March 18, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Collegiate, Grand Rapids Community College’s student news publication, earned 12 awards in the college division of the 2022 Michigan Press Association Better Newspaper Contest , including four first-place honors. The Collegiate competed in the competition’s Division 3 against other two-year college publications, with awards announced this week. “It is more important than ever to recognize and encourage good, impactful journalism,” said Joanne Williams, associate professor of journalism and mass communication at Olivet College and MCPA president. “That is what our college newspapers are doing, and with support and recognition from contests and professionals in the field, that will continue. Our experienced faculty and advisors will see to it as well." GRCC’s honors are: Best News-Only Photo – First Place. Elizabeth Halvorson, “Protests continue in GR after GRPD release the video of death of Patrick Lyoya.” Alena Visnovsky earned third place for her photo, “Why I Stopped Viewing Social Media Stories” Column- Review or Blog- News – First Place. Elizabeth Halvorson, “My Walk Through a Mental Minefield.” Column- Review or Blog- Sports – First Place. Jackson Heidon, “It’s Time for Change for the Betterment of the NFL.” Kaia Zimmerman earned third place for “The World is Putting Too Much Pressure on Athletes.” Editorial – Second Place. Alena Visnovsky, “Inherent Classism Continues to Impinge Community Colleges and their Students who Choose to Invest in These Low-cost Educational Options” Feature Photo – Third Place: Alena Visnovsky, “Why I Stopped Viewing Social Media Stories.” Investigative Reporting – Third Place: Brendan Petruska, “Is it Time for GRCC to Re-evaluate Pronoun Policy?” Elizabeth Halvorson, Kaia Zimmerman, Joseph Poulos earned an honorable mention for, “President Leaving GRCC After Closed Search at FSU Coverage.” Online Newspaper – Honorable Mention. The Collegiate Original Cartoon-Editorial or Entertainment– First Place: Abby Haywood, for “Tough on Toys,’ ‘President Pink Pieces Out,” and “Fact Checking with Aaron Rodgers.”’ Sports News/Features – Third Place, Kaia Zimmerman: “GRCC announces New Softball Coach After Brian Skudre Resigns.” The Collegiate’s faculty adviser is Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood.

March 17, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A second team of Grand Rapids Community College students was named a finalist in a NASA competition, and will pitch a plan to create edible packaging for astronauts.   Abby Tichelaar and Cole Herring, from GRCC's Launch U Middle College Engineering and Mechanical Design Program, will head to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to present their project in front of NASA researchers, engineers, and flight doctors on April 19. Launch U is a partnership with the Kent Intermediate School District. They will join GRCC culinary students who earlier in the week were named finalists for a competition to send a meal to the space station . Tichelaar and Herring’s project is part of the NASA HUNCH program in the Health and Biomedical Science category, focusing on the needs for NASA's future exploration missions and are part of NASA's Human Research Program. They created an edible cargo transfer box that will hold nutrition bars, and at the end of its life cycle, the container can be upcycled into an edible solution, such as gummy bears, recycled, or downcycled into plastic components. The interdisciplinary project’s goal is eliminating waste on space missions, where space on aircraft is at a premium. The project passed a preliminary design review in January and a critical design review in February. They were named finalists late Thursday. Tichelaar and Herring will join culinary students Katie Bird and Devon Vanderwall, who are among 10 finalists competing to send a meal to the International Space Station, with a cookoff planned for April 20. The Secchia Institute is partnering with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District’s Careerline Tech Center, with students Bird and Vanderwall preparing a recipe of Austrian style steak soup. Both teams are coached by Dr. Werner Absenger, Secchia Institute’s program director, and Chef Jennifer Struik, an instructor in the program. The team has been working since early September, using nutritional guidelines from NASA and a research project looking at how foods affect astronauts in low gravity.      

