March 3, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC Workforce Training offers programs providing 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. Liz Jeknavorian has faced obstacles with an optimism. Originally from Athens, Greece, Jeknavorian became a single mother of three shortly after arriving in Grand Rapids. She got an entry level job with  a local retailer, but knew the work could not pay enough to support her family. Jeknavorian was a nurse in Greece, but discovered it would take her years to be registered in Michigan. That is when the Grand Rapids Community College Certified Nursing Assistant program became her lifeline. “This training saved my life!” she said. “The training was hands-on and easy to understand. The instructor was so kind and I made many friends. The best part was that GRCC set up job interviews for us at the end of the training. I couldn’t believe it.” The CNA program is well-respected by West Michigan employers. Workforce Training program managers work with local healthcare providers to develop hands-on training that exceeds the state's minimum training requirements.  Certified nursing assistants perform many basic care tasks for patients, and assist the nursing staff with medical tasks like taking blood, monitoring vitals with medical equipment and reporting patient behavior and wellbeing. Students in the program meet with a career coach to help navigate educational and workforce systems complete assessments to target their best career path. After completing the program and passing the CNA exam for the State of Michigan, students are in demand. While working as a CNA, Jeknavorian returned to the retailer, but in a new role. In Meijer's specialized pharmacy, she advocates for patients and coordinates with insurance companies to ensure patients' medical needs are met. She credits her certification for getting an interview for the position. “My CNA certification got me a seat at the table,” she said. “Once I interviewed, I was hired as a patient service coordinator. I was recently promoted to clinical care coordinator. I love my job so much! Helping people is truly who I am and what I want to be doing. GRCC has helped me beyond measure.” 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 .  

March 2, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –   The deadline is approaching for Grand Rapids Community College students to apply for GRCC Foundation scholarships, financial support that can put higher education within reach and change lives. The deadline for applying for scholarships is March 15, and a common application is available on the GRCC website at grcc.edu/scholarships . The foundation has more than 400 scholarship opportunities and last year distributed more than $1.1 million. “The pandemic has exacerbated the financial challenges faced by so many of our students,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Mullins, vice president for College Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. “A college education is the pathway to a better life, and scholarships, in many cases, make attaining a degree or certificate possible. Completing the application is the first step.” The information provided in the common application is used to match students with scholarships for which they might be eligible. “Being the recipient of a scholarship brings a feeling of freedom,” said Cambree Harkema, a student in the Medical Assistant program who earned a Spectrum Healthcare Professional Education Scholarship. “A weight is lifted off your shoulders. You don't have to worry about how you are going to fund your education. It allows you to focus your attention upon your studies instead of having to wonder how you are going to get the money to pay for your schooling.” Students also are encouraged to check with individual GRCC departments about additional scholarships.  The GRCC scholarship webpage also includes resources to opportunities outside of GRCC, including transfer scholarships through four-year university partners. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, to be eligible for need-based scholarships, federal Pell Grants, the local Grand Rapids Promise Zone, and statewide Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs. FAFSA is the federal government’s online form that requires financial and tax information for students and parents, if the students are dependents. The college is committed to helping students complete the form, and answering any other questions about financial aid and scholarships. Students can connect with GRCC financial aid specialists by phone at (616) 234-4030; email at financialaid@grcc.edu; text at (616) 219-8224; or virtually or in-person by appointment. GRCC has a series of helpful videos available on YouTube’s GRCCtv.  The FAFSA can be completed at fafsa.gov using a computer, tablet or mobile phone. The U.S. Education Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid also has information for students and families available at StudentAid.gov. The form can usually be completed in under an hour. Anyone wishing to support GRCC students through scholarships can do so through grcc.edu/donate . Grand Rapids Community College offers learners of all ages opportunities to gain credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills leading to rewarding careers. GRCC was established in 1914 – Michigan’s first community college -- and offers affordable classes on weekdays, evenings, Saturdays and online at locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties.

