all we want to do is to help students learn and be more successful. We are a fun bunch to work with!" Wayne has been tutoring throughout his educational and professional career, with a brief stop when he took a position in global supply chain procurement -- specializing in China and Taiwan. "I've always enjoyed tutoring," he said. "I was a student tutor at GRCC and at GVSU. When I had to do my internship, I became a professional tutor at GRCC. I left GRCC for a full-time position with benefits, was laid off, and came back to GRCC and have been here since." Wayne attended GRCC after high school. This was the right choice for him because the cost was low and he was able to live at home. He earned his associate degree from GRCC before attending Western Michigan University, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in Math and Psychology from Grand Valley State University. He returned to GVSU to earn a Master's of Education, Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis in mathematics. You can contact the Math Prep and Learning Lab through email at MathPrepLab@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-4729. Additional information is here .

Dec. 15, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC Workforce Training programs provide in-demand skills leading to rewarding careers. Each Wednesday we’ll meet students who are heading down an educational pathway and changing their lives by earning occupational certificates. Life’s path isn’t always a straight line and James Hernandez’s path has taken a sharp turn. Hernandez was prospering as a chef. But when he was furloughed for three months and watched as more than 400 of his co-workers were let go, he was pretty nervous. “I just had a feeling like this was not going to end well for me,” he said. “During this time, a friend of mine who works at Medbio told me he had been working the whole time. He suggested I apply. With a family and a mortgage, I just needed do some kind of work that was more secure. “I started as a temp and was then hired in directly. After being an operator for a while, I let management know that I was interested in doing more. I then enrolled in the Plastics Polymer Engineering Certificate Program at GRCC and just finished my first class. “Once I started class, I received a text from Cody Giba, representing the One Workforce program. The text said that I may qualify for some financial help through a new grant program. I got back to him right away.” One Workforce for West Michigan Manufacturing is a grant program assisting those interested in pursuing careers in advanced manufacturing, or for those who want to improve their current manufacturing skills. Even GRCC students who are currently enrolled in a manufacturing class or training program may qualify for financial assistance. There are nearly 20 GRCC programs qualifying for financial support.  “My major needs were tools for this class and for this type of work. Dennis Triggs, the One Workforce program manager, was super helpful. We discussed options and if that was something he could do. He was very open to what I needed. The One Workforce grant helped with the purchase of some of those tools to get me started and they are not cheap. I was able to get good quality tools that will last me a long time. “Dennis and Cody were both so easy to work with. They were helpful and very responsive.” The One Workforce program was developed to provide students with advanced manufacturing skills training – and training dollars — to gain the education needed to step into a rewarding career. “It’s exciting to see where this will go," Hernandez said." I’m generally a person who loves school now, not so much when I was younger. I really love school and learning. This new career path is very interesting to me. Working in the medical device industry really means something to me. It gives me pride in my work to know that we provide products that are truly helping people. “My goal right now is to get the certificate but I may keep going and get the associate degree in the future.” Anyone interested in gaining career skills through GRCC Workforce Training can connect via email at workforcetraining@grcc.edu, and by phone at (616) 234-3800.