April 27, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College alumnus Sekou Smith’s life was cut short by COVID-19, but family members say they want graduates to be inspired by his passion for helping others succeed. GRCC commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday will include a tribute to the sports journalist and community leader. Smith, who attended Grand Rapids Junior and Grand Rapids Community colleges between 1990 and 1992, is being honored as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus. After leaving GRCC, he attended Jackson State University in Mississippi, where he became interested in journalism. His sports writing career started at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson; he then covered the Indianapolis Pacers for the Indianapolis Star and then the Atlanta Hawks for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Smith connected with the NBA’s media teams in 2009. In recent years, he served as an analyst for NBA TV and a writer for NBA.com. He penned the “MVP Weekly” column and hosted the popular “Hang Time” podcast. His death in January at the age of 48 brought tributes from NBA stars, his writing colleagues and the many young professionals he had mentored over the years through such organizations as the National Association of Black Journalists, Athletes for Computer Science, and Mercantile Bank leadership camps. His father, Walter Smith, said GRCC has been “a foundation” for his family, noting that his wife and children attended the college. He is touched by the Distinguished Alumnus honor, as well as the other tributes from the sporting world. “We knew who he was as a son and a brother, but I did not really know the reach he had around the world,” Walter Smith said. “It took me a little time to be able to read them, but there have been some really nice tributes. The ones I treasure the most are primarily the ones from Grand Rapids. It’s where we have our roots. And wherever Sekou went in the world, he never forgot where we came from.” Sekou Smith will be recognized during this year’s commencement, with a tribute that includes a video from the Atlanta Hawks basketball team. The Hawks created a Sekou Smith Award to annually honor the player on the team’s roster who best represents themselves and the franchise with professionalism and integrity in their interactions with the media. Smith’s sister Misti Stanton, also a GRCC alum, said he always had a passion for helping others -- especially people from Grand Rapids. As he became well known for his work in the media, he looked for ways to use his influence to help people grow and thrive, from high school students to fellow journalists starting out, Stanton said, adding that he strongly believed in the impact positive role models have on young people Stanton is a vice president and diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Mercantile Bank. She said Smith was planning to speak to Grand Rapids high school students at a Mercantile Bank leadership camp in 2015 when he was suddenly assigned to interview basketball star LeBron James in Boston. Stanton said her brother insisted he be able to keep his commitment and addressed the students and took questions via video. “Don’t have your guard up all the time,” he told the students. “Put yourself out there and ask for help if you need it. Make sure you find mentors and role models and be proactive in asking them for any help you might need.” Smith said she hopes students are inspired by her brother’s life. GRCC plans four indoor, in-person ceremonies, spreading them out over two days to adhere to pandemic safety protocols. The School of Arts and Sciences ceremonies are planned for 4 and 7 p.m. April 30, with the School of Workforce Development ceremonies at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 1. Grand Rapids Community College has been offering educational opportunities in West Michigan for more than 100 years. Established in 1914, the college offers degree courses, certification and training programs, and workshops and personal enrichment classes. Offerings are held on GRCC’s downtown Grand Rapids campus, and at several locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties, as well as through distance learning.

April 26, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The undefeated Grand Rapids Community College golf team clinched a conference championship on Monday with its fifth-straight win. The Raiders earned a win at Stonegate Golf Club in Muskegon, wrapping up the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference Championship. The team bested five other colleges, with a team score of 308 strokes. Tyler Hausserman shot a 73 to lead the Raiders, with Arie Jackman close behind with 77, Davis Courtright at 78, Dominic Luciani at 80, Logan Templeton at 81, and Matt Denhartigh at 84. Coach John Forton said the win is building momentum for the upcoming NJCAA Regional at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek on May 11. The team is next in action on Friday at the Grayling Country Club for the non-conference Kirkland Invitational.

