Dec. 13, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s efforts to work with employers to connect residents with in-demand career skills is being honored by West Michigan Works! as the 2022 Partner of the Year. West Michigan Works! annually recognizes an organization for its partnership, collaboration and contributions to workforce development. Awardees are selected by the West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board. The organization works with employers to provide jobseekers with the support, training and services they need to get back to work, find new employment, and obtain needed credentials. GRCC was nominated for its demonstrated commitment to advancing workforce development in West Michigan. “Congratulations Grand Rapids Community College, our Partner of the Year, for their outstanding collaboration on regional workforce development programs and initiatives!” WMW! Director of Talent Solutions Tasha Evans said. “GRCC has worked with WMW! to create career pathways through JobSync and CareerPoint, and to develop career pathways maps through grant programs such as One Workforce. As the administrator of major workforce initiatives such as One Workforce, Talent Pathways and MiLEAP, GRCC provides strategic leadership on the WMW! workforce development board and various committees and councils." Julie Parks, GRCC Dean and Executive Director of Workforce Training, and Interim Dean of Business and Industry, accepted the award on behalf of the college at the organization’s annual board meeting on Monday. “We are honored to have our partnership with West Michigan Works! Recognized,” Parks said. “Working together with our employers will make West Michigan the place people will want to move to for rewarding careers.” GRCC each year provides thousands of students with career skills training, with partnerships with more than 450 area employers. Classes are offered at the downtown campus, Leslie Tassell MTEC in Grand Rapids and at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus in Holland. Students can work with career coaches and job developers to gain employability skills. Staff also works with students to determine if they are eligible for programs such as One Workforce and Metallica Scholars, which lower or eliminate costs for training in select areas. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/workforcetraining

Dec. 12, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After 37 years as a faculty member and associate dean at Indiana University’s School of Informatics and Computing, Sara Anne Hook retired in 2020. Then it was time to return to the classroom – as a student. She’s pursuing a master’s in fine arts at Butler University in Indianapolis. Start at GRCC and go anywhere. Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. Writing has always been a part of Hook’s career. “It all started with the English composition course I took at GRCC in the summer of 1975,” she said. “I’ve been an author, book and manuscript reviewer and editor – and now a poet – because of having a strong foundation in the English language.” Starting at GRCC is a family tradition for Hook: Her mother, brother and nephew are alumni. “Because I took several required courses at GRCC during summers, I was able to complete my BA in three and a half years, saving time and money, and start my MLS program a semester early. Accounting and economics courses from GRCC were helpful when I started my MBA degree.” Hook earned her bachelor’s in history and master’s in library science, both from the University of Michigan; and a Master of Business Administration in finance and Juris Doctor, both from Indiana. “My career evolved with each degree I earned, with support and encouragement from some terrific people – professors, classmates and colleagues,” said Hook, an Emeritus Professor at Indiana. “I was lucky because my employer offered substantial financial assistance with tuition for its full-time employees. This allowed me to continue my education. Along the way, I learned how to learn – and I’m still learning!” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply

Dec. 10, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's basketball team finished off a perfect first half of the season with a 12-point victory on Saturday against former Western Conference foe Lake Michigan College, 83-71. With the win, the Raiders improved to a 10-0 start, the team’s best start since the 2000-2001 season, when it started 13-0. "I can't really put into words how proud I am of the effort these guys have brought the last two games,” coach Joe Fox said. “They complimented each other both offensively and defensively, and they stayed positive the whole week. I can't even pick out a specific performance to highlight, as all five guys contributed in serious ways. Raider basketball is a culture of effort, energy and enthusiasm and these guys embodied that this week. My assistant coaches also did a tremendous job game-planning this week." Lake Michigan went into the locker room up 39-37 at the break, but GRCC went on a 19-2 run in the second half to put the game out of reach for the visitors. GRCC shot 58 percent from the field in the second half while holding the Red Hawks to just 38 percent. Freshman Bashir Neely was the game's leading scorer for the second time in three games, finishing 7-of-16 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the free throw stripe for a total of 24 points. Detroit native Jordan Houser recorded his first career double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Chris Coleman of Saginaw had career-highs in points with 22, rebounds with seven and steals with three. Jajuan Walker nearly had another double-double with 19 points on an efficient eight-of-11 shooting, and eight rebounds. GRCC will have the next three weeks before returning to the court in Detroit on Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. in a rematch against Community Christian College. 

