Nov. 22, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Earning National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honors three times in the same sport was not something Audrey Meyering expected when she enrolled at GRCC. In fact, no other student-athlete in school history has achieved that feat. And it’s not likely anyone else will, either. The global pandemic that ultimately gave all community college athletes a third year of eligibility had something to do with that. But so did Meyering’s considerable talents on the cross country course. Recruited by GRCC coach Sharon Becker, Meyering knew immediately during her official campus visit that the college was a perfect fit. “After graduating from high school, I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted to do in college,” she said. “I thought about culinary arts, but I hadn't enrolled in the program until after my first semester at GRCC. To save myself some money, and to get a feel for what I liked, along with the opportunity to run cross country, GRCC was the right fit for me.” A four-time letter winner in cross country in high school, Meyering ran a personal-best 20:23 in the fall of 2019, her last season of high school cross country. The following spring saw the disruption of her track and field season and the final months of her high school academic career because of COVID. Those disruptions followed her to GRCC. But Meyering said she tried to stay optimistic about the opportunities before her. “I do feel like I’ve made the best of all my years at GRCC,” she said at the conclusion of the 2022 cross country season. “Being online for me was difficult at the start of COVID, but it grew on me after a while. It became the new normal. It's crazy to see so many students back on campus this year.” The pandemic also gave her a rare third year of competition and allowed her the shot at three All-American honors. Beyond that though, she said, being on the team for that long allowed for major growth in relationships with teammates and coaches. “It has been very rewarding to make so many new lifetime friends,” she said. “I loved every second of being on the team.” Meyering said the jump from high school cross country to collegiate cross country was significant, but she credited Becker for being there for her every step of the way. “Coach has pushed me to be my best from day one,” she said. “I couldn’t be more grateful to have someone to help me become the best student-athlete and teammate possible. In many ways, she was a big reason that I chose to come back for the third time.”  Meyering is on track to graduate this spring with her culinary degree and is excited to see what’s next. She also sees similarities between her culinary journey and her athletic pursuits. “Competitive drive is one of the things that connects the two the most,” she said. “In the (culinary) industry, it is easy to pick out those who have a passion for culinary arts and those who don’t, and I think that makes a big difference in terms of how far you can make it in either running or the industry.”   And, just like Becker was a formative influence for her as her coach, she pointed to culinary professors who filled the same role for her in her academic career. “My two favorite culinary professors are Chef (Bob) Shultz and Chef (Sarah) Waller,” she said. “They both know how to have a lot of fun in the kitchen while also being productive. They also always push us as students to be very creative, and I like the freedom to be able to create something new.”  GRCC’s world-renowned culinary program has a strong international flavor , and Meyering has gotten a taste for a world beyond West Michigan, thanks to her courses and professors. “After graduation I would really love the opportunity to travel,” she said. “It would be great to visit some new countries, experience new cultures and try new foods.” She also hopes to continue to run competitively after graduation. “Moving up from half marathons to full marathons would be really neat to cross off my list,” she said with a smile. She laughs when she thinks now of running marathons and recalls her early junior high days of cross country competition. “I didn’t think that running would be the sport that I’d fall in love with,” she said. “But I think I like it so much because I’m always running with my best friends and am constantly meeting new people along the way. Running is also how I clear my mind and relax.” Among the new people she has met along the way is GRCC teammate Kaylee Scott, who set a new Raider record in 2022 with a blazing 19:12.7. “Kaylee is the person who has impacted me the most,” Meyering said. “She's been my running buddy the whole way through. In our sport, having someone to cheer you on and push you to your limits – and to share your struggles with – is the best. Sharing an All-American title with her, crossing the finish line just seconds behind her, those are some of my favorite memories.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.   