March 17, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Kendra Bearss joined the U.S. Air Force when she was 17 years old. Now she assists fellow veterans as they navigate college after serving in the armed forces.  Bearss began at GRCC as a student pursuing an associate degree in Photography. She received assistance from the Michigan Reconnect program and the Futures for Frontliners program to make college affordable.  Once classes started, she began to look for an opportunity to volunteer with veterans. One year ago she began working with the GRCC Veterans Center as a peer advisor. Now with graduation on the horizon, she is stepping into the role of veteran student navigator. Bearss has experienced the transition from being an active-duty military member to a GRCC student. In her new role, she will be able to support others as they make the same transition.  GRCC currently has over 300 veteran students enrolled. The Veterans Center connects individuals with resources to assist with mental health, financial needs, housing, and more. Bearss also assists veterans with on-campus services such as signing up for classes, connecting with tutors, and anything else they may need.  “It’s important to create a space for veterans to feel safe addressing specific issues and needs,” Bearss said. “A lot of veterans' needs aren’t recognizable to the average person. The Veterans Center provides opportunities for veterans to be unashamed to ask for the help they need.” Bearss says the most rewarding part of her job is building relationships. The military has always felt like a family for her. Her experiences have given her the ability to see what an individual truly needs.  Bearss encourages students to ask questions. It can be scary and humbling to ask for help, but GRCC faculty and staff are always willing to assist.   More information about the Veterans Center can be found at  grcc.edu/veterans.

March 17, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Avery Gardner is well on the way to an associate degree in Culinary Arts at Grand Rapids Community College, on track to graduate in the spring of 2024. It’s not something they could have imagined a decade ago -- or even a few short years ago. This is Gardner’s third try at a GRCC degree. After graduating from Kelloggsville High School in 2014, they had dreams of becoming a forensic pathologist and went to GRCC for prerequisite classes. “Unfortunately, I did not do well and wound up on academic suspension,” Gardner recalled recently. Things took another turn when they had a son in February 2019. “I put him up for adoption because I was not in a place to raise a child,” they said. “The summer following my son’s birth, I went inpatient and had my meds adjusted. I came out feeling way better than I did going in. I got my own apartment and started to do better. I wanted to do better and be better. To make finding him a loving home worth it.” Inspired, Gardner came back to GRCC with an eye toward a career in nursing. But it wasn’t clicking.   “After three semesters, I realized that I was not happy and my grades were suffering,” they  added. Still, something was tugging at them. “I had started working in kitchens in 2022 and fell in love,” Gardner said. “Food had always been my stepdad’s love language, and it became mine, too.” They started researching and discovered that GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Arts  is among the best in the country. So, they came back to the college for a third attempt. And? “The third time’s the charm,” Gardner said with a laugh. “Now, I want to hopefully own my own restaurant or catering company one day. I love feeding people. It makes me happy.” In addition to carrying a solid load of classes, Gardner also works two part-time jobs as a line cook at local restaurants, hours that add up to 40 hours – or more – of work a week. For Gardner, what they are learning at school and what they are doing at work often come together in ways that help them realize what a great education they are getting at GRCC. Gardner recalled a day in early March when they had learned how to dice an onion in their GRCC skills development class. “And -- literally -- what was I doing at work that day?” they said with a laugh. “I had to dice vegetables for a stew we were making. That sort of thing happens all the time. The professors I have are awesome because they know what the real world is all about, and they help us every day learn things that will benefit us at work.” Gardner admitted that working full time and going to school full time is a challenge, but they said two offices at GRCC – Occupational Support Services and Disability Support Services – have made things manageable for them, helping them stay on track while working toward their degree. “Daniel Nyhof, my caseworker (in Disability Support Services) has been phenomenal,” they said. “Anytime I email him with a question, if he doesn't know the answer, he goes right out and gets it for me, which is great. When I email him, I'm anxious about something because I just found something out, right? And my anxiety is bad. So, he's really quick to answer, which is nice.” The same is true for Occupational Support Services, Gardner added. “They've been really helpful,” they said. “If I'm having trouble focusing or getting my homework done, I can reach out and ask if they have any helpful tips for that, and they always come through. Sarah Rose, who I work with, is so great.” Gardner is using Michigan Reconnect to help fund their education. The program is for state residents 25 or older without a college degree and provides eligible students with tuition-free access to pursue an associate degree or occupational certificate at their local community college. And, Gardner said, they have gained their financial aid back after making the Dean’s List last fall! “I know, if my son knew what I was doing, he’d be proud of me,” they said with a catch in their voice. “I’m proud of me. It’s been a long time since I could say that, but I am.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.

