Randall Dragstra turned to GRCC after serving in the U.S. Marines. “I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do after I left the military, yet I knew I wanted to start my education,” he said. “GRCC was an easy pick for this as it was local and affordable.” Classes here helped him decide on manufacturing engineering. He cites professor Scott Lampe as a mentor who has given him good advice for both inside and outside the classroom. “I have had a great experience while at GRCC, especially with the hands-on learning that I get to do,” Dragstra said. “I also love the opportunity to meet other students and make friends along the way.” Dragstra, who works in the part development and validation department at Kent Manufacturing Co., received financial help -- and encouragement -- from the Cascade Engineering Scholarship. “Cascade Engineering has helped guide my feet on this path, and I can’t thank them enough for their support,” he said. “The scholarships have helped me tremendously with financial support, but also allowing me to see that someone is willing to endorse me and motivate me to keep pushing and focusing on my education.” Dragstra plans to continue his education at Ferris State University’s Grand Rapids campus. “I’ve been told that accomplishments, no matter how small, are something that you didn’t have before,” he said. “So getting a good grade or using something I learned in a practical application outside of school are big accomplishments for me.”

David Selmon, a veteran educator and one of the most successful coaches in Grand Rapids Community College history, has been named a trustee with the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors prominent West Michigan athletes and those who have greatly contributed to sports on a local, state or national level. “David is a perfect fit,” Hall of Fame director Mark Kimball said. “He is a man of character and passion for sports, has been a part of the community for over 30 years and has been heavily involved in local sports as a coach and school administrator. He’s also a fan of our local athletes and has a wealth of knowledge.” People enshrined in the hall – including GRCC coaching legend Gene Paxton – are honored with plaques and two large-screen TouchWall displays at Van Andel Arena. The Hall of Fame also presents annual events in support of local youth organizations and charities. Selmon is GRCC’s associate dean of Student Affairs and is serving as interim athletic director. “I’ve been fortunate, even lucky, with the chances and opportunities I’ve had and the recognition I have received,” he said. “I love doing new things and having new challenges. This will be a new chapter in my life, and I’m happy to feel relevant in the local sports community.” The Mansfield, Ohio, native came to Grand Rapids in 1984 to play basketball at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College. He played for Paxton and averaged 16 points and 7 assists for his two-year career, in which the Raiders were 52-15 and won a conference championship. Selmon later became GRCC’s basketball coach, compiling a 416-136 record over 20 years – a .751 winning percentage. He was named a conference coach of the year seven times. He was national Junior College Coach of the Year in 1995, when the Raiders reached the NJCAA Division II National Championship game, losing by one point. As a coach, Selmon wanted his students to be successful off the court as well, and the GRCC basketball team had some of the highest graduation rates in the state during his tenure. In his administrative roles at GRCC, he works closely with districts across West Michigan to help attract and prepare students for college. As a Hall of Fame trustee, Selmon said he will consider nominees fairly and will look at their character. “That’s what I always try to do,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for the other trustees and look forward to working with them. I’m still a big-time fan. I love going to games. I can be there eight hours and it feels like two.” For more information visit www.grshof.com and follow the Hall of Fame on Facebook.