April 26, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Two Grand Rapids Community College dental professors earned awards from the Michigan Dental Association for their commitment to public service and education. Professor Julie Bera is the first recipient of the MDA’s Allied Dental Professional Educator Award. Dr. Colette Smiley, an adjunct instructor, earned the John G. Nolen Meritorious Award – the organization’s highest honor. MDA leaders said Bera demonstrated outstanding commitment to the advancement of oral health. “Besides her teaching activities at GRCC, she has worked statewide to promote careers in dental assisting,” the organization wrote. Bera, who started at GRCC in 1990, has served on a variety of task forces and committees to address the shortage of licensed dental assistants, and she was instrumental in developing GRCC’s new pathway for working dental assistants to advance in their education and careers. She has served on the Michigan State Board of Dentistry and nationally as a site visitor and review committee member for the ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. “Julie is a wonderful educator,” said Jamie Klap, director of GRCC’s Dental Auxiliary Program. “Year after year, our students look up to her, and she is always helping students find their place in the dental profession, even after they have graduated. Julie's heart is full of passion, drive, and determination for the dental profession and it shows in her commitment to all the roles she's had and currently has. Julie is not only a wonderful educator, but as a colleague, she has been a great mentor to me -- a relationship I'll never take for granted.” Smiley’s award is intended to honor a dentist for material contributions to the Michigan Dental Association, toward the advancement of the art and science of dentistry, or for contributions and activities of a nature that reflect great credit on the dental profession. Smiley practiced dentistry for more than 24 years and served in roles at the local, state and national level. She retired from practicing in 2010, but has not slowed down. “Dr. Smiley was re-energized and redirected her focus toward helping people, especially those who are underserved in West Michigan,” the organization posted. “She works tirelessly as a leader, as a spokesperson, and in her various roles and activities—and has painted organized dentistry in a most favorable light. Above all, Dr. Colette Smiley has done all of these things with a most humble and compassionate nature.”

April 26, 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.  Two things have played a big role in Craig Hoekstra’s life: Wyoming Public Schools and Grand Rapids Community College. So it seemed very fitting that on his first day as the Wyoming district’s superintendent, he wore a GRCC alumni shirt. “I thought this would be the perfect shirt to wear for many reasons, as the college was a big part of my journey,” he said in July 2018. Hoekstra will share his experiences as GRCC’s commencement keynote speaker on Friday and Saturday.  He was a student in the district he now leads, graduating from Wyoming Park High School in 1990. While he generally enjoyed school, he admits he didn’t really work to his full potential. Eventually, he decided to quit his job as a linen delivery driver and enroll at GRCC. He worked for Wyoming Public Schools as a night custodian while attending classes.  “As a nontraditional student with some life experiences under my belt, I went back to school with a purpose and the goal of becoming an educator,” he said.  “Like every road traveled, it certainly isn’t always smooth going. There were long days and long nights.” After receiving an associate degree in 1998, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in education leadership, both from Grand Valley State University.  After time as a teacher, he became Wyoming’s assistant superintendent for instructional services in 2015 and was named superintendent in 2018. He often shares his unique career path to illustrate what can happen with perseverance. “One of the many beautiful things about GRCC is that you are surrounded by kind, caring and supportive folks who positively push you to work hard and persevere through the challenges to achieve what you set out to accomplish when you enrolled,” he said. GRCC will celebrate this year’s graduates at four indoor, in-person ceremonies, spreading them out over two days and limiting the number of guests at each event to adhere to pandemic safety protocols. The School of Arts and Sciences ceremonies are planned for 4 and 7 p.m. April 30, with the School of Workforce Development ceremonies at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 1. All the ceremonies will be live-streamed on Facebook.  