March 1, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Start at GRCC and go anywhere! Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC – or Grand Rapids Junior College – gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. We’re sharing some of those stories, and want to hear yours! Where do you go after you have a bachelor’s in criminal justice and a master’s degree in public administration? If you’re Michelle LaJoye-Young, you go to GRCC’s Police Academy. “At the time I attended GRCC, I had already received a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from MSU and a master’s in public administration from WMU, but I lacked a certification that would allow me to reach my full potential in my field,” she said. “GRCC was local and of such great quality, it perfectly filled my need.” LaJoye-Young was already working full time for the Kent County Sheriff’s Department and needed to get her Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards certification through a program that fit her schedule. “It was well done and flexible for someone who was working full time,” she said. “The quality was very comparable to my other undergraduate work at MSU.” LaJoye-Young, who also graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, has filled many roles since joining the Kent County Sheriff’s Department in 1989, in communications, support services and as chief deputy and undersheriff. She was appointed sheriff in 2018 and was elected to a four-year term in November. She also serves on local, state and federal boards, including for the Children’s Advocacy Center, the YWCA, the Boys and Girls Club, and GRCC and Grand Valley State University Police Academy advisory boards. Three Michigan governors have appointed her to boards, and she has advised FBI committees and task forces. “GRCC, along with a lot of very hard work, allowed me to have the qualifications to meet my aspirations and serve my community to my fullest capabilities,” she said. Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply . And tell us your story here: grcc.edu/communications/shareyourgrccstory  

FEB. 26, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College basketball teams are off to solid starts in the shortened 2021 season, with both the men’s and women’s teams improving to 2-1 records after sweep of Mid-Michigan College on Friday. It was a defensive battle in both games against the Lakers, with the women opening the night winning 56-50. In a game in which the Raider bench outscored their starters, Shonyah Hawkins would lead the way with 15 points.  Trayana Starr-Thurman chipped in with a season-high 13 points off the bench while Olivia Koetje was the only starter to reach double figures, scoring 10 points while adding 10 rebounds. Starr-Thurman buried her second three-point shot of the game with 7:40 left in to tie it up at 42 and a couple possessions later Hawkins would get a fast-break steal and layup to give the Raiders the lead for good. For Hawkins, it was her third-straight game with 15-plus points. The sophomore from Grand Rapids is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 19.3 points per contest. The Raiders out-scored the Lakers in the paint 28-2, while the Mid-Michigan out-shot the home team 9 of 24 from long range to 3 of 13. The Raiders also out-rebounded the Lakers 43-35 and had 11 less turnovers, 28-17. The men's team also would pull out a gritty victory, in a game that would come down the final possession. The visitors clawed back from a 12-point deficit with 3:25 left in the game, to trail by just one point with 18 seconds left. On the next play, Malik Cincy – the 2016-2017 MCCAA Western Conference Freshman of the Year – was fouled and connected on both free throw attempts. The Lakers then missed a three-point attempt that could have sent the game into overtime, giving the Raiders a 59-56 victory. Clincy led the Raiders with 16 points while chipping in six rebounds, three assists and three steals in just 23 minutes of action. Teammates Chandler Collins had 10 points and four assists, and Dasani Darnell had 12 points and five rebounds and were the only other two Raiders in double figures for scoring. Sophomore guard Isaac Anderson racked up a game-high 15 rebounds including six on the offensive end. Second-chance points and points in the paint proved to big factor for the Raiders victory.  Twenty offensive rebounds contributed to 21 second-chance points for the Raiders, compared to just five for the Lakers. The team also dominated the paint area, 44-26. Both teams will be on the road in the week ahead, heading to Flint, Mich. to take on the Bears of Mott Community College in a non-conference matchup.  On Friday the team gets back into conference play with a road trip to Glen Oaks Community College. Both games will be streamed live on the Mott Athletics YouTube page.

