May 24, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Five Grand Rapids Community College athletic teams participated in national tournaments this season, reflecting hard work, talent, and determination in overcoming challenges created by the pandemic. Three GRCC teams finished in the top 10 nationally, with the golf team falling just shy. The college also celebrated five student-athletes earning All-American honors, including a Player of the Year. Three coaches were named Coach of the Year. “I’m proud of our student-athletes, who this year faced challenges we never could have imagined,” GRCC Interim Athletic Director David Selmon said. “We made student success and safety a priority. Seasons were delayed and abbreviated, and we made safety a priority. Everyone pulled together to compete, and demonstrated our GRCC programs are among the best in the nation.” The women’s cross country team finished fourth in the nation, with Audrey Meyering earning National Junior College Athletic Association and Coaches Association All-American honors, and Kiah Becker earning Coaches Association All-America honors. The men’s cross country team claimed ninth place in the nation, with Josh Kipkoech earned First-Team All-American honors. Former Coach Matt Sicilia was named Coach of the Year by both the MCCAA and the NJCAA Region 12. The volleyball team’s season was delayed for months and shortened due to the pandemic, the program continued to be successful. The team was runner-up in the regional tournament, but was able to participate in the NJCAA D2 National Tournament after Muskegon Community College withdrew due to health concerns. The Raiders inished tenth in the nation. Five volleyball players were honored by the MCCAA. In honors determined by conference coaches, Kylie Oberlin and Gabi Kitley earned First Team All-Conference honors as well as All-MCCAA and All-Region. Annie Holesinger was named Second Team All-Conference, as well as All-MCCAA and All-Region. Kailey Carmean and Kara Hecht were named Honorable Mention All-Conference and Hecht was named to the All-Freshman team. Oberlin was named to the All-Tournament team for her outstanding performance. The women’s basketball team posted a 12-5 season record, a second-place finish in the conference, a district championship and a national tournament appearance – the program’s first since 1978. Shonyah Hawkins was named a Division II, second team NJCAA All-American and earned MCCAA Player of the Year honors. Hawkins, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, earned All-Region, All-MCCAA honors along with teammate Jayla Bibbs, who was one of the best rebounders in the nation. Danielle Lamancusa earned Second Team All-Conference honors, and Eurasia Green-Boyd and Olivia Koetje received Honorable Mention All-Conference salutes. Bibbs Hawkins and Green-Boyd were also named to the All-Defensive Team. David Glazier earned Coach of the Year honors. The GRCC golf team finished in eleventh place in the NJCAA National Tournament, capping off a season that saw the Raiders dominate conference competition. The Raiders wrapped up a regular season winning every tournament, with five golfers earning All-Conference honors and John Forton being named Coach of the Year. The team finished the weeklong NJCAA D2 National in eleventh place out of 19 teams. Tyler Hausserman, Logan Templeton, Davis Courtright, Dominic Luciani, Arie Jackman -- posted the top five scores in the conference for the season, and were named to the MCCAA’s All-Conference team. While the other three GRCC teams did not reach the national tournament, they had reasons to cheer. The baseball team was tied for first place with a 24-11 record when its season ended in its final weekend due to wellness concerns. The team’s highlights included playing a doubleheader against nationally ranked Kellogg Community College at LMCU Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps. Four Raiders were named to the All-MCCAA, First Team All-Conference Team: Aaron West, Drew Murphy, Collin Murphy and Ryan Dykstra. Sam Schmidt, Fernando Rivera-Calderon and Caleb Engelsman were named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team. West was one of six players named to the All-Freshman Team. The men’s basketball team suffered a string of last-second losses, and participated in the postseason. Isaac Anderson was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Anderson and Chandler Collins were named to the Second Team All-Conference team. Azyah Brown earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors and was named to the All-Freshman team. The softball team started slowly, but showed promise for next year with many players likely to return. 2nd Team All-Conference: Lexi Nguyen was named to the Second Team All-Conference squad, and Brooklynne Siewertsen, Taylor Cross and Haley Van Huis earned honorable mentions. Five members of the team finished batting .300 or better for the season, led by second-year player Siewertsen, who batted .373. The third basemen also led the team with 31 hits, five stolen bases and an on base percentage of .418.  The slugger also struck out just once in 100 plate appearances.