April 24, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Alexa Abrahamson tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Grand Rapids Community College’s softball team to a 1-0 victory over Ancilla in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. Abrahamson was sharp in the second game as well, but the Raiders ended up on the short end of a 4-2 game. A sophomore from Wyoming, Abrahamson was spectacular, striking out nine and issuing no walks in a seven-inning game. Ancilla’s Amanda Hartman was nearly as good, scatting five Raider hits and keeping runs off the board for the first five innings. Haley Van Huis led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple, and came around to score when Brooklynne Siewertsen brought her home on a bunt single for the game’s only run and the Raiders’ fourth win of the season. The same pitchers squared off in the second game, this time with Hartman emerging with a narrow win. Van Huis smacked a single to start the first inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Siewertsen. Van Huis then scored an unearned run on a dropped fly ball. Abrahamson held Ancilla scoreless until the top of the sixth inning, when Ancilla batters hit a triple, double and single and ended with three runs on the scoreboard. The Vikings added another run in the seventh inning. GRCC attempted a comeback after Krin Beach singled and scored on a Kyla Andres triple. But the Raiders couldn’t move any more runners across the plate, settling for a 4-2 loss and a split of the twin bill. The 4-22 Raiders are back in action on Wednesday on the road against Mid Michigan College.

April 24, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team exploded for 14 runs in the fourth inning, part of a 20-2 defeat of Glen Oaks Community College. The Raiders beat Glen Oaks 4-1 in the second game of the doubleheader in Centerville, a day after sweeping a twin bill against the college in Grand Rapids. GRCC’s offense was backed by solid pitching and steady defense in all four games against the Vikings. Sam Schmitt, Aaron West, Ryan Dykstra, Fernando Rivera-Calderon, Caleb Englesman, and Matt Williams each had RBIs in the big inning. West had two hits and two at-bats and drove in three runs. Schmitt had one hit, but scored three runs and drove in two. Dykstra and Keaton Peck both drove in two runs in the game. Drew Murphy took the complete game win for GRCC. The righty went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out four. The Raiders were flawless in the field. GRCC didn’t need as many runs to win the second game, beating Glen Oaks 4-1. Caleb Englesman earned the win for GRCC, surrendering one run on seven hits over five and two-thirds innings, striking out six.  Dalton Vander Ark threw one and one-third innings in relief out of the bullpen.  Vander Ark recorded the last four outs to earn the save. Dykstra led Grand Rapids Community College with two hits in four at bats. The Raiders are now 19-10 on the season, and back in action on Tuesday against Aquinas College JV.

April 24, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Late-inning heroics sparked a doubleheader sweep for the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team on Friday against Glen Oaks Community College. The Raiders won the first game 6-5 on a walk-off single by Sam Schmitt, then rallied for a 4-3 win in the night cap. The first game was tied at five with GRCC batting in the bottom of the eighth. Pinch hitter Matt Williams was hit by a pitch, and was replaced by Keaton Peck., who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jake Ryan. Peck moved to third on a passed ball, then scored the winning run when Schmitt singled on a 3-2 count. Bradley Dunn took the win for GRCC, pitching two innings, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out one and walking one.  Jerad Berkenpas threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen. Collin Bradley started the game GRCC, surrendering five runs on five hits over five and two-thirds innings, striking out seven. Schmitt went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Raiders in hits. The second game was tied in the fifth inning when Jake Paganelli led off with a single and was replaced with courtesy runner Logan Cross. Cross moved to second on a sacrifice by Caleb Englesman, and scored on a Matt Williams double to left. Williams then came around on a single by Ryan. Garrett Cheslek took the complete game win for GRCC, surrendering three runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking one. Butlers took the loss for Glen Oaks Community College. The pitcher lasted five innings, allowing eight hits and four runs while walking none. GRCC socked one home run on the day, with Peck going deep in the third inning. Williams led the Raiders with two hits in two at bats.  The Raiders are now 17-10 on the season and are back in action Saturday, taking on Glen Oaks again, this time in Centerville. Powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

April 24, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College golf team is on a roll, winning all four of its matches this season – with its best performance Friday in Jackson Not only did the Raiders top five teams to win the Jackson College Invitational at the Ella Sharp Golf Course, the team’s 285 was five over par for the course.   Tyler Hausserman was the medalist, shooting a 69. Arie Jackman, Dominic Luciani and Logan Templeton were close behind with 72 and David Courtright followed with 75. The undefeated team in action again on Monday at the Muskegon Invitational.

