Sept. 23, 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 Mike Schavey. Mike is here to help if you want more out of your community college experience. If you are ready to step out of your comfort zone, he is here to provide you with experiences to help you grow into the person you want to become. Get ready to travel the world, become immersed into a community of high achieving students, or make an impact in your community. Mike will give you the tools you need to be successful in the honors, service learning, and study away programs -- programs students often describe as amazing and life changing experiences. Mike also supports GRCC faculty members as they create experiences enriching student learning. Examples include helping a faculty member to: Create a course that incorporates an international travel experience. Work with an honors student who wants to complete an additional assignment in their course. Incorporate a volunteer experience into their course. "At GRCC we care about the quality of your overall experience," he said. "There is so much to take advantage of that will help you meet your academic and personal goals." When Mike graduated high school, he attended GRCC because it was his only option. "Over the span of two years at GRCC, I met many amazing faculty members who challenged me, encouraged me, and, at times, counselled me," he said. "I participated in several activities that pushed me out of my comfort zone -- the self-confidence and skills I gained are most certainly applied to how I live my life today." Mike recalls not being a straight A student when he attended GRCC, but through perseverance and great mentors he was able to transfer to Grand Valley State University where he earned degrees related to sociology, psychology, social work and public administration. Given the collaborative nature of his work, Mike is in touch with almost department on campus.  When he gets the chance to listen to students share their goals he's prepared to point them in the right direction. "I really enjoy working at GRCC because our culture is very much centered around improving the student experience and a strong desire to help, regardless of where you're at in your academic journey," he said. Mike’s team is located in the newly renovated Steven C. Ender Hall located on the DeVos Campus. You can connect through email at experientiallearning@grcc.edu or by calling call (616) 234-4162.  

Sept. 22, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Patrick Coleman wasn’t sure what to do with his life after leaving the U.S. Army in 1995, and didn’t know where he could turn to for help. “There were no doors for me to walk through,” he said. Coleman now will be able to help fellow veterans who are GRCC students find those doors. As GRCC’s new veteran’s success coordinator, he is overseeing the college’s new Veterans Center, opening next month in the newly renovated G2 floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall. The U.S. Education Department in January awarded GRCC a grant to create the center, which will serve as a hub for planning and delivering services to students who have served in the armed services. The center will serve as a single point of contact, connecting veterans with campus resources including financial aid, advising and disability support. The project also will help GRCC expand its partnerships with state and local veterans’ agencies, helping students access benefits and support in the community. The center also will help with outreach efforts, making veterans in the community aware of opportunities at GRCC to earn credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills. The Veterans Success Center will host workshops and speakers, and provide opportunities for networking and social events for the students. “I’m here to help our veterans after they leave the service – anything they need,” Coleman said. “Being a veteran myself, I learned there was a lot to navigate when I began my college education. There were no clear instructions on how to transition from combat to college. I can help them get around any detours they encounter. I’m the resource guy!” Coleman said his goal is to make the Veterans Center a place where veterans can go for help with a variety of challenges, from academic to personal. “We have so many resources here on campus, and many of them might not know or remember,” he said. Coleman said he didn’t like the career opportunities available to him after he left the service, and knew he’d need more education. He jumped into a four-year program, thinking it was the only option he had. The college environment was challenging and he had to develop academic skills – eventually graduating summa cum laude from Cornerstone University with a Master of Business Administration. Discovering his passion for service, Coleman worked in several roles with Michigan Works!, an agency that helps people gain in-demand skills and connect them with employers. He then became a business community liaison with the Gerald R. Ford Jobs Corps Center, and became executive director of 70x7 Life Recovery. He came to GRCC as an educational training specialist in 2020 after a post in state government. He’s also worked in the classroom, serving as an adjunct instructor at GRCC, Muskegon Community College, Davenport University, and ITT Technical Institute. Coleman said his experiences in the Army and his civilian roles will help him serve as an advocate for GRCC’s veteran students, a number he expects to grow in the years ahead. More than 400 GRCC students take advantage of existing veterans services, and the college hopes to grow that number to more than 500 in three years. Services will include: One-on-one advising. Veterans Administration work study positions. Tutoring and academic support. Assistance in completing the VA education benefits process. Peer support, outreach, and resources for student veterans through Peer Advisors for Veteran Education.  Coleman also wants the Veterans Center to be a place where students can come to relax and be part of a community with others who have served and will understand the challenges they face. GRCC Registrar Valerie Butterfield said the U.S. Education Department support and Coleman’s background and determination will allow GRCC to better serve students who have served their country. “GRCC has a long history of honoring our veterans and helping them take advantage of their benefits,” she said. “The new Veterans Center allows us to take that work to the next level, with a dedicated space for veterans of all ages. They will be able to get support from the college, but also from each other.”  Students can connect with the Veterans Center by phone at (616) 234-2578, and by email at veterans@grcc.edu . Additional information is available online at grcc.edu/veterans

