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GRCC Basketball Player Marshaun Flakes breaks school record

Marshaun Flakes just wrapped up a fantastic freshman season with the GRCC men’s basketball team. The highlight of his season — setting a new school record for the most points scored in a game.  On January 15, the team won 113-105 against Lake Michigan College. Flakes scored a record-breaking 53 points, helping the team to victory.  “At halftime a couple of my teammates asked me about the record,” Flakes said. “I didn’t remember how many points I had by halftime, but when I saw I already had 40 points with 10 minutes left in the game, I realized I could beat it.” Flakes commends his teammates for encouraging him and assisting him with the win.  “I didn’t set out to beat the record. It just kind of happened,” Flakes said. “My teammates really encouraged me and helped me stay open so I could get more time with the ball.” Men’s basketball coach, Joe Fox also praised Flakes’s performance: “What an incredible performance by Marshaun. We were a little short-manned and Marshaun really stepped up to answer the bell. He managed all facets of the game, played a great point guard role, and didn't force anything. What was most impressive to me was how efficient the effort was, 53 points on 28 shots. A well-earned school record and a well-earned win.”   Flakes started playing basketball in fourth grade at a Boys & Girls Club in Grand Rapids. He quickly discovered a natural talent and passion for the game.  Flakes scored his first 50-point game when he was in middle school. He says that getting a 50-point game as a college athlete meant more to him. The competition is tougher and all of the players are dedicated athletes. Flakes is proud that he has put the work in to stand out.  The basketball season is officially over and Flakes built quite a reputation as a freshman at GRCC. He was GRCC’s top scorer for the season and received multiple honors after the season including All-Region, All-MCCAA, First Team All-Conference and All-Defensive Team selections.  His college basketball career is just starting and he’s dedicated to continuous improvement and growth. Flakes is motivated by his family, teammates and coaches to keep practicing and show up to next season even better. 

Janelly Vazquez: From personal struggle to advocacy for immigrant families

March 24, 2025 Janelly Vazquez was 9 when she came home from school to find her father had been deported to Mexico. Now 21, she’s making it her mission to defend the rights of other immigrant families and their loved ones. “I’m passionate about immigration because this is my life’s story,” said Vazquez, who is pursuing an Associate degree in Pre-Political Science at Grand Rapids Community College. Her father, Eliud Vazquez, moved to Holland with his family as a boy, but was never a legal resident. He worked hard, married and raised Janelly and her two brothers. Despite years of trying to gain U.S. citizenship, he was deported after a traffic stop in 2012. “He would always tell us if something happens to me, if one day I have to leave, just know that I love you guys and we'll be together again soon,” she said. “But that was a long, long time ago.” The Vazquez family is still working to help him gain legal entry and return home to Holland. It hasn’t been easy. Janelly and her brothers live with their mother, Alma, all working together to make ends meet. Along with attending GRCC in the mornings, Janelly works full time in the afternoons at Magna Mirrors in Holland. “When you’re in a single-parent household, you have to help and you have to study,” she says. Through the years, school has been the constant in her life — and a place to thrive. She’s happy to be attending GRCC and enjoys the convenience of taking so many courses at the Lakeshore campus, just nine minutes from her mom’s home. It’s a much better fit than the large university she attended after graduating in 2021 from West Ottawa High School. “I came to GRCC last fall and it’s been great; I feel like I found all the support I needed right here close to home,” she said. Vazquez initially imagined she’d go into the medical field. But after becoming a certified nursing assistant and working in a local assisted living facility, she realized it wasn’t the career for her. It was during this time, as she and her mom were meeting with immigration lawyers to help her father, that she realized her true passion lay in immigration law. “I realized how passionate I am about finding a solution for my dad and that this is something I could happily spend my career doing for other families like ours,” she said. “My GRCC advisor really listened to me and helped me narrow down the career path I wanted to pursue.” When she graduates from GRCC in December, Vazquez plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies at Grand Valley State University. “I’m still unsure where I’d like to work after that, but I know I want to apply that knowledge and interest into helping others facing immigration struggles,” she said. “And I only hope my dad is here soon to see it.” This story reported by Beth McKenna.  

Student Leadership Award recipients

This week, the annual Student Leadership Awards celebrated the outstanding achievements and contributions of students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities throughout the year. Congratulations to all who were nominated and to those who received an award. We are so grateful for the awards night and the hard work that led up to this point. It was a joy to celebrate achievements together. Award Award Recipient Brian Kloet Campus Involvement Award Jerry Boss Benham Service and Civic Engagement Award Dave Damien Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award Joel Reyes Hernandez Cedric and Sandy Ward Leadership Award (1/2) Evodie Djunga Cedric and Sandy Ward Leadership Award (2/2) Kiana Vu Richard W. Calkins Presidential Leadership Award (1/2) Stephanie Smith Richard W. Calkins Presidential Leadership Award (2/2) Brayden Smith The Collegiate’s Student Journalist of the Year Award Alexa Cheaney Jerry Benham Award for Student Organization Advisor Rachel Lutwick-Deaner Student Organization of the Year Black Africana Student Union Project, Event or Program or the Year ARTS Club mural “Ecological Biodiversity” New Student Organization of the Year Staying rootED! 2024-2025 Math Perseverance Award MA 15-MA 107 Lesley Vargas 2024-2025 Math Perseverance Award MA 108-MA 259 Amanda Myers Outstanding Mathematics Student 2024-2025 Owen Sutton Emerging Music Student Leadership Award Nominees Lillian Dibble Distinguished Music Student Leadership Award Nominees Alexa Harper Geology Student of the Year Paul Kuchnicki Physics Student of the Year Elzien (Ellie) Zomer Chemistry Student of the Year Johann Castro