Feb. 24, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC Workforce Training offers programs providing 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. Jerrittia Roseburgh has tenacity. She was a young mother of five children when she enrolled in the GRCC CNC Machining Job Training program. “I really had no idea what CNC was when I started. All I knew is that with this training, I could make a good hourly wage and that is what I needed,” she said. That determination earned her a position at Autocam Medical as a machine operator, but also set her up to become the only woman to be selected to participate in their apprenticeship program that year. An apprenticeship program is a partnership between an employer, in this case Autocam Medical, and an educational institution. The program offers the combined benefits of on-the-job training plus college instruction. Apprentices gain both practical experience and exposure to the theoretical aspects of skilled occupations. Companies work with GRCC to create apprenticeship courses, which are then approved by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeships. An apprentice is required to have a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training in addition to successfully complete 30 credit hours in the technology area to be eligible to receive their journey-person’s certificate. This opportunity would not have come to Roseburgh without her initial training in the Machine Tool/CNC Job Training program. This 20-week training program has recently been completely redesigned and updated to better meet the industry needs. CNC machinists are in high demand. The jobs in the industry pay well and offer many upward pathways to increase wages. As a machinist/computer numerical control technician, students shape metal and various materials to precise dimensions by using machine tools. MT/CNC technicians plan and set up the correct sequence of machine operations in accordance with blueprints, layouts or other instructions to write both manual and computer-generated machine programs. The technician is required to use various hand tools, micrometers, gauges and other precision measuring instruments. To be most effective in the manufacturing environment of today, individuals will need to be able to read blueprints, perform basic shop math, read measurement tools and communicate effectively with others using today's Machine Tool/CNC terminology. 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 .

Feb. 23, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The number of Grand Rapids Community College students completing federal financial aid forms has increased dramatically in the last year, but many students are still potentially missing out on grants and programs to make college more accessible and affordable. GRCC is boosting ways to assist students filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. The number of FAFSA forms submitted to GRCC for the 2021-2022 academic year is up by nearly 2,000 applications, about 44%. That’s the opposite of state and national trends, according to the National College Attainment Network. But GRCC leaders say there are many students who can still take advantage of financial aid opportunities. “The FAFSA application is unquestionably the key to accessing scholarships and financial aid programs that can reduce or even eliminate college costs,” said Dr. Tina Hoxie, GRCC associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “GRCC is focused on helping students complete their FAFSA. We don’t want anyone to miss out on a life-changing education.” FAFSA is an online form that requires financial and tax information for students and parents, if the students are dependents. Students can connect with GRCC financial aid specialists by phone at (616) 234-4030; email at financialaid@grcc.edu ; text at (616) 219-8224; or virtually or in-person by appointment. GRCC has a series of helpful videos available on YouTube’s GRCCtv.   The FAFSA can be completed at fafsa.gov using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. The U.S. Education Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid also has information for students and families available at StudentAid.gov . The form can usually be completed in under an hour. The form is required for students to receive federal Pell Grants, which can cover all expenses for some students, and for students to take advantage of the local Grand Rapids Promise Zone and statewide Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs. The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation also requires a FAFSA for students to be eligible for scholarships. The foundation last year awarded $1.1 million in scholarships to GRCC students. The priority deadline to apply for a foundation scholarship is March 15, 2021. Information and universal applications are available at grcc.edu/scholarships. “Every year, we see the difference a college education can make in a person’s life,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Mullins, vice president for Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. “For many students, that dream becomes a reality because of a scholarship. Completing the FAFSA is the first step toward a brighter future.” Grand Rapids Community College offers learners of all ages opportunities to gain credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills leading to rewarding careers. GRCC was established in 1914 – Michigan’s first community college -- and offers affordable classes on weekdays, evenings, Saturdays and online at locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties.

