Oct. 26, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –   The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation is honoring Dr. Juan Olivarez and Mary Olivarez for their service to the college and community in this year’s Scholarfest. Scholarfest is an annual event celebrating GRCC’s philanthropic leaders and highlighting achievements of faculty, staff and students. Proceeds support GRCC scholarships. The event is planned for 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 1. It will be the first event in the Secchia Piazza, located in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St. NE in Grand Rapids. Tickets are available here. The GRCC Foundation awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships last year and supported students in other ways as the community was affected by the pandemic. “Juan and Mary are such an important part of our campus community, and their service extends throughout West Michigan,” said Dr. Kathryn Mullins, executive director of the GRCC Foundation and vice president for College Advancement. “Honoring them allows us to salute their service, and also inspire the next generations of GRCC students and those who help them be successful.” As GRCC’s eighth president, Juan Olivarez forged community partnerships and increased educational opportunities for underserved populations. The son of migrant workers from Benavides, Texas, he was the first Hispanic president of any Michigan college or university. Dr. Olivarez was an educator in the Grand Rapids Public Schools for more than 20 years before becoming GRCC’s Dean of Institutional Research in 1991. After retiring from GRCC in 2008, Olivarez became president and CEO of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. He was named Aquinas College’s seventh president in 2011, retiring in 2017. He was a distinguished scholar in residence for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Grand Valley State University’s Dorothy Johnson Center for Philanthropy between 2018 and 2021. Dr. Olivarez continues to be an important part of GRCC, serving as interim president while the college searches for a new president. Mary Olivarez is equally committed to education, spending 24 years with Grand Rapids Public Schools, teaching kindergarten and early childhood education, and working with students with multiple impairments.  The Secchia Piazza is the newest addition to the GRCC Main Campus and connected to the renovated Heritage restaurant. Supported by donations by former Ambassador Peter Secchia and his family, the Secchia Piazza provides opportunities for students in the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education and tells the story of the program’s global reach.      

Oct. 25, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  Potential students of all ages can learn more about how Grand Rapids Community College can help change their lives during open houses at both the main and Lakeshore campuses. The main campus event is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, in the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse, 111 Lyon St. NE in Grand Rapids. The Lakeshore event is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at GRCC’s Lakeshore Campus, 12335 James St. in Holland. “Open houses are great opportunities for people interested in learning more about how a GRCC education can get them the skills, credits or degrees they need to transform their lives,” said Lori Cook, associate dean of Access and First Year Success. “We encourage everyone to come on down, meet with our experts, and get all their questions answered. It’s perfect for people who are planning to attend GRCC, or just learn a little more about the college and what it offers.”  GRCC specialists and faculty can help open house participants navigate through admissions and financial aid processes and discuss eligibility for cost-saving programs such as Michigan Reconnect and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone. Campus tours also will be available. Those attending the event and enrolling at GRCC can win one $500 scholarship. “Open houses are great opportunities to learn more about GRCC, get all your questions answered, and meet the people who will be here to help you,” said Kristi Welling, GRCC’s associate director of Enrollment Center services. “There are local, state and federal programs that can remove cost as an obstacle, and GRCC offers classes in a variety of formats and schedules so students can plan around home and work responsibilities. Come visit to find out what might work best for you.” Open house topics include: How to explore GRCC’s 12 Academic Pathways and more than 150 degrees. Options to pay for college. How to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. The steps to apply to GRCC. The benefits of earning an associate degree at GRCC and seamlessly transferring to a four-year college or university. Academic programs and student services offered in Holland at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus. Determining eligibility for the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship and Michigan Reconnect. Connecting with campus resources – and finding lots of fun swag! While walk-ins are welcome, students can reserve a spot by registering at  grcc.edu/openhouse .

Oct. 24, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a finalist for the Ally to Accomplice Award at the inaugural Prism Awards from the Grand Rapids Pride Center. ODEI has worked to amplify the LGBTQ+ community through initiatives such as the LGBTQ+ Think Tank, Being Queer at GRCC, a digital montage of student narratives, and PRIDE Outside the Box; a series of programs that critically examine socio-political, economic, and identity issues from an intersectional framework. Since 1988, the Grand Rapids Pride Center has empowered LGBTQ+ individuals through supportive services and awareness. The Prism Awards are an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the community’s collective impact. The new event also will help support the center’s programs and services. The center is offering three individual awards and two for groups. The Ally to Accomplice Award acknowledges a group or organization that has done the work and made progress on its journey to support the 2-SLGBTQ+ community. The Prism Awards will be presented at a Nov. 10 event at New Vintage Place, 889 Broadway Ave NW in Grand Rapids. The event is sold out.

