May 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After taking a year off to rebuild the program, the Grand Rapids Community College softball team earned a share of the MCCAA Northern Conference championship. GRCC shares the title with Alpena Community College, with both teams finishing with 15-10 conference records. GRCC won the season series against Alpena three games to two, allowing it to claim the No. 1 seed in the upcoming regional tournament, and a first-round bye. “I am so proud of this team,” Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “The players took a chance on GRCC after not having a team last year. They bought into the vision of former head coach Molly McKinney and continued to buy in with their new coach Chuck White. What an accomplishment!” The team, which last won a conference title in 1999, finished its conference play on Friday. It needed Delta College to beat Alpena at least two of the three games in their regular season finale.  After splitting the first two games, Delta shut out Alpena in the final conference game of the season. GRCC will play the winner of the East No. 2 seed and South No. 3 seed at 2 p.m. on May 11.  The tournament will be played at the LYSBA Fields in Stevensville, Mich. The winner of the double-elimination tournament advances to the NJCAA national tournament in Spartanburg, S.C. For GRCC, the conference title marks a solid return to form. White and Assistant Coach Steve Roersma built upon a solid foundation created by McKinney, who recruited players and restored the program after taking a year off. The team finished with an overall 23-16 record. Pitcher Izzy Regner leads the nation with 257 strikeouts, was second with 11.84 strikeouts per seven innings, seventh with a 1.29 ERA, and tenth with 19 wins. Outfielder Jaye Guichelaar also is among the leaders, with her .522 batting average 15 th in the nation, and her 72 hits 25 th .

May 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Travis Sutter was bouncing job to job trying to find a spot somewhere that he felt comfortable. While he had spent most of his life fixing cars, he felt he needed a change. And then, he collapsed at his job in a warehouse this past July, was diagnosed with a weak heart valve, and found himself further re-evaluating his work life.  Sutter was working for Uber when he heard about the Welding Technician Job Training program and stopped into the Grand Rapids Community College Leslie E. Tassell MTEC building to see what it was all about.  “I talked to Rachael (Jungblut) in the office and just told her straight up, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know how to work computers. I need help,’” Sutter said. “She walked me through everything!” The Job Training Welding program meets for 18 weeks, Monday through Thursday, for 34 hours per week and offers career coaching and job placement assistance. Sutter got emotional as he talked about all the encouragement he received from the MTEC staff. “Michael (Wemmer) was such a support system for me all the way through my program,” Sutter said. “I could be having a bad day and talk to him for 10 minutes and it would totally flip my mood. He has such a positive energy. It was great.” In addition to the support Sutter received from career coaches, job developers and staff, he also qualified for the One Workforce for West Michigan Manufacturing grant. He was provided a new welding tool set and GRCC welding jacket. “I am so proud to represent GRCC at work,” Sutter said. The job training welding program is led by GRCC’s Instructor Nate Haney. Haney holds a Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology from Ferris State University and is an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator. “Nate was great and since he is a former inspector, I told him that I only want him to approve my welds if they would pass inspection in the real world,” Sutter said. “He took the time to really challenge me and that built my confidence.” As a student, you learn: shielded metal arc welding (arc/stick welding), gas metal arc welding (metal inert gas/wire welding), gas tungsten arc welding (heli-arc/tungsten inert gas welding), oxy-fuel welding (gas welding), cutting, brazing, blueprint reading, mathematics, metallurgy, problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. Sutter appreciated that the class was made up of students of all ages and backgrounds. “I was nervous coming back to school and didn’t want to be the only ‘older’ student and I wasn’t,” Sutter said. “It was cool having other classmates help me through it.” This program is highly regarded by employers as a top trainer in welding and fabrication. Job Developers are ready to help you with the job search process. When you graduate, you will be ready to begin a career as a welder, cutter, or brazer – with the skills to meet the needs of not only local companies but national companies as well. Sutter is currently working as a welder at Kent Design & Manufacturing. “It was quite a journey,” Sutter said. “I was working full time and going through the program. It was tough but so worth it!” The next section of Job Training programs begins, June 12, 2023. For more information: grcc.edu/JobTraining or 616-234-3800. To see if you qualify for the One Workforce grant, go to grcc.edu/OneWorkforce and submit an inquiry form.