May 23, 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. You are familiar with Lumen Winter’s artwork. He created the beautiful frieze along the Lyon Street entrance to the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse. But Winter’s work is known all over the world – and beyond. He designed the Apollo 13 “Steeds of Apollo” medallion, which also was used as the mission insignia. His mural “Titans” in the United Nations General Assembly, and his talents adorn the Kansas State Capitol rotunda, the National Wildlife Federation’s headquarters, the AFL-CIO headquarters, and the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel. Winter got his start at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College, graduating in 1928. His cartoons and artwork appeared in the 1927 and 1928 yearbooks. He later studied at the Cleveland School of Art and the National Academy of Design in New York. The frieze on the fieldhouse, “The Legend of Grand Rapids,” is made from marble from Italy’s Mount Altissimo and completed in Winter’s studios in New York and Italy. The work depicts Michigan history, mythology, industry, education, and culture, and was completed in time for the dedication of the fieldhouse in 1976. Winter was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Winter, who passed away in 1982, is considered one of America's most respected muralists, but he also completed portraits of leaders including four popes, Cardinal Terence Cooke, and Amelia Earhart. He was a guest at the White House and the Vatican. Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .    

May 22, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College golf team finished in eleventh place in the NJCAA National Tournament, capping off a season that saw the Raiders dominate conference competition. The Raiders wrapped up a regular season winning every tournament, with five golfers earning All-Conference honors and John Forton being named Coach of the Year. The team started the weeklong National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament in fifth place, then dropped to seventh place before finishing in eleventh place out of 19 teams. The finish was the highest among Michigan teams, with Oakland Community College finishing thirteenth, and Muskegon Community College in nineteenth. GRCC’s team score of 1,235 was just two strokes behind tenth place Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn.  Parkland Community College in Champaign, Ill. earned the crown with 1,168 strokes. Tyler Hausserman, with 304 strokes, and Logan Templeton, with 305, were the top two finishers for GRCC, and finished tied for thirty-third and thirty-fifth place. Davis Courtright tied for forty-fifth with 309 strokes, followed by Dominic Luciani with 316 strokes and Arie Jackman with 335. GRCC Athletics finished at a successful year under Interim Athletic Director David Selmon, with the men's and women's cross country teams, volleyball team, and women's basketball team all earning spots in national tournaments.   

May 19, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is expanding a free summer college prep program to include a $500 stipend for students who meet attendance goals. Bridges to College – Raider Ready is a summer program for graduating high school seniors to help boost math, reading, and writing skills before they attend GRCC or another college. More than 100 students so far have signed up for the program, which will be offered in two sessions in both Kent and Ottawa counties. GRCC is providing all students with a laptop and Wi-Fi hotspot for use in the program and for as long as they are enrolled at GRCC. The program will predominantly be offered on the GRCC Main Campus and the GRCC Lakeshore Campus in the Midtown Center. Some parts of the sessions will be offered online. “It’s important for students to start college prepared so they can be successful, and Bridges to College – Raider Ready will help with those foundational skills,” said David Selmon, GRCC’s associate dean of Student Affairs. Sessions are scheduled for mornings Monday through Thursday, allowing students time for summer jobs and other responsibilities or activities. The $500 stipend is intended to offset any lost earning opportunities or cover expenses. The college also will provide breakfast and bus passes. Students also will work with college navigators, helping prepare them for the higher education experience. Selmon said the program is part of GRCC’s service to the greater community, helping students who might have struggled academically during the pandemic. The first session is planned to run from June 8 to July 6, and the second from July 12 to Aug. 12. Students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is open to all high school graduates of the class of 2020 or 2021 who are planning to attend a college in the fall. The health and safety of students, faculty and staff is a top priority. GRCC will continue to work with local and state health authorities to follow wellness guidelines. Registration and information is available at grcc.edu/bridgestocollege , email at bridgestocollege@grcc.edu, by phone at (616) 234-3388 and by text at (616) 404-4634.

May 19, 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. GRCC M-TEC Champions are moving forward! We first met Kenneth Lara and Francisco Mendez as part of the first cohort of GRCC M-TEC Champions program. Neither of them knew what career path they wanted to take after graduating.  “I had just graduated from high school and had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to go to college but I had no real direction. My high school counselor told me about the Champions program and because it was free, I signed right up! It’s been great!” Lara said. “Yeah, I just graduated too. I wanted to go to college but didn’t know for what or really how I would pay for it. When I first got the email about the Champions program I thought it was a scam – just too good to be true,” Mendez said. “This program allowed me to explore different fields to see what interested me.” The GRCC M-TEC Champions program offers qualified applicants, ages 18-24, the resources to obtain job skills that can lead to a more secure and better quality of life. The program is free to those who qualify. Participants first attend a training program preparing them for five possible career types. “The Readiness Bootcamp helped out so much! They gave us a lot of information about jobs that I had no idea about. Once we toured the construction field, I was excited,” Lara said. “ Now both are learning hands-on skills in the Introduction to Construction Job Training program. The readiness program includes: career exploration and planning, employer interaction, tours, “ready to learn” activities, financial literacy, computer/digital skills, and leadership skills.  “When we had to practice interviewing I was nervous, Lara said. Mendez added, “It was good to practice that skill. We practiced a lot! It really helps build confidence to practice.” After successful completion of part one, each student chooses and receives training in various technical careers tracks, also free of cost. These technical paths focus on building skills and credentials that lead to gainful employment.  “If not for the Champions program, I would probably be working all day, not making much money. I’m on my own and I don’t have thousands of dollars for credit classes right now. The Champions program has really helped me be excited about my future,” Lara said. 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. Additional information is at grcc.edu/programs/job-workforce-training .  