March 16, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A team of Grand Rapids Community College culinary students is one small step closer to the giant leap of preparing a meal for astronauts aboard the International Space Station.  Students with the Secchia Institute of Culinary Education made the cut in the NASA HUNCH competition, and will be among 10 teams from across the nation heading to the Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 20 for a final cookoff. The winner gets to prepare a meal to be blasted into space and sent to the orbiting station for astronauts conducting research. The Secchia Institute is partnering with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District’s Careerline Tech Center, with students Katie Bird and Devon Vanderwall preparing a recipe of Austrian style steak soup. The 2022 GRCC Raiders Fuel culinary team, is coached by Dr. Werner Absenger, Secchia Institute’s program director, and Chef Jennifer Struik, an instructor in the program. “I’m thrilled to be representing team GRCC in Houston this year!” Struik said. “Katie and Devon worked incredibly hard to earn this top 10 spot. I’m very proud of their commitment to the project over these past seven months.” The team has been working since early September, using nutritional guidelines from NASA and a research project looking at how foods affect astronauts in low gravity. The team competed in a preliminary round last month at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, preparing servings for about 20 judges as well as museum guests. Bird said she was “vibrating with excitement” when she learned the team was advancing. The team's success also helps her build confidence in being able to reach her career goal of being a personal chef. “Now I know I can work under high-pressure conditions with precision,” she said. It is the fourth year GRCC culinary students and faculty are competing in the NASA HUNCH competition. The 2019-2020 team also made it to the finals, finishing second in the competition. Finalists have not yet been selected for a second phase of the competition, where students are creating edible food packaging. Mechanical design students Abby Tichelaar and Cole Herring are devising edible cargo boxes in an interdisciplinary project with a goal of eliminating waste on space missions, where space on aircraft is at a premium. Tichelaar and Herring attend Launch U, a partnership between GRCC and the Kent Intermediate School District. They are working on an edible cargo transfer box that will hold nutrition bars, and at the end of its life cycle upcycled into an edible solution, such as gummy bears, recycled, or downcycled into plastic components.    

March 15, 2023 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Three nontraditional students are representing Grand Rapids Community College on this year’s All Michigan Academic Team. Each college campus may nominate up to four students – two from workforce and two from transfer programs – for Phi Theta Kappa’s All Michigan Academic Team. Students on the state teams have the opportunity to be named to the All-USA Academic Team and are eligible for awards and scholarships.  All Michigan Academic Team members were recognized this week during a ceremony in East Lansing sponsored by the Michigan Community College Association and PTK, the international honor society for community colleges. The GRCC students on the team are: Kim Budde, who excels at her Business studies while working full time as a senior manager;  serving as an Honors ambassador and vice president of Alpha Upsilon Kappa, GRCC’s PTK chapter; volunteering with various organizations; and living up to her grandsons’ nickname of “Grandma Fun.” She received the 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship and has been on GRCC’s President’s and Dean’s lists multiple times. Melissa Sue Gheorghiu, who has completed GRCC’s Honors Program and is involved with the Psi Beta Honors Society for psychology students and TRIO Student Support Services, a program for first generation college students. A single mother of three, she has been on the Dean’s List every semester since she enrolled. She is a chapter officer for Alpha Upsilon Kappa and serves on the PTK bylaws committee for the Michigan region. She is a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and received a GRCC Salute to Women award this year. She will start a combined bachelor’s and master’s program in finance at the University of Michigan next fall. Jodi Holland, who is turning her love of baking into a career through the Michigan Reconnect program. She started pursuing her Associate in Culinary Arts, with a Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate, in summer 2021 and will graduate this fall. Despite working full time, she has made the President’s List. She was mentioned by name in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2022 State of the State address and has met with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II about the Reconnect program. “Jodi, Kim and Melissa are amazing students, and we’re proud to have them represent Grand Rapids Community College  and Alpha Upsilon Kappa on the All Academic Michigan Team,” said Lynnae Selberg, associate professor and advisor to GRCC’s PTK chapter.