May 2, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- After three months in Grand Rapids Community College’s Leslie E. Tassell MTEC program, Crossroads Alternative High School junior Sebastian Edmaiston discovered his passion for welding. The program partners with community businesses and industries to offer workforce training for professional trade jobs in high demand. For these high school students, it offers the opportunity to gain skills in construction and welding before they graduate. “My grandpa used to be a welder, and I started learning from him when I was 4 years old,” Edmaiston said. “It runs in our family.” In the welding lab, Edmaiston recently worked with senior Jahan Likely to learn the proper technique for welding, or bonding two metals by melting them where they meet so they form a secure joint. Likely used one of several of MTEC’s welding machines to fuse his two pieces of metal together. Then he and Edmaiston explained why they dunked the final product in water to cool and strengthen the bond. On Fridays, 17 juniors and seniors from Crossroads visit the workforce training department to work alongside GRCC instructors and eventually earn certificates in construction basics and gas metal arc welding. Crossroads in an alternative program operated by Kentwood Public Schools. Principal Ian Gibson said Crossroads started the partnership with GRCC during the 2018-19 school year, but the coronavirus pandemic put it on hold the following year. The program resumed in January. Students must meet the minimum number of credits and the age requirement to apply.  From there, they are interviewed and selected by the school’s Workforce Friday Leadership Team before they can enroll at GRCC. “To watch our own kids get hands-on training in welding and carpentry, this is amazing,” Gibson said. “We really want our students to earn their certifications in an industry that prepares them for life after graduation.” Next year, Gibson said Crossroads plans to enroll more students in the program, including a class to receive automotive training. GRCC’s new Center for Automation is also planned to start operating in time for the winter 2023 semester. “Students discovering their newly found passion has transferred into the classroom and student motivation has increased,” he said. “We look forward to continuing and growing this partnership next year.” Learning How to Do the Job Senior Alyssa Meyer said she was nervous and excited about her upcoming graduation. Her plans include a move to another state to pursue a job in construction. “This program gives you experience to take you to a higher level of skills for a higher-level job,” she said. “With these certifications, you’re starting out with more knowledge than someone else also looking for a job.” MTEC instructor Steven Ray told Meyer and her peers to “get a piece of pine” and he would show them how to patch a hole in drywall in the construction workshop. “Find a square of drywall that size you need, measure and cut it,” Ray said. “If it’s the wrong size, start over.” Mayer gave a tour of the room model her class built and continued working in throughout the semester, everything from the walls to drywall and paint. She explained the floorplan and where the bathroom and closet would be when the room is completed. “We put all the drywall up and door frames last week, and today we’re learning to fix holes in the drywall,” she said. “Then we’re going to put the doors in the room.” As Ray reminded his students as they worked to install patio doors, “This is all part of being a carpenter, having all the tools you need for the job.” Added Meyer: “We come in, and they teach us how it’s done. If we need help, (Ray) helps and critiques us so we do it right the next time.” This story was reported by Alexis Stark of the School News Network .

April 28, 2023, ESCANABA, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams finished their first trip to Bay College in the Upper Peninsula, winning nine of 10 games played during the series. The baseball series included GRCC winning its 32nd conference championship since 1962, and fifth-year head coach Mike Eddington earning his 100th career win at GRCC. For the softball team, pitching ace Izzy Regner won three games during the series to improve her record to 19-3. The team completed the regular season with a 23-16 overall record and 15-10 in the conference. Both teams played three games on Friday before making the trek back over the Mackinac Bridge. The baseball team sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning of its first game of the day, scoring eight runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer by Xander Reisbig.  The team scored eight more runs over the next five innings to win 16-2. Lucas McKinney picked up his fifth win of the season, allowing just one earned run while striking out four. GRCC won the second game 12-1 in five innings, and concluded the series with a 4-1 victory. Colton Leatherman picked up the win in game two, tossing a two-hitter while striking out six. The Raiders offense had 11 hits, including home runs from Trevin Laming, Fernando Rivera-Calderon and another by Reisbig. Blake Waibel picked up GRCC’s final win, allowing no earned runs while fanning 10 in a 4-1 victory. Jacob Gumieny and Andres Rivera-Calderon had four of the team's eight hits. The baseball team is now 31-11 overall, and 23-2 in the conference. The softball team nearly won all five of its games, but couldn't complete a comeback in Friday’s second game. GRCC jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings in the first game, but Bay College cut the deficit in half in the sixth. GRCC responded with 10 runs in the top of the seventh to win 16-4. GRCC came back from an 8-3 deficit in game two, coming within a run. But Bay College escaped with a 12-8 victory. The final game of the series was all GRCC, a 16-5 rout with the team piling up 16 hits, including four home runs. GRCC had a staggering 72 hits in the series, including 12 home runs and nine doubles while batting .431.  Nearly every player boosted their season batting average, with seven players batting .421 or better.  Lauren James led all players with a .650 batting average and a team-high 13 hits. Brynn McArthur batted .579 with a team-high 11 RBI mostly in part to three home runs. Jaye Guichelaar went 10-for-18 with three home runs and two doubles.  Annika Roersma hit a team-high four homers and added nine RBI.  Samara Kolehouse also had a homer and nine RBI. The softball team will await its opponent for the regional tournament that begins on May 11, while the baseball team is scheduled to play a few more non-conference games before it begins postseason play. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