Dec. 9, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – More than 1,500 students are still eligible to receive a quality Grand Rapids Community College education with costs covered by the Grand Rapids Promise Zone. Students may be eligible to receive the Promise Zone scholarship even if they took time off after graduating high school, or are attending another college or university and are looking to earn more affordable credits as a guest student. “Many people took a gap year or headed into the working world during the pandemic, and might not realize they are still eligible to attend GRCC through the Grand Rapids Promise Zone,” Promise Zone director Ashlee Mishler said. “We are still here for them. And GRCC is offering classes in a variety of formats to help students plan around their work and home responsibilities. It’s a perfect opportunity to gain credits or in-demand skills to advance in their careers.” 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 boundaries of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Started in 2020, the Grand Rapids Promise Zone is a “last-dollar” scholarship that covers up to 60 credit hours -- 30 credit hours for those 50% eligible -- including the costs of tuition, books, required course materials and any required fees associated with attending 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 a semester, unless classes are taken during the summer semester. 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. About 500 students are attending GRCC this fall. “There was so much uncertainty during the pandemic, and many people put their college education on hold,” Mishler said. “GRCC will work with them to get back on track, because having that degree or career certificate will help them in whatever they plan to do in the years to come. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone is a community investment in their future.” Additional information is available at grpromisezone.com , grcc.edu/promisezone , by email at promisezone@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-4321. 

Dec. 8, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's and women's basketball teams picked up two wins against Hope College junior varsity on Thursday, with the women outlasting the Dutch 71-69 in double overtime and the men dominating to stay unbeaten with a 90-66 victory. The women's team played from behind nearly the entire night, trailing by as many as 15 points in the game, but surged back with big play after big play down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Alyssa Katerberg hit a three-pointer with 1:48 left in regulation to tie the game. On the next possession she put the team up for the first time since early in the first quarter with a free throw to make it 55-54. Emersyn Koepke made it a two-point game, but Hope forced overtime with a bucket with 27 seconds to go. In the first overtime, with the team down by two points, Marlene Bussler drove through multiple Hope players to sink a layup with 12 seconds left. The GRCC defense didn't allow a shot, forcing the teams to a second overtime. Sally Merrill scored the final go-ahead bucket with 27 seconds left in the game and then held on to her career-high 21st rebound just as the final buzzer sounded after a missed Hope three-pointer. Grace Lodes recorded a double-double with 13 points and 18 rebounds while adding a career-best six assists. Bussler finished with a team-high 22 points and Katerberg finished with 12 points. The men's team cruised to its ninth straight win to start the season, forcing 16 turnovers while only having eight giveaways. Freshman guard Jajuan Walker nearly had a triple-double posting 18 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Freshman Bashir Neely was the game's leading scorer, finishing 12-of-24 from the floor for 29 points.  He also had a team-high eight assists and four steals. Jordan Houser dropped in 18 points, while Chris Coleman scored 16 and Seth Schuitema added nine. Both teams return to the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse on Dec. 10 for a matchup against former Western Conference rival Lake Michigan College.  The women will tip-off first at 1 p.m. 

Dec. 8, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Sue DelRaso loves working with GRCC students, because she was once in their shoes.  DelRaso came to GRCC pursuing a complete career change. She had been working as an executive assistant for nearly 20 years while also managing debilitating migraines. After doctors in 2004 informed her to reduce stressors in her life, DelRaso enrolled at GRCC and pursued a new career path in Computer Applications.  DelRaso came to GRCC as a mother of a middle school student and recalls studying and doing homework with her son.  On top of juggling studying, attending classes, and being a mom, she began working at the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center Computer Lab as a student tutor.  DelRaso began receiving more responsibilities and worked her way up as she completed her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ferris State University.  Finally, in 2009 she started working full time at GRCC and is now the tutorial coordinator for the ATC and the Open Computer Lab, Mechanical & Architectural/CAD Lab, and the Sneden Computer Lab.  DelRaso said the best part of her job is getting to meet and help a variety of people. “It’s fun to see the light bulb go off when a student finally understands,” she said. DelRaso’s tutoring strategy involves helping students find answers themselves, rather than giving them the answers. She encourages tutors to ask students questions to find the answer.  Students should leave with the tools to solve problems themselves in the future. It works, too. One particular student who graduated with honors, credits the tutoring lab for giving him the skills he needed.  DelRaso is proud to have watched GRCC change and grow for the past 19 years.  “We have been changing and adapting to what goes on in the community and the job force;  evolving what we offer and how we offer it,'' she said.  The changes we are making allow us to better serve our students. DelRaso uses her own story to prove it is never too late to start a new career or go back to school. Encouraging students not to give up.   “There’s always people who are willing to help you,” she said. “We want you to succeed, we are doing everything we can to help you succeed”.  More information about the ATC Tutorial Lab and Open Computer Lab can be found here.  