March 15, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . – Detroit attorney Melvin Butch Hollowell will be the keynote speaker at community events Thursday, March 16, honoring the life and legacy of César E. Chávez. GRCC President Charles Lepper and GRCC Madrigal Singers also will participate in the event celebrating the civil rights activist and labor leader. The Committee to Honor César E. Chávez’s 2023 activities start with a social justice march, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, 1204 César E. Chávez Ave. SW in Grand Rapids. A community gathering is planned for 11:30 a.m. at the Potter’s House Chapel, 810 Van Raalte Dr. SW in Grand Rapids, followed by a Unity Luncheon at Maya Mexican Grill, 1020 28 th Street SW in Wyoming. Hollowell is a managing partner at Miller Law Firm in Detroit. His specialties include election law, government and administrative law across the United States and Canada. He served as corporation counsel for the City of Detroit, overseeing 70 attorneys and serving as lead counsel for city departments, boards, commissions and agencies. The community gathering will include performances from middle school, high school and college music students, and remarks from GRCC President Charles Lepper, Lupe Ramos-Montigny, chairperson of the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez, and others.

March 15, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The innovative Secchia Piazza project and its already iconic SkyCone earned statewide honors for Granger Construction, the company that built the event space. The Granger project team was honored with a Washtenaw Contractors Association 2023 Pyramid Award on March 10 in the category of Best Project Team for projects costing $3 million and $25 million. The Secchia Piazza is located in Grand Rapids Community College’s Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St. NE. Progressive AE was the architect for the project. GRCC artists designed some of the features, and the project was overseen by the GRCC Facilities Department, with Executive Director James VanDokkumburg. “This project will forever change the skyline of Grand Rapids,” said Brad Hesche, Granger’s regional director of West Michigan. “It is always fun getting to work on cool projects like this, but it is especially meaningful to be part of a team that is helping bring state-of-the-art higher education spaces to the communities where we live and work. This was a challenging build on many levels, especially given the one-of-a-kind design elements. But on behalf of Granger, I can say we are proud of everyone who was involved in helping successfully deliver these spaces for the GRCC community.” The Secchia Piazza project transformed an existing outdoor patio into an indoor multi-use space, and another opportunity to tell the stories of students’ journeys from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education to destinations around the globe. The project included innovative and challenging features, including the SkyCone, a 31-foot wide by 15-foot-tall cone-shaped skylight with colorful glass panels that reshaped the campus and serves as an iconic landmark in downtown Grand Rapids. Other key features include a custom floor feature, a Live Roof system and renovations to the Heritage Restaurant, a teaching restaurant for Secchia students. Site logistics were a challenge for the builders.  The building is located on the corner of a busy downtown intersection, which left little to no room for laydown space. Additionally, the work within the building took place above and adjacent to occupied spaces. The most prominent design feature is the SkyCone, which Granger leaders believe is the first of its kind. This architectural feature included 20 colored panels, each made up of laminated glass panels with a colored film inner layer in seven shades of oranges, yellows and greens. The glass was set in a painted aluminum frame, and the entire system serves as the center portion of the ceiling for the new piazza addition. Creating this kaleidoscopic roof system was challenging given both the design itself and the size and type of glass materials used. Between the room’s suspended acoustical tile ceiling and the skylight above, custom laser-cut plastic panels colored to match the skylight glass are supported by a custom fabricated aluminum structure to improve room acoustics while also enhancing the experience of light and color in the room. Centered beneath the cone-shaped skylight is a 30’ diameter polished concrete tondo with steel/metal inlays, creating a unique form of circular art. The metal panel inlays were designed by GRCC artist Ben Benefiel to evoke the educational pathway students take from the Secchia Institute to culinary opportunities across the country and around the world. Outside, the new addition features a terrace deck with views of the city, accessed by oversize sliding glass doors which also introduce fresh air and breezes to the event space. This project required collaboration, highly skilled craftsmanship and extensive coordination to ensure success. The team navigated extremely tight site logistics in a high-traffic, occupied facility and overcame numerous supply chain and volatile market challenges. In the end, they delivered a distinctive space that will leave a legacy for GRCC, its students and the surrounding community. The Secchia Piazza is a gift from the late Peter Secchia and his family, whose generosity and drive for excellence helped the Secchia Institute create state-of-the-art facilities, attract top faculty members, and prepare students for rewarding careers in the hospitality industry. GRCC’s culinary program was renamed after Secchia and his wife, Joan, in 2007. The Pietro and Regina Amphitheater, named after Peter Secchia’s grandparents, was added in 2012. Peter’s Pub was launched in 2016 as part of GRCC’s Fountain Hill Brewery, tapping into the demand created by Grand Rapids’ growing craft beer industry.    