Nov. 21, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Charles Lepper, who oversees student affairs and enrollment at 10 Salt Lake Community College campuses, was selected Monday to be Grand Rapids Community College’s new president. Trustees voted unanimously to select Lepper, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the Utah college, to succeed Bill Pink and become GRCC’s 11 th president. Trustees are impressed by Lepper’s leadership experience at both community colleges and universities, said board Chair David J. Koetje.  “Dr. Lepper has the skills and the passion for education needed to lead GRCC into the future,” he said. “He will arrive at a college in a good place, and stand on a strong foundation built by Dr. Pink and his predecessors. I am excited to see where he will take us in the years to come.” The vote allows the college to approach Lepper about a potential contract. Lepper has been in his role at Salt Lake Community College since 2015, providing strategic leadership and running day-to-day operations for student affairs and enrollment management functions at the 10 campuses. The system serves more than 60,000 students annually and uses a centralized administration structure to serve all campuses and their communities. He also provides ongoing college-wide strategic leadership for the Division of Student Affairs, comprised of approximately 650 full- and part-time employees with an annual divisional operating budget of about $30 million. Lepper previously was the vice president for Student Affairs at Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Va., and held a series of leadership roles at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana between 2004 and 2013. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University, and a doctorate from Indiana State University. He also earned a certificate of completion from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and Institute for Education Management. Lepper was one of two finalists in the running to replace Pink, who became president of Ferris State University in July. GRCC President Emeritus Juan. R Olivarez has been serving as interim president during the search.

Nov. 21, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Steven Polega says GRCC is about a “life-changing opportunity.” He has evidence to support his claim. 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. Polega signed up to join the Navy during his junior year in high school, so he didn’t pursue college prep courses his senior year. “When I got out of the military in the early 1990s, I was ill-prepared for some of the basic skills needed to pursue advanced education,” he said. He enrolled in some entry-level classes at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College to get “up to speed” and connected with the student employment office to find jobs while he attended classes. “I worked as a home health aide for families with profoundly autistic children,” Polega said. “I worked as a certified nurse’s aide in a nursing home. In each of these roles, I was exposed to some of the hardest work that I have ever done – but also some of the most rewarding. I loved connecting with people and having the feeling that I was making a difference and helping.” As he worked toward his associate degree in Nursing, he also learned from his co-workers. “I remember being super impressed with what they do and the complexity of the work,” he said. “As I was finishing my nursing degree, I worked at a local Grand Rapids hospital as a patient care tech and was exposed to many specialties.” Polega eventually earned bachelor’s degrees in health science and nursing from Grand Valley State and Andrews universities, respectively, and a master’s in health care administration from Ohio University. He has worked in the hospital and health care field for more than 25 years, the past 10 with University of Michigan Health West (formerly Metro Health). He’s been the senior vice president-chief nursing officer for five years and also serves as board president for the West Michigan chapter of the American Heart Association. “I would describe my work toward my associate degree at GRJC as foundational to every future degree that I have earned,” Polega said. “I remember feeling a little out of place as an ‘older’ student, but the faculty was welcoming and competent. I was challenged to learn and enjoyed the diversity of classes that were available. “I think one of the best things about GRCC now – and then – is that they have numerous programs and paths to meet learners where they’re at.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply    