Get help with Canvas

The Canvas transition is well underway! Offices around GRCC are collaborating to provide support, training, and resources to help you make the move to Canvas. Read on to find a description of the support we have available and how you can find it. Canvas Transition Hub The  Canvas Transition Hub  is home to all the latest updates on the Canvas transition, including training course information, drop-in support hours, and helpful resource links on the transition hub.  All of the information below - peer support hours, Canvas training courses, and scheduled workshops and sessions - is available at the Canvas Transition Hub. It’s your one-stop shop for GRCC’s move to Canvas. Canvas Peer Support Faculty Liaisons TLDE’s Canvas Peer Support Faculty Liaisons hold in-person and virtual support hours and sessions each week. Drop in for Canvas support, attend a scheduled session with a set topic, or schedule a meeting for help with any aspect of the Canvas transition. View the Canvas Peer Support Faculty Liaisons  calendar of hours and sessions , or  add the calendar to your own Google Calendar . Remember: all of these links and more are available at the Canvas transition hub.  GRCC Canvas Training Courses TLDE offers several options for Canvas training and workshops: Canvas Foundations is an asynchronous self-paced, facilitated introduction to the tools for teaching and learning in Canvas. Exploring Canvas is a fully self-guided version of Canvas Foundations. Explore the tools and capabilities of Canvas at your own pace Supporting Students with Canvas is a self-guided training designed for staff who may not need to teach in Canvas but who will support students with Canvas questions. TLDE also offers scheduled HyFlex Canvas training sessions for staff. The Online/Hybrid Certification Course (OHCC) is also available in Canvas. The Canvas OHCC is completely redesigned and revamped, a valuable experience even for faculty who have already attained the certification. The next OHCC cohort begins on May 5 - register now!  Canvas Training Services Portal Canvas also offers a variety of live and on-demand trainings and workshops in the Canvas Training Services portal. To access these sessions, open the Help menu in Canvas and select Training Services Portal. Watch this video to see how to access the Training Services Portal. Canvas Training with Consultant Gini Broadway Join us for two scheduled Canvas trainings with consultant Gini Broadway,  Getting Started with Migrated Courses in Canvas…and More!  Bring your questions. Gini will tailor the training to meet your needs. Friday, March 21, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.,  virtual Friday, March 28, Noon-1 p.m.,  virtual No registration required! Sessions will be recorded. TLDE Support Contact TLDE via phone or email anytime, or stop by during our walk-in hours. Visit  grcc.edu/canvas  for more information on the transition.  

March 2025 Above & Beyond Awards - Gainful Employment Team

The 2025 Gainful Employment Team was nominated by Ann Isackson, Associate Provost of Student Affairs, for the March 13 Academic and Student Affairs Council’s Above & Beyond Award. This team consists of: Amanda Kruzona, IR Ashley Ruthruff, IR Mark Champion, IR Bryan Vliem, IT Deb DeWent, ISIP Lakisha Beck, Student Records Chris Remley, Student Records Lori Russell, Financial Aid Ann wrote, “I would like to nominate the following individuals for the Above & Beyond Award for their long-term, cross departmental collaboration to prepare for and successfully meet the January 2025 Gainful Employment reporting deadline. This large undertaking required close coordination and communication between our IR, IT, Curriculum Support, Student Records, and Financial Aid offices, as well as extensive collaborative research, testing, and troubleshooting. They accomplished this work amid less than clear guidance from the Department of Education. While there were likely others involved in this project, these individuals were consistent leaders in this work and collectively helped ensure that the Gainful Employment reporting and deadline requirements were met. Their active involvement in this project is a shining example of teamwork and collegiality at its best at GRCC. It should be noted that former Executive Director of Financial Aid, David DeBoer, and Kris Strom of Choice Consulting, both now retired, were also instrumental in the successful completion of this work.” (From Left to Right: Back Row: Sheila Jones, Mark Champion, Deb Dewent, Lakisha Beck, Chris Remley, Ann Isackson; Front Row: Amanda Kruzona Missing from picture: Ashley Ruthruff, Bryan Vliem and Lori Russell)

March 2025 Above & Beyond Awards - Chris Remley

Chris Remley, associate registrar of graduation from Student Records was nominated by Lakisha Beck for March’s Academic and Student Affairs Council’s Above & Beyond Award.  Lakisha wrote, “Christopher is a ROCKSTAR! He is a true team player that will jump in and help when needed. He doesn’t complain when more work has to be done, he just smiles and works it into his day/week. The Student Records Office has had some changes in staffing, which caused a lot of training. Yes, Christopher stepped up and took charge! I’ve been so grateful to have Christopher in our office as he is a HUGE asset to the office and the college as a whole. Thank you so much Chris for your commitment.”
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