Dec. 7, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After school recently at Lee High School, math tutor Kristine Wright pulled out bags of snacks for the students planning to attend that day’s session. On Tuesdays she offers math tutoring, and on Thursdays she hosts an SAT prep session. Some students in Wright’s study group at Lee have been a part of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs -- GEAR UP -- cohort for the past few years. Both study opportunities are available for Lee’s GEAR UP students, now in their junior year. Junior Annette Gonzolez said she was afraid to take the SAT in a few months and write essays for her college applications. Wright assured her, “I have everything we need to get you all prepped.” Junior Alexsandra Cortez-Torres said she’s excited to work with Wright every week, as math is not her favorite subject. Thanks to Wright’s support and the resources and opportunities offered by GEAR UP, Alexsandra also is now looking forward to college. She plans to attend Grand Rapids Community College and has set her sights on transferring to the University of Michigan, though her major is unclear. Time is flying for Alexsandra and her classmates as they prepare to take their SAT exams in the spring and continue to tour college campuses. “They tell you, ‘You’re just a ninth-grader. You have so much time,’” she recalled. “Where did that time go?” Preparing Families for the Future GEAR UP has worked since 2018 to increase college and career readiness of students in four Wyoming school districts: Wyoming, Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights and Godfrey-Lee. It started with cohorts of seventh-graders to work with through middle and high school. GRCC was the only college in Michigan to receive a $2.1 million, six-year grant from the U.S. Education Department to fund the program. Program Director Steve Beauclair has a checklist for the class of 2024 and their families. “Now that our cohort students are juniors, we’re asking families to put together a potential college list — the more colleges the better,” he said. “When students make the visit, (we ask) does it feel like a good fit? Do they see themselves being successful here? Do they see people who look like themselves?” GEAR UP also connects with both English and Spanish-speaking families to research scholarships and to complete federal student aid applications. “There is a lot of financial aid available,” Beauclair said. “And we want parents of seniors to be in the position to have multiple financial aid packages so they can make the best decision.” Alexsandra said GEAR UP has helped her understand how to eliminate the financial barriers to college by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – known as FAFSA -- and applying for scholarships.  “It’s not that I’m not smart enough for college, it’s the money that is the problem,” she said. Building Confidence, Continued Support Annette said GEAR UP opened her eyes to new opportunities and built her confidence about making decisions about attending college. “They help you in the present with high school classes, and help prepare you for college and the future,” she said. “Thinking about college gives you anxiety, but being able to (visit) colleges to see what they offer makes the process easier.” Annette plans to start at GRCC and eventually transfer to Davenport University to “maybe pursue something in business.” “I want to go to GRCC because it’s close to home and they have resources to help you out,” she said. “I’m nervous but excited to be in a new environment and meet new people.” Being a part of the GEAR UP cohort has helped alleviate junior Melanie Zapata’s fears. “We graduate next year, and I’m scared, but not as scared about going to college knowing I have help,” she said. GEAR UP’s parent and student surveys gauge their comfort as they move closer to applying to colleges. “We sense a growing urgency amongst parents as they get closer to graduation and college,” Beauclair said. “We stand at the ready to help get (students) into GRCC, and we’ve taken them to all these schools with the purpose of giving them options.” He said the grant has a goal of 80% completion of the original cohort of 800 students in the four districts.  “You build connections working with the students along the way, and we’ll still be available for them at GRCC,” Wright said. “We want them to be successful.” This story was reported by Alexis Stark of the School News Network .