Nov. 19, 2022, CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa –The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team won its third five-set match of the NJCAA Division II National Championship tournament to finish in fifth place. GRCC entered the tournament as the No. 9 seed, and faced higher-ranked teams in every match. GRCC defeated the No. 8 and No. 4 teams, and faced the Cowley College, the No. 3 seed, on Saturday. The team’s only loss was to Johnson County Community College, the top-ranked team in the tournament. GRCC's fifth-place finish at the national tournament tied for the second-best in the program’s history. GRCC won the national championship in 2012, and earned a fifth-place finish in 2019. Audrey Torres, GRCC’s No. 1 attacker all season, shined in the Raiders’ final match, which the team won 13-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-25, 15-12. Torres had a career-high 28 kills, including the match winner, and hit .403 with just three attack errors. Torres, who was named to the All-Tournament Team after the match, said she is “super proud” of how the team performed.  “We were able to pull off two upsets that many people probably didn't think we could pull off,” she said.  “We were gritty and resilient the whole weekend, never taking a minute to relax while we played, and pushed through the toughest situations to finish as a top-five team in the country. “I couldn't be more proud of everyone. Each person showed up and performed at her best and it paid off. As for my performance, I'm pretty proud of myself and the milestone I reached. However, my success wouldn't have been possible if our defense didn't show up. I have them to thank for my success today. I love this team.” Audrey Gower also finished out her GRCC career on a great note, with 22 digs, four aces, four assists and zero reception errors. Kara Hecht had a strong showing in her final match, with 14 kills and eight digs. Shannon Russell finished off her career with 36 assists and 15 digs. The team finished the match with a .231 hitting performance including a .480 performance in the final set on 12 kills. “It’s hard to put in to words what a magical season this was,” head coach Chip Will said. “A totally new division in our conference with travel all up north. Winning the conference, state and regional title. Biking around Mackinac Island, enjoying the water park at Soaring Eagle, countless dad jokes, smiles, hugs, tears, and a complete love for playing for Raider Nation volleyball. We had so many teams cheering for us in the final match, tons of fans watching from home, we could feel the love from all of you. Proud coach because today our kids left as better volleyball players, better teammates, better human beings and I’m so glad I could go on this journey with all of them.” The win gives GRCC a 27-4 record in a season that included an 18-match win streak. The team competed in a new Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference, which required travel to the Upper Peninsula. The team celebrated its 11th conference championship, ninth Michigan Community College Athletic Association championship and 11th district championship this year.

Nov. 18, 2022, PALATINE, Ill. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's and women's basketball teams had convincing wins at Harper College on Friday, with the men picking up an 87-63 victory and the women winning 64-17. The men's team took the court first, cruising to their sixth straight to win to begin the season. "We had a great team effort today from top to bottom," head coach Joe Fox said. "I was pleased with how the team fought through some adversity and always responded. I'm happy we were able to get a couple road wins, and I'm very much looking forward to returning home for a stretch after Thanksgiving." Danyel Bibbs, who was recently named back-to-back Michigan Community College Athletic Association   Northern Conference player of the week, led the Raiders with 16 points.  Bashir Neely scored 15 points and Chris Coleman 12 points. The women's team, now 2-1 on the season, was led by Grace Lodes, who scored a game-high 16 points. "Felt we played well overall," head coach David Glazier said. "I am happy that we were able to get everyone meaningful minutes as we work to build on our depth with the conference slate being our ultimate focus." Both teams aren't scheduled to return to play until after Thanksgiving, when Community Christian College of Detroit comes to town for 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. tip-offs. 

Nov. 18, 2022, CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – It was a victory that rendered coach Chip Will speechless. Braelyn Berry led the Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team to another thrilling five-set victory on Friday, putting the team in position for a possible top-five finish at the NJCAA Division II National Championship. Will, who has won 435 matches in his distinguished career at GRCC, called Friday’s victory over Iowa Central Community College one of the best. “Speechless,” Will said after the match. “A top-five win in Raider history. The environment was electric with so many teams there watching. We definitely represented Raider Nation and GRCC with how we battled. We will remember this win for a very long time.” GRCC, the tournament’s No. 9 seed, won a five-set match against No. 8 Illinois Central College in the opening round on Thursday, then fell to top-seed Johnson County Community College in the quarterfinals. Berry, a freshman outside from Stanwood, had a career-high 15 kills and had just one hitting error, hitting .424 to lead the team in the Iowa Central match. The teams traded wins, with Iowa Central taking sets one and three 25-18, 25-17 and GRCC winning 25-21 in sets two and four. It takes 15 points to win a fifth set, and GRCC was behind 13-5. But sophomore Audrey Gower served the team back into the match and the Raiders survived, 17-15. “I’m extremely proud of how we continued to battle back as a team after being down 13-5 in the fifth set,” Berry said. “We continued to grind and never backed down and that truly shows you what Raider volleyball is all about.” Two other freshmen performed well, as setter Autumn Cole had a career-high 20 assists, two aces and five digs, while also earning her first kill of the year. Defense specialist Vienna Koenigsknecht had 13 digs, two aces and no reception errors in 16 attempts. Audrey Torres wound up the team’s leader in kills with 21 and Eliza Thelen chipped in with 10.  Gower led the team with four aces and 25 digs. GRCC, 26-4 overall, will finish the season on Saturday with a matchup against No. 3 Cowley College in the game to determine fifth place. GRCC is scheduled to play at 3 p.m. Eastern time and fans are encouraged to watch the match live on www.njccatv.com .  

