Aug. 1, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College celebrated its 103 rd Commencement unlike any of the ceremonies that preceded it, noting how students overcame tremendous challenges in the face of a global pandemic and will emerge stronger for it. The college recognized the graduation of about 1,500 students through a virtual ceremony, with President Bill Pink and other campus leaders conferring degrees through an event streamed live online. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, GRCC determined a virtual ceremony was the best way to honor and celebrate students and their success while allowing as many people as possible to safely participate. Pink spoke from a stage in Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse before about 400 empty chairs to represent students.   “It matters how we react when we are in adverse, challenging conditions,” he said. “What we have been going through these last four or five months has definitely been adversity. Sometimes adversity can truly paralyze you. You’re not sure what to do so you don’t do anything at all. Or, you can choose to innovate. To be creative. To figure out what do I do with this and how can I innovate and not only survive but truly thrive. How do I get past this? How do I still get it done? Survival means you made it. Thriving means you continue to go.” Like colleges across the nation, GRCC transitioned to remote learning in March because of the pandemic. The college plans to offer classes in four formats during the upcoming fall semester. “You showed resilience to adapt to the new learning procedures, from classroom instruction to online learning,” trustee Cynthia Bristol said. “You showed stamina to stay with your classes and finish all of your requirements. Both attributes are assets that brought you to this point and will continue to guide your success.” Professor Duane Davis, recognized for putting his musical stamp on students and the West Michigan Arts community, was awarded Emeritus Faculty status . Davis served as a faculty member in the Music Department for 26 years, working with students in the classroom and serving as GRCC’s director of choral and vocal activities. Under his tenure, the Shades of Blue vocal ensemble received national and international recognition, and the College Choir performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Dr. Nkechy Ezeh was named 2020 Distinguished Alumnus . She GRCC “opened the door” for her to embark on a career of advocating for children and training educators around the world, especially those working to help families overcome the effects of poverty. Ezeh assists schools and nonprofit agencies as an education consultant, providing curriculum and evaluation expertise. She conducts professional development and parent education workshops all over the world. Both were saluted with video tributes during the ceremony. The ceremony is able to be viewed on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/grandrapidscc/posts/10157793948199261 and on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/UD-BqFCJjys . A downloadable version of the Commencement program is available at grcc.edu/commencement . 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.

July 29, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s first virtual Commencement will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, with students asked to participate by posting photos of their home celebrations. The event is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday. GRCC determined a virtual ceremony is the best way to honor and celebrate students and their success while allowing as many people as possible to safely participate. The event will be on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/grandrapidscc/posts/10157793948199261 The YouTube live stream will be here: https://youtu.be/UD-BqFCJjys Students can show how they’re celebrating and who they’re celebrating with by using the #GRCCGrad2020 hashtag on social media. This could include photos of students in regalia -- cap, tassel, stole, honor cords -- or even photos with people who are celebrating with them. Students who registered for Commencement in the past few days will receive their cap, tassel and stole in the mail. More information about Commencement can be found at www.grcc.edu/commencement . 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.

July 31, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Recent graduates from Grand Rapids Community College’s Nursing program again achieved perfection -- some under extremely challenging conditions. According to a National Council of Licensure Exams summary covering the first six months of 2020, all 50 GRCC students taking the licensing tests for registered and practical nurses for the first time passed. GRCC also had a 100% pass rate for registered and practical nurses in 2019. Of the 50 recent test takers, 23 graduated in May and overcame many pandemic-related challenges. “Things were changing daily and hourly for our students, and we were challenged to continue our programs and still align with state and national accreditation requirements,” said Michelle Richter, director of GRCC’s Nursing program. After completing a face-to-face class that abruptly shifted to online instruction, these students had only one course left -- but it had to be completed in a clinical setting. Initially, they were told that wouldn’t be possible because hospitals and clinics were grappling with COVID-19. “After much work and amazing support from some of our clinical partners -- Spectrum Health, Pine Rest, Forest View and Rest Haven -- we were able to place these students in the healthcare setting, which enabled them to complete their program,” Richter said. In 2019, all nursing students passed licensing exams — 104 associate degree nurses and 42 LPN students. It was also the largest number of students taking the exams ever in one year. College leaders say a new curriculum that increases interactive experiences is one reason for the success. Students take part in simulation sessions with manikins that respond and talk – and even deliver a baby. GRCC is celebrating seven decades of training nurses this year, with its Practical Nursing certificate program turning 70 and the associate degree program turning 50. The anniversaries coincide with the World Health Organization’s designation of 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, in honor of the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. 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.    