Dec. 6, 2022 - GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College volleyball player Audrey Torres was named All-American by VolleyballMag.com on Tuesday after helping the team to a fifth-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Tournament two weeks ago. Torres is the 13th All-American in GRCC volleyball history.  A member of the volleyball team has earned All-American honors in six of the last seven seasons. She's the third GRCC student-athlete to earn All-American honors this semester. Coach Chip Will said the honor was well-deserved "for a great person on and off the court." “Audrey has been a key attacker for us the past two seasons,” Will said. “She has grown into a true competitor who can heavily be relied on to consistently make big plays in high-pressure situations. It is exciting to see that her hard work and consistent high level of play has allowed her to be recognized by other junior college coaches as a VolleyballMag.com All-American.” Torres was one of 11 NJCAA DII players honored by VolleyballMag.com , a publication that for nearly 40 years has covered the sport from the professional level to high school competition. Jim Dietz, a Hall of Fame coach from Lincoln Land College in Illinois, selects the All-Americans for VolleyballMag.com based on game videos, coach comments, and how the player finished in voting in their conference and region, and overall statistics. A sophomore from Caledonia, Torres earlier was named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference for the second year, and also named to the All-Tournament team at the national tournament. The team this season enjoyed an 18-match winning streak spanning 59 days, an 11th conference title and a Michigan Community College Athletic Association Championship -- the team's sixth in the last seven years. The team then went on to go 3-1 at the national tournament finishing in fifth place - tied for their second-best finish ever. Torres was first on the team in kills with 393 and service aces with 52. She also ranked in the top-five of the MCCAA in kills, kills per set and points per set. She is the third GRCC student-athlete to earn All-American honors this year. Cross country runners Kaylee Scott and Audrey Meyering were selected after their performances in the NJCAA DII National Championships in November.

Dec. 5, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team snapped a three-game winning streak on Monday with a 70-59 loss to the Aquinas College junior varsity team despite big nights from Grace Lodes and Allison Kellogg. No team led by more than four points in the opening half, which finished tied at 35. But a huge 22-point third quarter by Aquinas created an insurmountable lead. "We had some really nice stretches where we played team basketball, but we didn’t play a complete game to deserve the win tonight," head coach David Glazier said. Aquinas shot 52 percent from the field compared to 26 percent for GRCC.  The team also out-scored the Raiders 46-24 in the paint.  GRCC only had 11 turnovers and out-rebounded Aquinas by one. Lodes scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her third straight double-double of the season, while Kellogg picked up her second double-double with a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sally Merrill scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. The team returns to the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse for its next game, facing the Hope College junior varsity team on Dec. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.    

Dec. 5, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Jennifer Archambault’s favorite GRCC memory? “Barbie in a shark!” Start at GRCC and go anywhere. Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. Professor Greg Forbes secretly planted a Barbie leg into the dogfish shark Archambault and the other students would be working on in a dissection lab. “That – and some excellent acting – shocked and thrilled students into attentive engagement into fish anatomy!” Archambault said. That course remains in her memory for another reason: It sparked her interest in wildlife, leading to the rewarding career she has today. Archambault, who earned her Associate in Science in 2002, works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Raleigh, N.C., as a national recovery coordinator for several threatened and endangered freshwater species, including fish, mussels, a salamander and a snail. She says she’s built her career “step by step,” with GRCC as a valuable launching pad. “The small class sizes and responsive instructors helped me to be a successful and well-rounded scholar,” she said. “It was a good education, accessible in my own community, and I had an amazing advisor in Dr. Forbes, who really helped me carve out the path that has become my career.” She has been able to explore different aspects of wildlife conservation while continuing her higher education journey. “In the 20 years since graduating from GRCC, I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, worked for several years in private industry at an environmental consulting firm, returned to college for a master’s degree, worked as research staff at a major U.S. university, and earned my Ph.D. while working in academia,” said Archambault of the degrees she earned at North Carolina State University. “I’ve tried to balance enjoying what I’m doing while I’m doing it, with pursuing high achievement to ensure I’ve maximized my options for future opportunities. Along the way, I’ve benefited from supportive advisors, family, friends and community.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply