August 17, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . -- Grand Rapids Community College student Yeli Romero has seen her share of obstacles in life. After immigrating to the U.S., she graduated from Adelante High School and wasn’t sure what was next. “As a first-generation college student no one educated me on the fact that college was the next step after high school,” Romero said. “It was my perception that college was only for people who were born here in the United States and not for people from other countries like me.” Instead, after graduation, she began to take English as a second language courses. “Coming out of high school my English was not the best, and it is still not at the level I would like,” she said. After a year, she began to feel more confident with her growing English skills, and someone told her that GRCC might be a place to continue to her educational journey. “I was not familiar with GRCC, and I was scared to even check out the campus,” she said with a smile. “Again, my perception was that help was available only for people who were born in the United States.” But she pushed through her fears, visited the downtown campus and took a couple of ESL classes. “Back then I used to work 25 hours per week and was not making much money, so I finished two classes and that was it,” she said.  A few years later, she was working in event promotion and at one such gathering, one of the exhibitors was GRCC. “I went over and asked what type of resources were available for people like me,” she said. “They were very informative, and I came back to the campus. I did another test, my score was higher and I was able to start taking regular classes that would go toward my goals.”  She now is on track to graduate in 2026. “I wish I could be taking more classes, so I could graduate sooner but being a mom and owner of two businesses, it’s hard for me to manage my busy schedule,” she said. She added with a laugh: “My graduation seems pretty far away with the way I am taking my classes right now.” On the other hand, she said, she’s not one to back down from a challenge. In high school already, she started losing her hair. She was diagnosed with alopecia universalis, and she said it was devastating to realize what lay ahead of her even as she dealt with the stress of being an immigrant new to the U.S. finishing high school away from family and friends. Alopecia universalis leads to complete hair loss, and there is no cure.  “I struggled for many years with myself and my beliefs,” she said.  But two years ago, she began to speak more openly about her diagnosis, and that, she said, has been freeing. “My goal now is to continue motivating and empowering other women with the same condition as me,” she said. “I want them to see life in a positive way. Also, to know we deserve to be loved no matter our hair loss condition. Our hair doesn’t define who we are. It's our heart and soul that makes us unique.” Her two businesses, co-owned with her husband, also reflect her positive spirit and growing confidence. One is called Yeli’s Fitness and sees her teaching Zumba at the YMCA, for the city of Grand Rapids and at various private businesses in Grand Rapids. The other is ACCESO VIP which she said works with local businesses reaching out to the Latino community via digital marketing, social media management, graphic design event promotion, photography, promotional videos and more.  Her GRCC studies, she said, have benefited her work as a business owner. “My experience at GRCC has been great so far,” she said. “The classes align with my passions and have helped me come out of my comfort zone. I enjoy learning new things every day, and I am simply looking forward to continuing to learn, finishing my education at an easy pace and making my family proud as a first-generation college graduate.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.

Aug. 9 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is taking over the West Michigan Whitecaps’ ballpark on Aug. 16, sharing program and scholarship information, celebrating alumni, and helping with last-minute enrollments. GRCC President Charles W. Lepper will start the Whitecaps’ game against the South Bend Cubs by throwing out the first pitch. Throughout the evening, fans can learn about GRCC’s life- changing programs, including those available to remove cost as a barrier. “Family and work responsibilities don’t have to stand in the way of a GRCC degree or certificate,” Lepper said. “I think many Whitecaps fans will be surprised to learn how easy it can be to take that ‘next step’ – especially with help from GRCC scholarships, the Michigan Reconnect program, Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone.” Staff on the concourse can provide information on all those programs, and for those who want to get started right away, they can help with enrollment for fall classes. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a bobblehead celebrating former Detroit Tigers first baseman Robert Fick. Fick, who was inducted into the Whitecaps Hall of Fame in 2009, is himself a community college alumnus, attending Ventura College in California before transferring to California State University at Northridge. He made his major league debut with the Tigers in 1998 and subsequently played for the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. Fans can get Fick’s autograph before the game by going to section 109 for a number. Fireworks are scheduled at the end of the night. The game starts at 6:35 p.m. at LMCU Stadium, 4500 West River Drive in Comstock Park. Tickets, which range from $10 to $19, can be purchased online . GRCC alumni have a special section and can buy tickets online for $10, which includes a hotdog and a pop.