Oct. 24, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Deavondre Jones knew that enrolling at Grand Rapids Community College would give him useful credits that would transfer to his dream school: Columbia College Chicago. But he wanted more than that. “A young guy from Benton Harbor saw endless possibilities,” he said of his time at GRCC. “It was valuable because I made it valuable. I refused to only get a transcript when I left. I wanted connections and new perspectives that would help me on my journey.” 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. Jones found mentors and friends on campus, counting his membership in leadership development organization Alpha Beta Omega and working in the Student Life Office and as an orientation leader among his favorite memories. Also among those fond memories: “Running to catch the bus every day because I didn’t have a car and meeting so many people who said I helped their GRCC experience in some way.” Jones continued at Columbia after graduating from GRCC in 2013 with an associate degree in marketing. He attended on a Presidential Scholarship and earned his bachelor’s degree in business, management and marketing. “GRCC business and math courses, specifically accounting, prepared me more than I could ever understand at the time,” he said. Jones, the father of 6-year-old Brayden, founded DanceSpire, which works to accelerate the adoption of standardized hip hop education for dance programs, and the digital marketing company DanceSpire Agency. He also teaches at Hope College and Michigan State and Oakland universities. He serves on the Michigan Action Plan for Fatherhood Involvement and volunteers for the West Michigan “Dads Count!” collective. He still looks to learn something “from every room I walk into.” “GRCC is what you make it – so is your experience in the world,” he said. “GRCC is a low-cost, high-value practice for your next step. Don’t waste it.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply

Oct. 23, 2022, SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ken. -- Drew Harrington led the Grand Rapids Community College golf team to a seventh-place finish at the Heritage Hill Fall Collegiate, wrapping up the 2022 fall season. GRCC finished with a two-round score of 636, which was 58 strokes behind Campbellsville University, which dominated the field of eight teams with a score of 578. GRCC, the only two-year school in the tournament, had two players finish in the top 20. Harrington, who was in 10th place after round one, dropped five spots to finish tied for 15th with a score of 152 strokes. Mason Anderson tied for 20th place with a score of 157, but improved by seven strokes from round one to round two. Sam Foss had the biggest improvement of all eight GRCC golfers competing, with an 84 in round one and a 74 in round two, finishing tied for 22nd place. His 74 included a team-high five birdies. GRCC’s first tournament of the spring is scheduled for April 7, 2023 at Marion University in Indianapolis.  

Oct. 23, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A dominating performance in the Muskegon Invitational has propelled both Grand Rapids Community College cross country teams into the top 10 the latest coaches’ polls. The women’s team moved up two places to be the No. 4 team in the nation, while the men’s team jumped three spots to claim the No. 7 position in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll in the National Junior College Athletic Association DII category. The men’s team started the season ranked No. 14, then moved to No. 10 before jumping to No. 7 in the most recent poll. Rival Lansing Community College’s men’s and women’s teams are the nation’s top-ranked teams. The women’s team climbed into the No. 1 ranking, while the men’s team has claimed the lead in all three polls. The GRCC women’s team, coached by Sharon Becker, was last ranked as high as No. 4 in the 2021 season’s opening poll. The poll gains come after Kaylee Scott set a GRCC record and all 15 GRCC cross country runners set personal best times on Oct. 15 at the Muskegon Community College Invitational, helping their teams to top-five finishes in a field with mostly four-year colleges. Scott’s time of 19:12.7 was eight seconds better than Stephanie Thomas' record time, making Scott the fastest Raider runner since GRCC started cross country again in 2014. Audrey Meyering and Rose Meyer also broke 20 minutes at the event, with times of 19:29 and 19:34, finishing in the top 20. On the men’s team, coached by Rob Hyde, freshman Mason Kolhoff paced the Raiders with a 25:24 finishing in 18th place while All-American Clark Coleman finished four spots behind him with a time of 25:48. Both teams are preparing for the Region XII Championships, hosted by GRCC on Oct. 29 at the Gainey Athletic Complex.  