Nov. 17, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College professor Kimberly Overdevest considers herself fortunate to have a career she is passionate about.  Overdevest always knew art would be at the center of her professional and personal goals. She first pursued a career in graphic design and fine art, and ultimately pivoted to art history and teaching. Now Overdevest has been teaching at GRCC for more than 16 years. “I wish that I spent less time worrying about if I was making the right choices, and instead channeled my energies toward pursuing my passion. Luckily, I learned early on that fear should not make my decisions,” Overdevest said.  While Overdevest was pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Kendall College of Art and Design, she took multiple classes led by Sue Eberle. Dr. Eberle is a recently retired art historian who demonstrated professionalism and passion in her teaching, allowing her to connect with her students.  “I fell in love with art history in part because of her enthusiasm and passion for the profession,” Overdevest said. “Her students were enthralled when she spoke - no matter what subject she was teaching. I used her teaching style as a basis for building my own style”. During the pandemic, Overdevest challenged students to earn extra credit by recreating a work of art they have studied this semester -- and they have to include themselves in the recreation. She wanted to come up with something students would enjoy during the pandemic and share with the class.  Overdevest enjoys teaching alongside a caring and talented community of professionals. The Visual Arts Department provides a solid foundation of knowledge and skill to students as they prepare to transfer to four-year schools. The professors are active in their field and are passionate about their student’s success.  Overdevest graduated from the Kendall with two bachelor’s degrees, and earned, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s of Philosophy and working toward a doctorate from the Graduate Center, City University of New York.  More information about the Visual Arts Program can be found here .

Nov. 18, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education is planning culinary classes for the GRCC Lakeshore Campus during the winter semester to meet growing demand. The college has scheduled four introductory classes for students working toward culinary certificates and degrees. Dr. Werner Absenger, the Secchia Institute’s program director, said the classes were planned to meet the demand of Lakeshore students looking for culinary training, but also from employers looking for highly skilled workers looking for rewarding careers in a growing, evolving field. While the new campus does not have kitchens, Absenger said the college planned lecture courses to meet the demand of Lakeshore culinary students. There is also potential to connect with Lakeshore businesses to offer courses relevant to employers' real-time needs. "The culinary courses offered at the Lakeshore Campus allow students to earn credit toward our Culinary Arts Associate's Degree program and several certificate degrees," Absenger said. "But without the stressors, especially for first-year students, and costs involved in traveling from the Lakeshore, to GRCC's main campus, downtown Grand Rapids, where the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education is located." The new classes are: Exploration of Food Service, which will meet 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays between Feb. 27 and April 27. Because of an articulation agreement with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, students completing OAISD culinary programming will not need to take the course.  Restaurant Sanitation and Safety, which will meet between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays between Jan. 9 and Feb. 21. Students who complete the ServSafe Manager certification would not have to take this course at GRCC. Principles of Food Science, which will be offered between 4 and 7 p.m. on Mondays between Jan. 9 and April 24. Food Purchasing and Cost Control, which will be offered between 4 and 7 p.m. on Tuesdays between Jan. 10 and April 25. Enrollment at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus, 12335 James St. in Holland, during the fall semester has risen about 20 percent compared to a year ago. The 52,000-square-foot campus, which opened in August 2021 in the Shops at Westshore Mall.

Nov. 17, 2022, CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team topped Illinois Central College in a five-set thriller before falling in the quarter-final round to top-seeded Johnson County Community College in straight sets at the NJCAA Division II National Championship on Thursday. GRCC, the No. 9 seed in the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament, lost its shot at a national championship, but still has a chance to finish in the top five in the country if it wins its final two matches. "I was very proud about how the kids battled all day, especially in the final match against a really good Johnson County team," head coach Chip Will said. "They never gave up." GRCC dominated sets one and three against Illinois Central, winning 25-14 and 25-16, but dropped sets two and four 22-25 and 23-25 to force the final set, which the Raiders won 15-8. Eliza Thelen led GRCC with 16 points, on 10 kills and six blocks. Audrey Torres led the team with 12 kills and Karissa Ferry added eight kills and three blocks. Five different players tallied at least 10 digs, with librero Audrey Gower leading the way with 17. GRCC had 13 total service aces, led by freshman Vienna Koenigsknecht with a career-high six. In the quarterfinal match against Johnson County Community College, the Cavaliers cruised to a 25-12, 25-12, 25-16 victory to advance to the semi-finals. Thelen and Ferry led GRCC with eight kills and Torres added four kills. GRCC, 25-4 overall, continues play Friday in the consolation round against Iowa Central Community College at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. Should the Raiders win, the team will have a chance to play for fifth place on Saturday.   

Nov. 17, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College students and employees are inspiring. They overcome challenges. They are leaders. And, they have great stories to tell. Three podcasts produced by the GRCC Media Technologies team tell those stories, and are available on iTunes, Spotify and other podcast sites. "My GRCC Story" includes Kailee Potgeter and Dave Murray of the Communications team talking with students and alumni about their journey to GRCC, the people who helped them along the way and their dreams for the future. The newest episode features Evodie Djunga, president of the College Activities Board and a staff member on the Student Services team. Djunga shares her journey from the Republic of Congo to GRCC, her goals of owning a business in the automotive field, and how she helps students navigate their path through education. “At first it is pretty hard when someone comes up to you and they may be mad about something and it’s hard for you to understand them,” she said. “So, you have to put yourself in that person’s shoes and find out what’s going on. She may be having a bad day. The moment you understand she is having a bad day, you are going to take it easy. You are going to do your best to help that person, no matter what.” She said she enjoys working with the College Activities Board team to play events throughout the semester. “We’re here for our students. We’re serving our students and we want them to participate. We want them to be there and enjoy themselves and have fun,” she said. “I would say one of the best things to see is to put a smile on someone’s face. That was awesome. I saw a lot of students just smiling when they were coming to get pizza.” “Speaking of Teaching,” in its second season, was created by the GRCC Distance Learning and Instructional Technologies Department, with hosts Meg Lockhard, Rachel Lutwick-Deaner and Ian Matthews. They talk with professors on a more personal level, learning about their journey and expertise. The most recent episode features professor Lauren Woolsey, who teaches astronomy and physics in the Physical Sciences Department, part of the new GRCC School of STEM. Woolsey earned a doctorate from Harvard University and worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “One thing that I really like about the courses that I teach is that I’m not teaching science majors,” she said on the podcast. “And the reason that I like that is because it feels like I’m making a bigger impact on the people who are going to be citizens in our community, and building those critical thinking skills in everybody.” Professor Andrew Rozema’s “Defeasible Reasoning” podcast launched in 2018. Defeasible reasoning is a kind of reasoning that is rationally compelling, though not necessarily formally valid. Rozema said it’s making decisions with the best information we have at the time. It’s the sort of reasoning that happens in the real world, where we’re all doing the best we can with what we’ve got. Rozema is head of the Computer Information Systems Department, and is a nationally known cybersecurity expert. The podcast covers all things relating to cybersecurity – and beyond – with talking with current and former students and experts. Defeasible reasoning is a kind of reasoning that is rationally compelling, though not necessarily formally valid. Rozema’s most recent episodes focus on GrrCON Cyber Security Summit and Hacker Conference, an event that attracts experts from across the country.