May 17, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kathy Crosby is stepping down from the Grand Rapids Community College board of trustees, saying she needs to focus on her health and family. The resignation is effective May 21, and the trustees will have 30 days to fill the seat. “My decision to serve was not lightly made, and it is therefore hard to step away from,” Crosby wrote in a letter to board chairperson David Koetje, shared at Monday's meeting. “However, life and health situations change. Often, they can be unpredictable. In this case, those changes have pushed me to re-prioritize time. Going forward, it must belong to my family.” Crosby has been the board’s vice chair, and was elected in 2018. Trustee Kenyatta Brame will serve as the board’s vice chair, and trustee Sheryl Siegel was tapped to replace Brame as treasurer. “For decades this board has had seven individuals sitting around its table. Very few of those trustees have matched the richness of your experience, the depth of your perspective, and the personal charm that you have blessed us with in these few years that you have been with us,” Koetje said of Crosby. Brame said Crosby has been a tremendous asset to the college and the board, with her background in business and non-profit organizations, as well as her great knowledge of the community. “When Kathy and I ran for this position, I was awed that she knew everybody in the city, and even more awed that she’s beloved by everybody in the city,” Siegel said. Crosby retired as CEO Emeritus of Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids in 2018. Her other community service includes past chairs of the boards of directors of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids and of the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan. She serves on the CEO Leadership Council of Talent 2025, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce's Regional Issues Council, and the YMCA's Board of Directors.

May 17, 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. After coming close with an honorable mention in 2014, Jeff Meyers now knows how victory tastes. His business, Meyers’ Bakery & Beanery in Lake Odessa, is home to MLive’s 2020 Michigan’s Best Doughnut .  But running the bakery that produced the No. 1 doughnut takes more than just a winning recipe, and Meyer still draws on what he learned at Grand Rapids Junior College. He came to GRJC’s culinary program with a passion for cooking.  “I had worked in a couple of restaurants but wasn’t exactly sure what direction I was going, but GRJC gave me various experiences in the culinary field and, with the help of some top chefs and hospitality associates, gave me knowledge of things I had no clue of coming from a small farming community,” he said. After graduating, he worked in the bakery that provides baked goods to Steelcase’s 11 cafeterias, later becoming an associate chef. In November 1992, Meyers took a part-time job at a recently opened “mom and pop” bakery in Lake Odessa. When the owners decided to close at the beginning of 1993, he decided to purchase the business, opening Meyers Hometown Bakery on May 4, 1993.  Meyers moved the bakery down the block in 1996 to a building he purchased. After a remodeling project that added an espresso bar, the business was renamed Meyers Bakery and Beanery in 2007. “The main reason I am where I am today is my faith in God and perseverance, not giving in when times seemed a little difficult,” said Meyer, who is married with two sons. “There were a few times when I felt maybe I should do something else for more money or benefits and vacations, but now, when I look back, I feel God closed doors instead of what I originally thought were missed opportunities.” He says GRJC prepared him for the shifts he’s made in his culinary career. “The culinary program at GRCC is one that gives you total experience of the restaurant and retail sides of the food industry and helps to prepare you for whatever aspect of the food industry you may want to explore,” he said. Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .

May 13, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC boasts alumni who represent many generations of the same family, but it’s rare to celebrate two generations sharing a commencement! Karah Kamstra, who is completing an internship with a family dentist office in Grandville, graduated this month with her associate degree in dental assisting from GRCC as well as a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Grand Valley State University. She was joined by her aunt, Amy Maggini, who received her Associate of Arts in nursing from GRCC. Maggini, who has four grown children, already has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Taylor University in Indiana and a master’s in counselor education and counseling psychology from Western Michigan University. But she returned to the classroom to pursue her longtime dream of a nursing career. “At age 49, I realized that if I was going to become a nurse, I had better get going!” said Maggini, who is completing an internship at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. “Returning to the classroom at that age and ending up doing so during a worldwide pandemic was not an easy task. However, GRCC’s outstanding staff, student support services, and commitment to its mission of being ‘an open access college that prepares individuals to attain their goals and contribute to the community,’ got me to the point of graduating May 1 with an Associate of Arts degree in Nursing.” Kamstra says she can vividly remember the first day she stepped onto the campus five years ago: “Both my mom and Nonni (grandmother Jan Maggini – a former GRCC trustee) were with me touring the campus. As alumni themselves, it was so fun to have them show me around and hear their experiences from when they first began their GRCC journey.” While it took some time for her to achieve her goal, she knew right away that she wanted to work in the dental field. “Although it took a few years to find my way back to GRCC, I’m especially grateful for all the people who led me to where I am today,” Kamstra said, adding that she is very thankful for the inspiration provided by her grandmother, who is not only a Grand Rapids Junior College alumna but is also a founding member of the board of trustees. “She has encouraged and supported me through all my school years and has taught me to never stop learning -- you are never too old!” Kamstra said.  

May 12, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Two Grand Rapids Community College students will receive a highly competitive undergraduate transfer scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Gideon Kortenhoven and Deidre Mitchell were among 72 recipients nationwide to receive the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides up to $40,000 annually for up to three years, comprehensive advising, and the chance to connect with fellow Cooke Scholars. It is among the largest private awards in the nation for students transferring from a community college. Just two other students from Michigan – from Oakland and Gogebic community colleges -- were selected. The foundation selected 406 semifinalists in March from the more than 1,500 applications representing 398 community colleges. Michigan had 15 students reach this level -- six of them from GRCC. Kortenhoven, who went high school in Palo Alto, Calif., received his associate degree in French studies on May 1. While at GRCC, he participated in the University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, presenting research on Black families after the Civil War. “I’m planning on transferring to the University of Michigan, and I’ll be majoring in Afroamerican and African studies, but I also have a strong interest in sociolinguistics,” he said. “I’m not sure what I plan to do after that, but I think I will probably try and get my master’s.” Mitchell, a Caledonia High School graduate and a member of GRCC’s Honors Program, also is transferring to the University of Michigan. “I will be pursuing Pre-Med while double majoring in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and biochemistry, along with a double minor in French and Spanish,” she said. Associate professor and academic adviser Lynnae Selberg called the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship life-changing. “It is rare for an institution to have multiple winners -- in 2020, there was just one winner from the state of Michigan,” she said. “Having two winners highlights how incredible our students are.” “We know how much exponentially harder this past year has been on students,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “It’s an honor to award this group of individuals as they have achieved so much, both in the classroom and in their daily lives. “We are proud to welcome this new class of Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars to our community and are excited to support them as they transition to four-year institutions.” GRCC student Daniel Gebrezgiabhier received the scholarship in 2015. He is now pursuing a doctorate in biomedical engineering at the University of California-Berkley.

May 12, 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. Recent GRCC Job Training graduates are celebrating even though they were unable to hold in-person graduation celebrations.    This group of students showed an incomparable amount of fortitude. Some of the hands-on programs paused for weeks due to various pandemic challenges. Students showed dedication to come back to school, knowing the program would take a few weeks longer to complete. “It wasn’t easy, but I really want these skills,” said Eric Ouwinga, who completed the Machine Tool/CNC program. Many of the grads are getting right to work, like Francis Motsay, “I will be starting as an IT tech support for Car City. I’m pretty happy to get to work!” The GRCC Job Training program uses an open enrollment model, which means programs begin about every other month. Students in the same program may be just beginning while others are almost done. There is no need to wait for a semester to begin. By the time a student is admitted to GRCC, they can likely begin the program of their choice within a month. For Juan Miranda, a Welding program graduate, the timing of the program was perfect. “I wanted a program that wouldn’t take so long,” he said. “I want to get to work and start making money as soon as possible.” Job Training classes run 34 hours per week and about 20 weeks in length. All eight of the   programs are designed by area employers and industry experts, so students get the hands-on training used on the job. “I have a bachelor’s degree already,” said Tyler Woodworth, who also completed the Computer Support program. “I didn’t want something that would put me back in debt. I’m ready to get on with my life.” After entering a Job Training program, students are assisted by career coaches and instructors to determine the best training plan to meet their goals. Job placement assistance is also available upon program completion.  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. Additional information is at grcc.edu/programs/job-workforce-training.