More than 1,000 people have been accepted so far by the State of Michigan to attend Grand Rapids Community College through the Futures for Frontliners program. The program provides a tuition-free pathway to an associate degree or a technical certificate to those who worked in essential industries during the COVID-19 shutdown. More than 70,000 people statewide have applied for the program, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The program is part of Gov. Whitmer’s goal of having 60% of working-age Michiganders earning a college degree or certificate by 2030. While more than 1,000 frontliners have been accepted so far by the state to attend GRCC, the number is expected to increase as the state continues to process applications. The state application is available at Michigan.gov/frontliners , and the deadline to apply is Dec. 31. Once accepted by the state, new students must apply to GRCC at grcc.edu/apply and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . GRCC has direct and easy connections with staff experts to answer questions and help frontliners start at GRCC.  Contact GRCC through the Futures for Frontliners hotline at (616) 234-3344; through email at futures4frontliners@grcc.edu; and text at (616) 404-4519. Information also is available at grcc.edu/futuresforfrontliners . “This is an incredible opportunity for West Michigan residents to either start or continue working toward a degree or certificate, or to resume their educational journey,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “An education will help workers of any age gain new skills and advance in their careers. People who aren’t accepted through the Frontliners program should still consider applying to GRCC, and talking to our advising and financial aid experts to see if there are other ways to reduce costs and schedule classes around home and work responsibilities.” Students would be eligible to begin attending during the winter semester, starting in January 2021. The Futures for Frontliners program is for people who worked at least half-time in frontline jobs for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 and June 30 and who do not have a college degree. Eligible frontline industry examples include – but are not limited to -- food and agriculture; healthcare and public health; critical manufacturing; communications and information technology, including news media; law enforcement, public safety, and first responders; public works; and transportation and logistics. 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.

Representatives from more than 25 four-year colleges and universities will be available to help students plan the next steps on their educational journeys through Grand Rapids Community College’s first virtual transfer fair. Participants include public and private schools from Michigan and beyond, and students are free to visit as many as they want during the four-hour session. Representatives will be about to discuss transfer requirements, dates and deadlines and the available opportunities at their schools. “Students can start at GRCC and go anywhere,” said Erin Busscher, program director of the Academic Advising and Transfer Center. “A virtual transfer fair is a safe and convenient way for GRCC students to learn how and where to continue their education.” 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.

A School News Network feature -- Like many students facing a new reality for courses, Alayna Helmer was stressed out when the lab and clinic portions of  Grand Rapids Community College’s dental programs  shut down last March to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. “I am not someone who really cares for online learning. I prefer to be in a classroom,” said Helmer, who is in her second and final year of GRCC’s dental hygienist program. “It isn’t really possible to do what we do online … Every patient and appointment is so different.” Now, with clinics and labs reopened since June for in-person learning and lectures continuing online, Alayna is thankful to be back onsite learning how to care for people’s teeth. Real patients who come in for cleaning appointments provide her with the experience she needs for a future job as a hygienist in a dental office. “I definitely feel safe being back to work and being in the clinic,” she said, explaining that dentistry always uses personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves, but has added much more during the pandemic. “I think dentistry does more than they need to, in a good way,” she said. Still, there’s fear among patients about coming in for cleanings. “It’s been hard to recruit patients because people are afraid to come in even though GRCC has been taking every possible measure to ensure safety.” Masks, Gowns and More Literally one of the most in-your-face professions, dentistry requires a high level of precautions when it comes to preventing COVID-19 transmission.  “We teach students to treat everyone as if they are infectious,” said Jamie Klap, GRCC Dental Auxiliary Program director.  The GRCC staff has taken extensive measures to make sure in-person learning is possible, including air filtration systems in the clinic and lots of PPE, she said. Along with wearing N95 masks, students in the dental hygiene and dental assisting programs gear up for labs wearing long gowns, face masks, safety glasses and face shields. Klap said they are also looking into purchasing high-volume evacuation tools, which suction to exhaust aerosols as they are created.  “It will be interesting to see if there will be permanent changes in dentistry due to the pandemic,” Klap said, noting that some of the added PPE could become regular requirements.  After the campus closed to in-person learning last March, everyone worked to ensure a safe return when possible. Labs and clinics are a bit behind schedule due to the time off and the new guidelines.  “The pandemic has limited many of our abilities,” Klap said. “We stagger student arrival times to get students in and out of the locker rooms without bottlenecking the hallways. We also have a foot traffic pattern everyone follows while arriving to campus and heading to the clinic or dental lab.” Program Numbers Limited, But Opportunities Abound It’s a strange time to enter the profession overall. Dental offices closed during the shutdown except for emergency service and impacts of the pandemic continue, with many reporting that business has not returned to usual and they are seeing  an uptick in stress-related teeth issues.  Also, GRCC accepted just 16 dental hygiene students this fall, down from the typical 32, because of the need for social distancing and other safety measures. “We have about a four-year waitlist for dental hygiene and this was a very tough and heavy weighted decision to only accept half of the students we normally do,” said Klap. They also normally accept 24 full-time and up to six dental assisting students. This year, they accepted 20 full-time and four part-time students to the program — only a slight decrease because of the huge demand in West Michigan for registered dental assistants. Klap said she receives inquiries daily about job opportunities for students graduating from the programs. “There is a shortage of dental assistants in West Michigan, but since COVID, I think several hygienists retired from clinical practice, leaving a gap there as well. Most of our students had full-time jobs before graduation.” Alayna, who already works part time in a dental office, said she looks forward to the salary and flexible schedule the career offers. Starting on the low end, Klap said, hygienists earn about $25 per hour and dental assistants about $18. The  average dental hygienist salary  in the U.S. tops $75,000. Most of all, though, Alayna likes to play a role in people’s health care, both by improving their teeth and by making them aware that a healthy mouth contributes to better health overall. “I really didn’t know I’d love it so much,” she said of the program. “I like that I am able to help people with their overall health. Not many people realize that keeping your teeth clean affects your body.” This story was reported by Erin Albanese of the School News Network.

