Sept. 3, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A five-year, $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow Grand Rapids Community College to help adult learners enter or return to higher education. GRCC will use the grant to create a TRIO Educational Opportunities Center, where unemployed or low-wage workers and other adult students can work with campus specialists to connect with counseling and receive information on admissions and support services. Educational Opportunities Center programs offer academic and personal counseling, tutoring and mentoring, career workshops, student financial assistance and help with completing the college admission process. The centers support a range of adult learners, including those with limited proficiency in English, those with disabilities, those facing housing insecurity, people aging out of the foster care system, and other members of groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education. The TRIO program also supports students who are low-income or are potential first-generation college students. “A community thrives when all of its members have access to higher education,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “We appreciate this support from the U.S. Education Department to help GRCC connect residents with services that can help them be successful on their educational pathway.”  Educational Opportunities Centers, launched in 1972, are part of a set of federal programs known as TRIO, which is authorized by the Higher Education Act to help low-income, first-generation students and those with disabilities succeed in higher education. During the 2020-2021 fiscal year, 139 Educational Opportunity Centers served more than 192,000 adult learners. “As systemic inequality and financial hardship discourage students from succeeding in college, TRIO programs like EOC take on new importance because they continue to help guide unemployed and underemployed workers and returning high school and college students toward earning a degree,” said Maureen Hoyler, president of the nonprofit Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C.

Sept. 2, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kylie Oberlin racked up a match-high 11 kills to lead the Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team to a 3-0 win in its conference opener against Glen Oaks Community College on Thursday.   The No. 16-ranked Raiders (4-5, 1-0 in MCCAA) defeated the Vikings (4-2, 1-1) by a score of 25-22, 26-24, 25-16. Oberlin, a third-year starting middle from Fruitport, had her best outing of the season, hitting at a .556 clip, and had just one hitting error to go with her match high 11 kills. She also tallied two blocks and even picked up an assist. Annie Holesinger of Rockford finished with nine kills and two blocks and Audrey Torres of Caledonia tallied nine kills and a match-high 12 digs. Morgan Fugate of Wayland contributed with seven kills and eight digs. In her first match of the year in the libero jersey, redshirt freshman Kara Hecht of Zeeland tallied 11 digs, received a team-high 16 serves and even had an ace. Statistical Leaders: Kills: Oberlin, 11; Torres and Holesinger, 9; Fugate, 7; Ola Nowak, 3; Haley Dobry 2. Assists: Nowak, 32. Digs: Torres, 12; Hecht 11; Fugate, 8; Gower 4. Blocks: Holesinger, Oberlin and Nowak, 2. Aces: Nowak, 4; Torres, 2; Hecht, Gower and Kruger, 1. Conference play continues for the Raiders on Tuesday, Sept. 7 as the team travels to Muskegon Community College. GRCC will be back at the Ford Fieldhouse next Thursday, Sept. 9 as it takes on Lake Michigan College. 

Sept. 2, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is planning vaccination clinics at two Grand Rapids locations on Sept. 8 and at the new GRCC Lakeshore Campus on Sept. 14, part of an effort to help students, employees and community members have access to an effective COVID-fighting tool. Vaccines were administered to 25 people at the Aug. 28 Raider Rally event, helping students take advantage of a $200 vaccination incentive. More than 2,000 students have registered so far for the incentive, one of several measures GRCC has taken to promote safety and wellness as students returned to campus for the fall 2021 semester. The upcoming clinics are open to the public, as well as students and employees. The Sept. 8 clinics are planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE in Grand Rapids as part of an Involvement Day activity, and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC, 622 Godfrey Ave. SW in Grand Rapids. Another vaccination clinic is planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus, 12335 James Street in Holland.   Eligible students can receive a $200 credit on their RaiderCards to use for campus dining, parking, printing, and in the bookstore. The vaccination incentive program is available to students enrolled in an in-person, hybrid, virtual, or online credit course, clock-hour Job Training program, or apprenticeship program that begins between Aug. 30 and Dec. 16, 2021. Eligible students must meet this enrollment definition at the time incentive funds are disbursed to their RaiderCards and have achieved fully vaccinated status any time on or before Nov. 15, 2021. To be considered for the incentive, students should log into their Online Center, select the “GRCC Vaccine Incentive” tile, and complete a brief form. There will be a place for students to upload a photo of their COVID-19 vaccination record card. Credits will be added to RaiderCards in September for students who have completed the process, and weekly thereafter as students become fully vaccinated and upload a photo of their card. The incentives are limited to GRCC students. Employees are ineligible. Additional information is available on the GRCC COVID information page. Additional vaccination location information is available at vaccinatewestmi.com .