Sept. 22, 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. Matthew Majestic found himself rethinking his job choices when COVID-19 crippled so many industries last spring. He had been working in various business sectors and just wasn’t happy. “I needed to go back and really think about what I enjoy doing and how I want my future to look,” he said. Majestic had always been a “computer guy.” “I have always played around with computers as a hobby and now it’s so much more than that!” He is on contract with GE Aerospace and really enjoying his work. “I was able to start in at a position level higher than entry level because of the training and certifications I obtained through GRCC.” The program prepares students to achieve two certifications: the CompTIA A+ Certification and the Network+ Certification. Both of these IT certifications are globally recognized and represent in-demand skills sought after by a wide array of employers. “This program is just phenomenal. It is so much more that skilled training. The instructor, Moss Ingram has such a wide range of knowledge. He really taught me so much about myself and truly how to find success, not just in this field, but in life.” The Computer Support Technician Job Training Program is offered in an entirely online format; however, there is still a personal element in the program. “We have structured the program in a way that provides flexibility but keeps the personal interaction necessary to be successful in the program and in the industry,” Ingram said. Unlike many training programs that meet the needs of a specific market, any and all employers who use computer technology require computer support, whether the IT support is provided by a fulltime employee or by a contracted managed services company. This program is designed to address Computer Support from four perspectives: technical, professionalism and employability, business innovation, and design. It also prepares students with the employability skills and the professionalism required to work in IT. Students regularly meet local IT technicians, engineers, business owners, and recruiters via Zoom to learn from their experiences and current market expectations. The topic of design is integrated throughout the program in order to best prepare students to satisfy the increasing and ever-changing demands and expectations of today’s IT users. “I really can’t say enough about the impact this experience is having in my life!” Majestic said. “I was really struggling with a lot of issues before, and this program allows me to not worry so much about my professional life – I can now focus on the good stuff!” GRCC has an unmatched reputation among employers for supplying West Michigan with work-ready technicians. Our graduates specialize in providing empathy for the people they support while solving complex problems using troubleshooting and design thinking methodologies. Students are also taught to focus on human-centered solutions and technology-based innovations for both colleagues and customers. Next Computer Support Technician program begins Oct. 18, 2021, and additional information is at grcc.edu/jobtraining . 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.

Sept. 21, 2021, EAST LANSING, Mich. – After two days and three rounds of competition, the Grand Rapids Community College golf team placed fourth at the Bill Bockwitz Classic on Tuesday. After rounds of 315 and 321 on Monday, the Raiders finished strong, shooting a 307 to finish with a score of 943 strokes, 79 over par.  There were 60 golfers in all and 10 teams competing at the Timber Ridge Golf Course. The Raiders competed against all four-year schools in the annual event, hosted by Spring Arbor University. Arie Jackman, of Caledonia, finished tied for third place shooting a 223, with rounds of 75, 76 and 72 strokes. He birdied three holes during the competition. Jackman said the team had high expectations going into the tournament despite facing tough competition. “We have a lot of great talent on our team this year but we just need to put it all together,” he said. “I was really proud of the way we bounced back in the final round. We will be working very hard at practice over the next couple of weeks before our next tournament. It's awesome that we finished fourth this week and that there is so much room for improvement. Obviously, the goal is always to win but sometimes you need to take golf as it comes at you and learn from it to be better next time. And that is what we are going to do.” Logan Templeton, of Portage, also cracked the top 10 with a score of 229 (76-74-79).  Davis Courtright, of Zeeland, shot a 240 (81-81-78) to finish 31st.  Matthew Denhartigh (83-93-78), Conner Oman (83-90-81) and Alex Taylor (87-90-77) all finished with their best rounds of the tournament to finish tied for 44th overall with a score of 254. The GRCC golf team won every tournament it participated in during the spring season, earning the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Championship and National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII Championship. The team finished 11th in the nation at the NJCAA D2 National Tournament. The Raiders are next scheduled to compete in the Thomas Howard Jr. Memorial Tournament on Oct. 1. Competition will take place at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Course in Taylor, Mich.  