Start at GRCC and go anywhere! Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC – or Grand Rapids Junior College – gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. We’re sharing some of those stories, and want to hear yours! Bill Hardiman says he didn’t really know what he wanted to do with his life when he first attended Grand Rapids Junior College. But after serving with the Army in Vietnam, he returned to GRJC with a new sense of purpose. Hardiman was the third-oldest of his family’s eight children. His parents separated when he was 14, and he was raised by his mother. After graduating from South High -- President Ford’s alma mater -- he enrolled at GRJC. He left when he was drafted. He went to Vietnam in 1966 as a medic. In a 2003 interview for Grand Valley State University’s Veterans History Project, he described a mortar attack that ignited his infantry unit’s ammo dump: “I don’t know how long we were there, but something happened that changed everything. Someone ran by the tent and yelled one word -- ‘medic’ -- and every one of those guys jumped up and grabbed their aid bag and ran out to help someone. I had just landed, didn’t know what I was doing, but I thought, ‘I am not going to shirk my duty. I’m not going to be left here,’ so I grabbed my bag and ran out, didn’t know where I was going and running toward our perimeter just looking for someone to help. “I realized something, that courage is not the absence of fear. I don’t think you can be courageous if you don’t fear. It’s overcoming that fear and doing the right thing, regardless.” When he returned home, he entered the workforce -- until his wife, Clova, encouraged him to go back to the classroom. After earning his Associate of Arts at GRJC, he received a bachelor’s in behavioral science and public administration from GVSU in 1977 and a master’s in public administration from Western Michigan University in 1978. “I was just determined,” Hardiman told GVSU interviewer James Smither. “I was going to go full time whether I’m working or not and get the degree.” He got a job with Kent County Community Health but felt he could be doing more: “I felt like some area of public service was mine, so I just wrote the mayor of Kentwood, where we lived, and said, ‘I’d like to serve anywhere you think I could be helpful.’” The mayor appointed Hardiman to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and that first assignment led him on the path to the Board of Appeals, Kentwood’s City Commission and his election as mayor from 1992 to 2002. He represented the 29th District in the state Senate from 2002 to 2010 and is now the director of the Office of Community and Faith Engagement for the state Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to being named GRCC’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2006, Hardiman received a Giants Award in 1998. Other recognitions include the United Way of Kent County Volunteer Award, the 1998 National Association of Home Builders Annual Local Official of the Year, the Frederick Douglass Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc.’s Grand Rapids chapter, the 2004 Much Ado Award from Michigan’s Children, and special recognition from the Michigan Federation for Children and Families. Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply . And tell us your story here: https://www.grcc.edu/communications/shareyourgrccstory

Feb. 21, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Dr. Patricia Oldt will be remembered for a strong belief in equity and social justice, advocating for women to advance to leadership. Dr. Oldt, a lifelong educator, was Grand Rapids Community College’s former assistant dean for community education. She passed away this week at age 84.   “Dr. Oldt’s impact is felt not just in the students she helped educate at the K-12 level and higher education, but in women she inspired and mentored to follow in her footsteps as a leader,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “That’s a tremendous legacy. We at GRCC extend our condolences to her family and friends, and hope they are comforted with the knowledge that her work and advocacy has made West Michigan a better place.” In addition to her leadership role at GRCC, Dr. Oldt was assistant superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, superintendent of Northview Public Schools, and both the distinguished professor of education and vice president for Planning and Equity at Grand Valley State University. She was instrumental in developing GVSU’s charter schools program. She earned many awards and honors, including election to the Michigan Association of School Administrators Hall of Fame in 2009. The DeQueen, Ark., native earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, then master’s and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University. A strong advocate for education and equality all her career, Dr. Oldt said in a 2014 interview that growing up and attending public schools in the segregated South shaped her beliefs.   “Being exposed to blatant discrimination against women and people of color convinced me that the only ‘equalizer’ that could make a difference is education,” she said in a GVSU profile after being honored in the university’s Celebrating Women in Sport and Physical Activity She commissioned Northview’s first Title IX audit of athletics, revealing the inequities in girls and boys sports. "I viewed athletics as an extension of the classroom, and many did not see it that way," Dr. Oldt said in the GVSU profile. "I used to ask people, 'What if your daughters didn't have textbooks in the classroom? How is that so different from not having equal access in athletics?'" She focused on equity at Grand Valley as well, leading a campus climate study that resolved inequities in salaries, scholarship opportunities and employee benefits. Dr. Oldt’s family requests that those wishing to make contributions in her honor donate to the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation's Salute to Women Scholarship at grcc.edu/foundation or to the Grand Valley State University Foundation's Grand Valley Fund, at gvsu.edu/giving/gvu-foundation .