April 28, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College graduates were encouraged to take the skills they’ve learned and aim high when they enter the world during two ceremonies on Friday. The college celebrated the graduation of about 1,000 students, with roughly 500 celebrating during two Friday ceremonies. The college also bestowed titles of faculty emeritus and distinguished alumni to two people who have supported education in Grand Rapids for decades. It was also the first GRCC commencement for President Charles Lepper, who took the helm of the college in January. Lepper noted the youngest graduate in 17 years old, and the oldest 64, with many being first generation students and others who started or restarted their education with support from state programs Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners.  “So, what comes next?” Lepper asked the graduates. “You have a degree and new skills and confidence. You have people who support you and care about you. Continue to challenge yourself. Try difficult things. Be bold. And, remember to support others along the way. Be the person others look to for support and inspiration. Make a difference.  Give back.  Aim high. You can do it! Stephen Abid, a Grand Rapids Junior College graduate, was recognized as the faculty emeritus honoree. Abid returned to teach economics at the college for 27 years, He is respected for his passion for teaching and care for his students – one ever referred to him as her “angel professor” for his efforts to help her be successful. Olivia Margo Anderson presented with distinguished alumni honors. Anderson worked for the Grand Rapids Public Schools for 32 years, serving 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 residents. The ceremonies were the second to celebrate a large group of students who attended GRCC through the Grand Rapids Promise Zone., with 34 students earning degrees. Started in 2020, the Grand Rapids Promise Zone is a “last-dollar” scholarship that covers up to 60 credit hours, including the costs of tuition, books, required course materials and any required fees associated with attending GRCC. Dr. Lepper, who became GRCC’s 11th president, has had an extensive career in higher education with more than 25 years of leadership experience at universities and community colleges. Before being selected to head GRCC, he served as vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Salt Lake Community College, which serves more than 60,000 students across 10 campuses. “So many kinds of students, with something in common,” Lepper told graduates. “As of today, you are a Grand Rapids Community College graduate. What does that mean? It means you know how to work hard, solve problems, work independently and in groups. You faced challenges and learned how to overcome them. You have gained knowledge and skills that will stay with you for the rest of your life. You have gained the confidence you need to walk out of here today and face the world. Be proud of what you have accomplished, because I am proud of you.”  

April 28, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - For Scott Mattson, the best part of working at GRCC is helping students achieve their goals.  Mattson is GRCC’s Job Training and Construction Trades Program Manager. These rigorous programs involve a large time commitment from students, and give them hands-on experience to enter the workforce. Students spend 34 hours a week at the Tassell MTEC for 18 weeks. At the end of the program students have developed the skills necessary to enter the workforce.  "There are so many opportunities in the skilled trades that don't often get shared and I love to share the life that can be earned on this path," Mattson said. "I get to see individuals make life-changing decisions and how proud they are of themselves when they complete their program and begin working." Before coming to GRCC in 2000, Mattson worked at Lake Superior State University as the men’s and women’s Tennis Coach for 4 years. While at LSSU he discovered a passion for helping adults reach goals and achieve their full potential.  Mattson encourages students to choose a career that they truly enjoy. He encourages students to explore different programs and take the time to find the right fit.  Mattson received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lake Superior State University. Mattson received his master’s in Administration from Central Michigan University.   More information about Job Training can be found here.

April 27, 2023, ESCANABA, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team earned a conference championship after sweeping Bay College on Thursday, 3-1 in eight innings and 5-4. The softball team also fared well on the road trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, sweeping a doubleheader.  "It's a great feeling to win another conference title, but this group of men know that's not our end goal," head coach Mike Eddington said. “We have the talent to go very far this year and I'm excited to see how we perform in regionals next weekend." GRCC clinched its 32nd conference championship since 1962 after an extra-inning win in game one after freshman Trevin Laming hit a two-run home run, his team-leading seventh homer of the season.  Laming went a team-high three-for-four at the plate.  MCCAA Northern Conference Player of the Week Jerad Berkenpas went the distance, striking out 10 and giving up just three hits. Catcher Dylan Chargo's double in the sixth scored the Raiders’ first run. In the nightcap, GRCC jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Bay College tied the game in the bottom of the third.    Starter Connor Foley fanned eight batters. Reliever Ethan London pitched the final four innings to pick up the victory, allowing just two hits while walking six. Laming, Jake Gumieny and Xander Reisbig all had two hits for GRCC. The softball team won both of its games too, with an exciting win in a back-and-forth game two.  Izzy Regner picked up her 17th win of the season in an 8-2 opening game victory.  Seven of her 15 strikeouts came in the first two innings.  GRCC had 11 hits, with Madi Lemke, Jaye Guichelaar and Samara Kolehouse each having two hits. Bay College jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the nightcap before GRCC scored nine straight runs to take a 9-4 lead. The Norse tacked on three runs in the fourth and then two more in the fifth to tie the game at nine. Brynn McArthur gave the Raiders the lead again with her third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth. Annika Roersma and Guichelaar added home runs of their own in the seventh and GRCC won 15-9. Macy Huver picked up the win after pitching the first five innings. Regner picked up her second save of the season, striking out three and giving up no hits in the final two innings. Both teams are planning on playing triple-headers on Friday with the first games starting at 11 a.m.      This story was reported by Ben Brown.