April 23, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The national tournament run came to an end for the Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team, falling 78-64 to Pima Community College in a consolation round matchup. GRCC was competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association D2 National Tournament for the first time since 1978. The team needed a win to stay alive after falling to Johnson County Community College – the top team in the nation – on Wednesday. The Raiders were ahead through the first quarter and trailed by just a point at the half. But Pima, the No. 9 seed, went on a roll in the third quarter, and GRCC was never able to catch up. Jayla Bibbs had 8 points and 17 rebounds – the NJCAA announcers joked on the broadcast she had about a million boards during the season. Shonya Hawkins had 14 points and three rebounds. Eurasia Green-Boyd had 10 points and six rebounds and Danielle Lamancusa had nine points and seven rebounds. The Raiders ended the season with an impressive 12-5 record, overcoming a variety of challenges created by playing a delayed and shortened season during a pandemic. Hawkins brought energy and intensity to the team, earning Player of the Year honors from the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s Western Conference. A sophomore from Grand Rapids, Hawkins earned All-Region, All-MCCAA honors along with Bibbs, one of the best rebounders in the nation. Danielle Lamancusa, a sophomore from Rockford, earned Second Team All-Conference honors, and Eurasia Green-Boyd, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, and Olivia Koetje, a sophomore from Grandville, received Honorable Mention All-Conference salutes. Bibbs, a sophomore from Buchanan, Hawkins and Green-Boyd were also named to the All-Defensive Team. Coach David Glazier was named Coach of the Year in the District C, National Junior College Athletic Association Great Lakes Conference.  

A School News Network feature: GRCC Nursing students administered shots recently into the arms of students and campus employees and others at DeVos Place, hoping to be part of the solution to end the COVID-19 pandemic. The students served as volunteers at the downtown Grand Rapids site, working to vaccinate those 16 and older who now qualify for the vaccine. Some people receiving shots were taking part in the Shot of Love Campaign, an effort to vaccinate GRCC employees, students and their household family members in partnership with Urban Church Leadership Center and  Spectrum Health .  Nursing students said it was the chance to take part in a global public health effort  —   making a difference on their own campus. Several faculty members also administered shots. “This experience was very joyful and fulfilling,” said licensed practical nurse Eduardo Calderon, of helping people get vaccines that are “like gold right now.”  DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave., has been the site of more than 300,000 vaccinations as of mid-April. Vaccine appointments can be made by registering  here . Calderon is working on an associate degree in nursing at GRCC through the  Futures for Frontliners  program. “I feel very good to help out in my community. It’s very rewarding to be able to help the community especially with something like COVID vaccines.” As an LPN, he works fulltime at the Spectrum Health Rehab and Nursing Center, and has seen the impact and felt the stress of COVID as patients and healthcare workers have tested positive. He also had a mild case of COVID-19 and received the vaccine when it first became available. Now, he’s happy to do what he can to end the pandemic. “It felt very good to be able to be involved in this global exercise to help bring those numbers down,” he said. LPN Jonisha Hill also is working on a nursing associate degree, and estimates she administered between 60 and 70 vaccines at DeVos Place. “It was the most beautiful experience I have ever seen in my 27 years of living,” she said. “There were so many happy people expressing the happiness of being vaccinated and helping others around them.” Hill has worked during the pandemic at a long-term care facility, where many elderly patients died with COVID-19. She said volunteering at the clinic was a different atmosphere, one of positivity and hope. People asked to take photos with her after receiving the vaccine.  “It was a joyous occasion, and I am so glad GRCC gave me the opportunity to see it from that perspective,” Hill said. Nursing Programs Director Shelly Richter said the opportunity for nursing students to participate in the vaccine clinic goes far beyond the basic skill of administering injections and vaccines. “This setting provides students a broader view and understanding of teamwork and the subsequent ripple effects that can positively impact our community and beyond, especially in the midst of this ongoing global pandemic," she said. "The opportunity to work with a variety of team members in an effort to educate and vaccinate our community has been invaluable.” This story was reported by Erin Albanese of the School News Network.