Feb. 19, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is testing basketball players for COVID-19 weekly through a partnership with Ferris State University, saying the college is committed to keeping student-athletes safe while competing. Interim Athletic Director David Selmon said the testing exceeds safety protocols prescribed by the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. Through a partnership with the Ferris College of Pharmacy, students, coaches and training staff participating in contact sports will receive weekly antigen tests, with results available in about 15 minutes. The tests are administered by Ferris faculty and students, and are planned to continue through the end of the season. “We’ve adopted several protocols to keep our student-athletes as safe as possible during the pandemic,” Selmon said. “This is an additional step, but we think it is an important one for teams competing in contact sports. Ferris has been an excellent partner for GRCC over the years, and we appreciate being able to work together on this testing.” GRCC Athletics is closely following safety guidelines from the NJCAA and MCCAA, including requiring face coverings, social distancing where possible and prohibiting spectators from the arena during games. That’s in addition to GRCC policies, which include daily health screenings and frequent deep cleanings. “This is another signal that our leadership is keeping the safety of our students first in mind,” Women’s coach David Glazier said. “Our students can safely engage in athletics, and we appreciate these extra steps are being taken. It definitely keeps us moving.” Sophomore basketball player Richard Major said the testing gives athletes peace of mind as they work through the season, which starts tonight against Muskegon Community College. Basketball season has been delayed by several months due to the pandemic. The testing involved a pair of nasal swabs, which are then run through a device. “It’s not too bad,” Major said. “It’s something we need to do to be able to play safely. It will help us stay on the court and get the season in.” All GRCC basketball and volleyball homes games are being live streamed and archived at MichiganSportsRadio.com . Additional information about the basketball teams is available at grccraiders.com . Grand Rapids Community College offers learners of all ages opportunities to gain credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills leading to rewarding careers. GRCC was established in 1914 – Michigan’s first community college -- and offers affordable classes on weekdays, evenings, Saturdays and online at locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties.

GRCC Workforce Training offers programs providing 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 Bronkema was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was looking for a new job. He heard about GRCC Workforce Training’s Metallica Scholars program. “My mom received an email about the Metallica Scholars program. It came at just the right time,” he said. “I knew I needed to find something that was more sustainable, some type of job that would grow. When my mom suggested I apply, I listened to her, and I’m glad I did!” Metallica Scholars is a partnership between the legendary heavy metal band’s All Within My Hands Foundation, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Wolverine, the Rockford-based manufacturer of work boots and apparel. GRCC was one of just 10 community colleges in the nation selected for the first Metallica Scholar grants in 2018. The college launched an extensive welding program that included an accelerated schedule and career preparation assistance. Welders are in-demand , and the job includes basic duties such as cutting, brazing and welding of various metal components to more advanced activities include metal inert gas welding and tungsten inert gas welding using aluminum and stainless steel. Welders gain an understanding of metallurgy, American Welding Society standards and welding equipment maintenance. People effective in the career are able to read blueprints, perform basic shop math, read measurement tools and communicate effectively with others. “When I found out that I made it into the program I was pumped,” Bronkema said. “There weren’t very many seats available. I love this program!” The 2016 Coopersville High grad said professor Nick Pinckney allows students to move at our own pace, and Bronkema has been able to progress quickly. “I plan to complete this training and work toward getting my journeyman’s card. This program has given me the confidence to really plan my future. It’s looking bright!” Matthew and others in his Metallica Scholars cohort will graduate on Feb. 25. Several students have already been offered job, and others are preparing for interviews with employers this week. 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 .