Oct. 21, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – An exhibit of art and writing inspired by the natural world features pieces from two Grand Rapids Community College students. “Pictures and Words from the Creative Fellowship at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for Environmental Education” runs through Nov. 10 at GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery. The exhibitors are all recipients of the Gordon Art Fellowship or Nature in Words Fellowship. They spent a month this summer at the institute, a nature and environmental education center in Hastings, working with mentors. “Fellowships are important to writers and artists because it gives them an extended period to work on their craft,” said Visual Arts assistant professor Matthew Schenk, who was a mentor to student Julian Arpin-Cortez. “It is an invaluable experience for any student.” English professor Maryann Lesert, who worked with student Valerie Salerno, noted that while GRCC students have been awarded the fellowships in previous years, this summer was the first that the institute created a creative cohort of art and writing students who lived on site. “Both Matt and I and PCCI were really happy with the collaboration between art and writing students – and research students, too,” Lesert said. Salerno, who is majoring in writing and literature, enjoyed working with Lesert and the other cohort members. “A memorable moment from the fellowship was looking up at the stars with the other fellows, watching the shooting ones and contemplating alien life,” she said. “We also heard an Eastern screech or barred owl – I can’t remember which one – and it somewhat terrified us!” Arpin-Cortez is a returning GRCC student – having received an associate degree here several years ago and a bachelor’s degree. He’s pursuing an art career and is exploring diverse media and disciplines. He counts hiking through wetlands and participating in a controlled burn among his memorable fellowship experiences but most enjoyed getting to know the other students in the cohort. “On our final night at PCCI, a group of us sat outside and stargazed,” Arpin-Cortez said. “We sighted several meteors and listened to the sounds of nocturnal animals in the surrounding woods. It was a lovely and memorable conclusion to our four weeks together.” The exhibit also includes work from students at the Kendall College of Art and Design, Aquinas College and Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Calvin universities. The Paul Collins Art Gallery is open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and is located on the fourth floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. To apply for the 2023 Pierce Cedar Creek Institute fellowships, go to  https://cedarcreekinstitute.org/

Oct. 19, 2022. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College’s efforts to share the stories of students overcoming obstacles and the people who support them was honored by a national organization that supports college advancement efforts. The 2019-2020 GRCC Foundation Annual Report earned a Best of CASE District V Award in the Fundraising: Annual Reports category from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. CASE is a nonprofit association based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to educational advancement professionals—in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services—who share the goal of championing education to transform lives and society. The organization includes both two- and four-year programs. The Annual Report was created by GRCC’s College Advancement team, which includes members of the GRCC Foundation and Communications team, and is led by Dr. Kathryn Mullins, vice president for College Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. The 2019-2020 Annual Report focused on the stories of the people the GRCC Foundation has helped and the lives it has transformed – shared by the people themselves, often telling their stories in their own words. The edition includes inspiring stories about students and alumni including trailblazing Super Bowl Chef Dayanny De La Cruz, and Amanda Constant, who used the support from a Spectrum Health Care Professionals Education Scholarship to rise above a series of setbacks and complete her Medical Assistant program. It also highlights alumni and philanthropists Dave and Karen Custer, and 41 years of giving from former college employees Jerry and Jan Benham. The 2019-2020 Annual Report earlier in the year earned a Gold Paragon and Best in Show Award from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations, an organization that supports and advocates for community colleges.

Oct. 19, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – For two days next week, lunching at Grand Rapids Community College’s Heritage restaurant will give you a taste of international travel – with some familiar faces. The Heritage, a fine dining restaurant operated by GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education, will feature a special prix fixe menu celebrating Scottish and Italian cuisine on Oct. 26 and 27. Chef Angus Campbell, who was GRCC faculty member for 25 years before retiring in 2016, teamed up with his friend and fellow chef Nicola Conte on the special event. Conte has planned an Italian appetizer of tartar of tuna with braised borlotti bean salad and an entree of poached halibut, citrus sauce and asparagus with prosciutto. Campbell has contributed a roasted crab soup with Scottish sausage fritters and Cranachan Briosgaid Ime, a traditional dessert with raspberry, oatmeal, whiskey and butter shortbread Students in the CA 114 International Food Production and CA 115 Table Service courses will work under their direction. Campbell was the star of “Cooking with Angus,” where he shared lessons about cooking and life for more than 100 episodes. GRCC’s Media Technologies Department produced the series through a grant from Peter Secchia and Jay Smith. Campbell and Conte, who met in 1979, reunited for the final episode of the series, which earned the second of two Emmy Awards from the Michigan chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. GRCC’s Heritage restaurant is located in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St. NE. Parking is off of Ransom Avenue. Those wishing to make reservations for the Oct. 26 and 27 lunch must call 616-234-3700. Online reservations will not be accepted on those days.