Oct. 5, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is making it easier for students struggling with food insecurity to get meals and is partnering with culinary students for tips on preparing dishes. GRCC’s Office of Student Life has offered weekly curbside food distribution since the coronavirus crisis started in March, and moved indoors at the start of the fall semester.  Starting Monday, Oct. 5, students may pick up a food package anytime the Student Life Office is open, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is located on the first floor of the Student Community Center, 122 Lyon St. NE. Students can visit once per week and need to check in at the front desk. “We want to make it as easy as possible for students to have access to the food pantry while they are struggling,” said Lina Blair, director of GRCC’s Office of Student Life. “We’re here to support them during these difficult times so they can focus on their education.” Student Life since March has provided about 1,300 bags of nonperishable food – such as canned fruit, noodles, cereal and rice -- along with frozen meats, fruit, and eggs. The college also has provided fresh produce as well as household cleaning and hygiene supplies, baby food, formula, diapers and wipes, and pet food. The college also has created a new webpage with recipes using the groceries available in the food pantry. A student in GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education is working with Student Life to compile the recipes, which are available here. A copy of the recipe link will be texted to students who use the pantry. The Secchia partnership is the latest campus and community effort in support of the food pantry. The Student Alliance has donated $38,000, and the college was awarded a $48,796 grant from Kent County and the Heart of West Michigan United Way, and a $10,000 grant from United Way's Coronavirus Response Fund. The college also has teamed up with Feeding America West Michigan, I Support the Girls and Plainsong Farm to provide food and other supplies. Additional distribution dates are posted on the college’s Get Help website: grcc.edu/gethelp. 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.  

Oct. 3, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Bob Woodrick sought to challenge the hearts and minds of people in West Michigan about what he described as “the disease of racism.” Woodrick, who passed away Friday at 88, leaves a legacy of promoting community conversations and education on the topic through the Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Equity and Inclusion at Grand Rapids Community College.  “Bob Woodrick understood West Michigan cannot not truly be successful until everyone has an opportunity to thrive,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “For decades, he opened eyes, changed minds and challenged people to take a look at themselves and their communities. The world we are living in today shows us we have more work to do. Bob’s leadership helped ensure GRCC is a place where that work can and will continue.” GRCC renamed its Diversity Learning Center after the Woodricks in 2006 after the couple generously supported the program’s improvement. It was renamed the Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Equity and Inclusion in 2016 to reflect the expansion of its work both on and off campus. Through the center, GRCC and surrounding communities are provided with the opportunity to experience cultural competence through community partnerships, academic colloquium, youth conferences, student engagement initiatives, and programming that advances responsive social justice. Woodrick began his career in the family business, D&W Food Centers in Grand Rapids, and worked there his entire life, leaving only for college and the military. He served many roles, including president and CEO, and chairman of the board.  "I believe that racism is real, and that it is wrong -- and that its presence with us has not diminished,” he wrote in a 1996 essay in The Grand Rapids Press. “Furthermore, I believe our denial plays a significant role in masking racism; only when we acknowledge our denial can the healing of racism begin." Woodrick’s advocacy led to the Institutes for Healing Racism, now a partnership between GRCC’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Grand Rapids Chamber. The Woodricks also collaborated with Aquinas College to establish the Woodrick Institute for the Study of Racism and Diversity. “GRCC has always been dedicated to helping students be everything they are capable of becoming. And learning to appreciate and understand the role that diversity plays in that process can not be underestimated,” Woodrick said at the GRCC center’s dedication. “It’s an honor for Alecia and I to be able to support GRCC and build upon the Diversity Learning Center’s decade of success. The future of our community depends upon us getting it right.” 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.