Sept. 21, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s enrollment is up by 4.4% for the fall 2021 semester, with increases sparked by opportunities through state and local programs lowering tuition costs and the opening of a consolidated Lakeshore Campus. Count day tallies showed 12,685 students enrolled so far in the fall 2021 semester, a 4.4% increase over the fall 2020 semester. The number can still grow with opportunities to enroll in classes starting in the semester’s second seven weeks. The number of on-campus classes increased dramatically from a year ago, and GRCC offers courses in other formats that have proven popular with students looking to schedule around home and work responsibilities. Students are able to attend in-person classes, hybrid classes that are partly on campus and partly online, real-time virtual classes, and traditional online classes. “We understand there are great pressures on people’s time,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “We now have a number of programs that remove cost as a barrier to education, but finding time can still be an obstacle for many students who want to start or come back to finish their education. We’re scheduling classes that are more convenient and allow people to keep moving forward, even if it is through two classes a semester.” The state’s Futures for Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect programs have created opportunities for thousands of students to start – or restart – their education with free in-district tuition. GRCC has 2,019 students enrolled through Futures for Frontliners, a state program for residents who worked in essential jobs during the spring 2020 COVID-19 shutdown. Also, 998 students are enrolled through Michigan Reconnect, a state scholarship program providing free in-district tuition for those ages 25 and older who don’t already have a college degree. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/reconnect , by emailing reconnect@grcc.edu or by calling (616) 234-3366. The programs are part of Gov. Whitmer’s “60 by 30” goal: having 60% of Michiganders obtaining a degree or career-focused credential by 2030. The programs are likely a factor in GRCC’s enrollment increases among older students. The number of students ages 30 to 39 jumped 37%, and students ages 40 to 49 increased 57%. About 750 students are taking classes at the new GRCC Lakeshore Campus – with nearly 95% of the seats filled. Class sizes this semester are limited to 75% of capacity to follow COVID social distancing protocols. The consolidated campus, located in a transformed JCPenney department store in the Shops at Westshore Mall in Holland Township, makes a college education more accessible and affordable for Lakeshore residents. The headcount figures do not include GRCC Workforce Training programs, which do not operate on a semester schedule. About 10,560 students participated in Workforce Training programs during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Sept. 20, 2021, MUSKEGON, Mich. – Annie Holesinger set a new career high with 24 kills while helping the Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Muskegon Community College on Monday. The No. 13-ranked Raiders, winners of five in a row, defeated the home team Jayhawks by a score of 26-24, 25-23, 25-27, 25-23. The win brought GRCC's season record to 7-5, and 5-0 against MCCAA Western Conference opponents.  Muskegon ended a seven-match win streak and dropped to 8-3 for the season, and 3-2 in the conference. "I was very proud of how our team executed our game plan from start to finish," associate head coach David Rawles said.  "We served the ball extremely well which forced the opposition into making tough decisions offensively. " The Raiders served at a 93 percent clip out of 100 serve attempts, and received aces from Ola Nowak, Audrey Torres and Kara Hecht. Holesinger, a sophomore from Rockford, had five more kills than her previous career high, which she attained during her previous match. She totaled four in the first set, eight in the third set and six in the second and fourth sets. Her .386 hitting percentage was a match high for all players. Setter Shannon Russell, from Grand Rapids, nearly had her second straight double-double, but she did end up with a career high 51 assists. She also had nine digs and four kills. Right side hitter Karissa Ferry, from Chesaning, was unstoppable nearly all night running the flare, as she finished with 11 kills and hit .259. Statistical Leaders: -- Kills: Holesinger, 24; Ferry, 11; Torres and Kylie Oberlin, 9. -- Assists: Russell, 51; Nowak and Audrey Gower, 3. -- Digs: Nowak, 22; Torres, 18; Hecht, 17; Gower, 13. -- Blocks: Oberlin, 3; Ferry, 2; Torres, Holesinger and Rylee VanPatten, 1. -- Aces: Nowak, Torres and Hecht, 1. Conference play continues for the Raiders on Sept. 23, as the team takes on Kalamazoo Valley Community College at 6:30 p.m.  The Cougars are also undefeated in the conference.  

Sept. 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. “Consistency, patience and hard work.” Sometimes a key ingredient to a restaurant’s success doesn’t appear on the plate. When Paola Mendivil started at GRCC, her family had just taken over an old restaurant at 950 Bridge St. NW that reopened as El Granjero Mexican Grill in 2007. That move guided her decision to major in business. “I needed all the resources available to make sure the business was successful,” she said. “GRCC helped me prepare for business ownership because the classes were relevant to the world we were living in -- having just started a business during the recession. Team projects were a huge part of learning, applying the concepts into real scenarios for my small family business.” Mendivil earned an associate degree in Business Administration in 2010 and a bachelor’s in business administration in 2017 from Ferris State University. She is now the catering coordinator for El Granjero Mexican Grill, which has seen its sales grow from $65,000 to $900,000 over the past 14 years. “My experience at GRCC was valuable because the instructors were experienced in their field and provided a lot of knowledge and relatable examples to apply in the real world,” she said. “They were kind and approachable -- I still keep in touch with many of them!” Mendivil believes relationships are crucial to the success of a business and a community and began working with the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce soon after graduating from GRCC. She served on Grand Rapids’ Planning Commission for two years and on the board of Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women for three years. She’s also been involved in the Latina Network, FSU’s LEADeres program and Latino Community Coalition. El Granjero Mexican Grill was named a Top Women-Owned Business by the Grand Rapids Business Journal, and Mendivil was honored as one of the Top 50 Latinas in Michigan by the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan. In 2019, she became the first Latina featured on the cover of West Michigan Woman magazine. “Grand Rapids Community College was my second chance at life!” she said. “I had dropped out of high school in my home country of Mexico and had just moved to Grand Rapids. If it wasn’t for GRCC, I wouldn’t have found my passion in business. “I’m a Raider for life!” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .

Sept. 18, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Ten Grand Rapids Community College runners set personal best times, and both cross country teams finished in the top four in the Knight-Raider Invitational on Saturday. The men's team finished in second place out of 10 teams, and the women's team was in fourth place out of eight in the event, which is co-hosted by GRCC and Calvin University.    The cross country teams are coming off a successful 2020 season, with both finishing in the top 10 nationally and three runners earning All-American honors. Men's team coach Garrett Lacy was pleased by the team’s progress this season, and said the runners can continue improving with a goal of matching last year’s successes. "The team had a great day coming home with eight personal best times out of 14 runners that competed today," Lacy said. "We finished in second today behind a very good team from Aquinas College, and came away with victories over several four-year colleges and universities." Freshman Coleman Clark was again the Raiders No. 1 runner from start to finish in a new personal best time of 26:18.9, and finished in fourth place overall. Clark was named MCCAA Runner of the Week after his performance on Sept. 4. Clark was followed closely by redshirt freshman Brian Frazee in a time of 27:05, finishing in 17th place; redshirt freshman Joshua Kipkoech at 27:26 and 23rd place; redshirt freshman Andrew Periard, at 27:59 and 28th place; and freshman Jaydon Moleski at 28:03 and 31st place. "We made significant improvements from our first race two weeks ago to today,” Lacy said. “If we learn to have a little bit more self-control in the early stages of the race, I think we can be even better than we were today. That will just come in time with more race experience from the freshmen, who are still trying to adjust from racing the high school 5K distance, to now the college 8K. I am excited with where we're at, but even more excited about where we are headed. I can't wait until our next competition next Friday at Kirtland to go up against the best teams in the MCCAA and see where we stack up," Lacy said. The women’s team adjusted from running a 6K race in its first competition to a 5K on Saturday. The team scored 110, just one point more than third place Calvin University. Freshman Kaylee Scott finished in 11th place overall with a time of 19:54 while 2020 All-American Audrey Meyering finished in 13 th place, just seven seconds behind her. Both Raiders finished the highest among all community college runners. Liz Meyering was fifth among all community college runners and 27th overall with a time of 21:02.  Rose Meyer, 35th with a time of 21:18; and Allison Hoop, 37th with a time of 21:23; rounded out the Raider scorers. Coach Sharon Becker said the races was “an amazing day for the women’s XC Raiders.” “It really was an exciting race to see all of them excel and perform so well!” she said. “Our team is so blessed this year. We have returning sophomores who are amazing leaders. Each individual is committed to giving her best. When you know your teammates have that passion, even on your own bad days, you set your own problems aside because you know your teammates are working so hard next to you.” Becker said Meyer and Scott beat their personal best 5K time by one minute. Alexzandria Webster ran a personal best. Audrey Meyering and Elizabeth Meyering both ran their second-fastest time ever. Hoop ran her fastest college 5K time. The Raiders are next scheduled to compete in the Kirtland Firebird Invitational on Friday Sept. 24. Competition is slated to begin at 4 p.m. for the women and 4:45 for the men.

Sept. 17, 2021, PORT HURON, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's golf team placed second at the Sam Kromer Invitational on Friday, losing to Oakland Community College by just two strokes. The Raiders posted a score of 309 with Logan Templeton leading the way with a 75, good enough to tie for second place in the individual scoring. Oakland's T.J. Hirschfieldran earned medalist honors by shooting a two-under 70 score. There were 40 golfers in all and seven teams competing at the Port Huron Elks Golf Club.  The Raiders had very balanced scoring, as all six of their players placed in the top 15. Arie Jackman, of Caledonia, finished in fifth place shooting a 76.  Davis Courtright, of Zeeland, and Matt Denhartigh, of Grandville, each tied for eighth with a 79.  For Denhartigh, it was a nine-stroke improvement from the first tournament of the year. Conner Oman and Alex Taylor each shot an 82, finishing in 15th place. The team won every tournament it participated in during the spring season, earning the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Championship and National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII Championship. The team finished 11th in the nation at the NJCAA D2 National Tournament. The Raiders are next scheduled to compete in the Spring Arbor Invitational on Sept. 20.Competition is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Timber Ridge Golf Club in East Lansing, Mich.