March 14, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College softball and baseball teams completed their spring break trip in Florida, facing stiff competition and tallying nine wins along the way. The softball team, led by freshman pitcher, Izzy Regner, finished with a 7-5 record, while the baseball team finished 2-8 against tough NJCAA Division 1 competition. "Overall,  I was very happy," coach Charles White said. "We played hard, improved throughout the week and we never gave up in tough spots. Gotta love a scrappy team!" Highlights from the week for the softball team included first collegiate home runs for sophomore outfielder Jaye Guichelaar, freshman third baseman Lauren James, freshman catcher Samara Kolehouse and another by Regner. Freshman outfielder Carly Sluiter had a game-winning single in extra innings, and James had a three-run shot that broke a scoreless game in the sixth inning against Illinois Valley that ended up being the only scoring in the game. GRCC's bats were solid all week long, batting .298 as a team. Five players batted better than .300, including Regner, .545; Guichelaar, .526; Autumn Scott, .455; James, .368; and Alyssa Wierenga, .333.  Regner and Guchelaar both had a slugging percentage over .800. Regner was the team's best hitter, but she was dominant from the pitching mound, with a perfect 6-0 record, five of which via a shutout.  She allowed just five earned runs, with a 0.83 earned run average.  She also struck out 81 batters against just six walks in 42 innings. The baseball team got off to a hot start defeating Coastal Alabama Community College in its opening game, 9-2, and two games later commanded Chipola College, 17-6.  The offense cooled down in the next five games. But despite losing, the team finished strong, scoring 15 runs in its final two games at Andrew College. "I thought we had a pretty good southern trip playing against some of the top D1 community colleges, which should give us confidence,"  coach Mike Eddington said. "We had a chance to win five games. But more important than wins and losses, we learned what we have to work on to get better." Eddington said the team's hitters can and will improve on their hitting approach, with a better idea on how the opposing pitcher is attacking GRCC hitters. He said the team's pitchers did well, but issued too many walks. The defense needs to slow down and do a better job anticipating what to do before the ball is hit to them with multiple runners on base. "Our players are excited to get the regular season started," he said.  Six GRCC baseball players batted .300 or better, led by sophomore Xander Reisbig who batted .462 with two home runs.  Joe Hoeks batted .368 with a homer run and nine runs batted in. Dylan Chargo batted .360 with a home run and a team-high 10 RBI. Tommy Reid batted .353, Zacarias Salinas batted .346 with a homer, and Trevin Laming batted .333.  Sophomore Fernando Rivera-Calderon hit two home runs, giving the team seven total long balls during the 10-game trip. Seventeen pitchers played for GRCC, totaling 39 strikeouts.  Sophomore All-American Jared Berkenpas and Connor Foley picked up the lone wins. Kellen Smith led the team with eight strikeouts. The baseball team is scheduled to play again March 17 in Lima, Ohio as it takes on the junior varsity of the University of Northwestern Ohio.  The softball team isn't scheduled to play again until March 24, when it hosts Delta College in a five-game conference series.   This story was reported by Ben Brown.