October 3, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – For the third time this season, the Grand Rapids Community College cross country team swept team and individual competitions, running away with victories at Friday’s Firebird Invitational in Grayling. Both the men’s and women’s team have perfect 3-0 records at the halfway point of the season. The nationally ranked Raiders are back in action on Oct. 17 in Muskegon. The men’s team cruised to a 46-point victory in the Grayling event, hosted by Kirtland Community College at Hanson Hills Ski Area. It was the largest event so far this season, with the Raiders among 13 colleges taking part. Joshua Kipkoech finished first, and has now won all three races this year. The 25-year-old automotive technology student was raised in Kenya and had not raced in several years. He learned about GRCC’s program and wanted to get involved. Kipkoech last week was named National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week. Four Raiders finished in the top 10, with Jack Kehoe finishing sixth, Lance Jourdan taking eighth and Wilson Ishimwe finishing ninth. The men’s team was ranked 10th in the nation in the most recent 2020 National Junior Athletic Associations Division II coaches’ poll. The women’s team is ranked even higher, in the fifth spot, and also dominated in Friday’s race. The Raiders beat second-place St. Clair Community College by 13 points and third-place Jackson College by 37 points. Sophomore Kiah Becker continued her remarkable season. She also has won all three races. Teammates Audrey Meyering finished fifth, Carolanne Merlington was just four seconds behind in sixth place, and Kate De Leeuw finished ninth. The cross country teams are competing under strict safety protocols to protect student-athletes and coaches during the pandemic. The runners are the only GRCC athletes competing this fall.

Oct. 1, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Students in Grand Rapids Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program are helping Allegan area children learn as they play. Last spring, the OTA program partnered with the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency and the Van Buren Intermediate School District to provide adaptive toys for children with complex disabilities. “The Adapted Toy Project provides the GRCC OTA program with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they are learning in class to a ‘real-life" problem,’ said Robin Pegg, a professor who coordinates the program’s field work. “Finding the solution to the problem benefits everyone by providing the GRCC students the opportunity to use clinical reasoning skills and the kids with a toy that was designed to meet their specific needs. We are very thankful to our community partners. As our students learn, the community benefits.” Each OTA student was matched with a child and received a profile of the child’s disabilities. Working with battery-operated toys donated by Goodwill Industries, the GRCC students modified them so the children are able to play with them. “We’re adapting it and changing it and modifying it, so that they will be able to play with it,” OTA student Betsy Bell said in a GRCC video.  “We’re just trying to incorporate textures or magnifying anything that’s important on the toy,” OTA student Madi McCartney said. “Figuring out the best way to do that is kind of like the creative process of what we’re trying to do.” Bell made the small buttons on top of a remote-controlled car larger so a child with limited use of his arms can play with it. McCartney was paired with a 2-year-old who was hesitant to touch objects, so she altered a toy by adding a switch that works when a hand hovers over it. A GRCC grant purchased switches, adaptors and other equipment for the project. The OTA students recently began delivering the adapted toys to the children and are able to see them in action immediately. “My kids love to play,” teacher Janet Brooks said. “They love to control their environment, and so they’re just wanting that human connection with us, and that’s all we want to give them. So having this program and this opportunity to give these toys kind of fills that void and gives them a chance to be able to connect with us on another level.” 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.