Students can use their RaiderCard to swipe into a lot and pay $3.50, then have unlimited access to parking lots on the Main Campus and DeVos Campus for the remainder of the day. Previously, students were charged $3.50 each time they entered a lot.

The current class – the third overall as the program starts its second year – has 15 students. GRCC was one of 10 colleges selected nationwide for the initial Metallica Scholars grant in 2018, and was awarded additional funding in 2019.

Fifteen GRCC student-athletes were among 9,555 honored nationally by the NJCAA for achieving GPAs of 3.6 and higher.

July 13, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Most of Grand Rapids Community College’s fall and winter sports will be rescheduled until spring 2021 to keep student-athletes, coaches and spectators safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Junior College Athletic Association’s Board of Regents approved a 2020-2021 Plan of Action on Monday, affecting fall and winter sports – except for cross country, which will continue in the fall with outdoor competition protocols in place. Affected would be GRCC’s nationally ranked volleyball team and men’s and women’s basketball teams. Baseball, softball and golf teams already compete during the spring season. “We want our student-athletes to be able to compete in the safest possible environment,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “This is an unprecedented move, but we are living in extraordinary times. We respect the NJCAA decision, and we will continue planning with recent guidance while keeping the academic success, safety and the health of our student athletes as the top priority.”  GRCC’s Athletic Program is coming off a successful year, earning the 2019-2020 Michigan Community College Athletic Association Charlie Chanter All-Sports Award, which goes to the college program most successful in a variety of sports. 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.

Fall semester classes begin on Aug. 31 and include some on-campus experiences.

When her kids started school, MaryAnne Flier returned to GRCC. “I took a few classes at GRCC back in 2006, but at the time, I didn’t have a clear direction that I wanted to take,” she said. “Because of that lack of clarity — and because I had a good job at the time — I decided that college wasn’t a necessity for me.” In 2016, she had been a stay-at-home mom for five years. But now she was ready for her next chapter and made plans to get an associate degree and then enter GRCC’s Dental Assisting program. Scratch that. “As I worked through the courses required for the (Associate of Arts) degree, it became clear to me that if I was going to continue in any program, it would need to better align with my passions,” Flier said. Dental Assisting was out, but she wasn’t sure what her new pathway was. She decided to work on requirements for her associate degree while she figured it out. As part of that new plan, she took a physical geography class in fall 2018. “Honestly, the only reason I took it was because it seemed like the lesser of three ‘evils’ when it came to my remaining options for a physical science and lab course,” Flier said. That geography class turned out to be more interesting than she thought, and she learned from professor Mike DeVivo that she could build a career that combined geography with her passions for social justice and community development. Geographers influence people and their environment locally and around the world, DeVivo said. “Urban and regional planning requires the talents of geographers, as do efforts to combat social injustice, environmental despoliation, food insecurity and geopolitical problems,” he said, adding that geographers work in both the private and public sectors. “For example, the U.S. Department of State has an Office of the Geographer that has been in existence since 1929, which engages in the analysis of international geographic issues, such as refugee flows, public health problems, humanitarian relief, war crimes prevention, climate change, and human and wildlife trafficking.” Encouraged by DeVivo, Flier secured an internship with the World Affairs Council of West Michigan, a nonprofit organization focused on foreign policy and issues of international interest. She also delved into independent research. Her presentation, examining the impact of evangelical Christianity on Grand Rapids politics, won first place in the undergraduate student paper competition at the annual meeting of the East Lakes Division of the American Association of Geographers. She was to present her research at the California Geographical Society conference in April before that event was canceled because of the pandemic. Her position as president of GRCC’s chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the international geographical honor society, has helped her pursue her passion for social justice — locally and globally. In addition to raising funds for Kids’ Food Basket, GTU is also focused on helping CAMFED, the nonprofit Campaign for Female Education, with its mission of educating and empowering young women in sub-Saharan Africa. Flier, who graduated this spring with an Associate of Arts, plans to start at Aquinas College next fall, with a double major in geography and community leadership. “My plan is to work in some capacity in the nonprofit sector here in Grand Rapids, doing something related to community development,” said Flier, who received Aquinas’ Hruby Scholarship and one of only two Darrel Hess Community College Transfer Scholarships awarded nationally from the American Association of Geographers. Flier, who also works as an academic tutor, believes students should approach general education requirements with an open mind. “If you’re the least bit unsure of the educational path you want to take, just take as many different classes as you can — you never know what you might end up falling in love with!”

GRCC's first-ever drive-through GRADfest, where students will be saluted and can obtain everything they need to make the virtual commencement special, runs 3-7 p.m. on July 7.