August 1, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  - Grand Rapids Community College mourns the loss of Olivia Margo Anderson, who attended GRCC as a student and later became a leader in the community and at the college, serving as chairperson of the board of trustees. She leaves a legacy of opening up educational opportunities for all students. “Margo Anderson changed generations of lives by working to ensure that education was within reach of all students,” said David Koetje, chairperson of the GRCC board of trustees . “She was determined to increase access to life-changing education and make a difference in her community. She will be missed tremendously.” Anderson, who passed away on July 28, 2023, at age 81, was a lifelong educator who was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award at GRCC’s commencement on April 28, 2023.  She started her education at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College and transferred to Western Michigan University. She later earned three master’s degrees from Western, in Elementary Education, in Counseling and Personnel, and in Educational Leadership.  Anderson worked 32 years in the Grand Rapids Public Schools as an elementary teacher, high school counselor, assistant principal and elementary  principal. She retired from GRPS in 2000, and was elected to the GRCC board of trustees a year later, serving through 2014 and holding several leadership roles.  Anderson focused on inclusion and equity during her time on the board, working to ensure a life-changing education was within reach of all students.  “Margo and I shared a common belief that everyone who wants a college education should be able to access it,” said GRCC President Charles Lepper. “It was my honor to present her with the Distinguished Alumna Award earlier this year,  and I plan to continue to advocate for access to education for all in her honor. ”  Beyond her decades of serving the children in Kent County, Anderson was a 50-year, life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a lifelong member and trustee of First Community AME Church, Grand Rapids History Council, YWCA, and as an Urban League of West Michigan board member. She earned the 1991 Phyllis Scott Activist GIANT Award and a Tribute Award from the YWCA.

July 24, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  - Nearly 950 students have been invited to attend Grand Rapids Community College during the 2023-2024 academic year with financial support from the Grand Rapids Promise Zone. The Promise Zone scholarship removes cost as a barrier to a quality college education for eligible high school graduates. In past years, the number of eligible students has ranged from 870 to 960. “The Grand Rapids Promise Zone is about access and opportunity, and an indication of this community’s commitment to helping everyone get the education they need to be successful,” said Ashlee Mishler, Promise Zone director. “This is an opportunity for students to start their educational journey at GRCC, earning credits or career skill certificates -- for free -- close to home.”   The Promise Zone scholarship is available for students who live within the Grand Rapids Public Schools service area and graduate from one of the 25 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city limits. The program covers the cost of tuition, fees, books and required course materials for GRCC’s associate degree and job training and certification programs. The Promise Zone scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship. Students must complete the FAFSA -- Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- to determine available need-based aid. Once the total need-based aid has been determined, the scholarship covers the remaining costs. Students are eligible to receive the full Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship (60 credit hours) if: They attend an eligible Grand Rapids high school continuously since the beginning of 10th grade or before; They live within the Grand Rapids Public Schools service area continuously since the beginning of 10th grade or before; and They graduate from any of the 25 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city. Students who have been enrolled at an eligible high school and who have resided within the Grand Rapids Public Schools service area continuously since the start of 11th grade are eligible for a partial scholarship, covering up to 30 credit hours at GRCC. Eligible students have five years to access these funds from the time they graduate high school. Once enrolled, they must take at least six credits in the fall and winter semesters. Students who opt to attend a different college or university can still use the Promise Zone scholarship as a GRCC guest student during the summer semesters. The scholarships were created in 2020 by the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, a group of city and community leaders and educators. Additional information is available at  grpromisezone.com , through email at  promisezone@grcc.edu  and by calling (616) 234-4321 .

July 21, 2023 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . – Learn about Grand Rapids Community College’s newly revamped craft brewing program through one of several virtual open houses this summer.  Those attending the open houses can meet the faculty, “tour” GRCC’s Fountain Hill Brewery and get their questions answered. In addition to basic information about the program, the open houses will cover courses that program leaders recently added to the curriculum after feedback from alumni and industry professionals.  “Our new classes focus on science and quality control, as well as expanding on brewing industry topics like packaging and regulations,” said assistant professor Allison Hoekstra.  Financial aid and scholarship opportunities will be covered during the open houses, which are also open to program alumni seeking to expand their skills with the new classes, she said. “We’re always following West Michigan’s craft brewing industry to make sure we’re providing students with the skills they need for success,” Hoekstra said, adding that there is still time to enroll for the fall semester. The open houses are set for 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays from July 25 to Aug. 22. Those who are interested can  sign up online . Once you’ve registered, a program advisor will be in touch with login information and other details. If you can’t attend one of the Tuesday sessions, go to the online link and someone from the program will reach out to set up a time for you to tour the brewery.