September 23, 2024 The recipients of the 2023 Armen Oumedian Consecutive Giving Award spent a combined 91 years in service to GRCC and its students. And they’re not done yet. Dick and Judy Bezile were recognized for their 43 years of donations to the GRCC Foundation during a club get-together in September. Dick Bezile worked for the college for 35 years, retiring in 2001 as dean of Educational Services. Judy Bezile stepped down in December 2022 after 56 years as a professor in the Computer Information Systems Department. In addition to creating the Dick & Judy Bezile Grant Fund, Dick Bezile founded the Michael Flanagan Golf Outing, which raised money for student scholarships for more than three decades. Dick Bezile shared memories and his GRCC pride in accepting the award. “You can go anywhere on this campus and get help,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for – to help students reach their goals and get through.” Club members who reached giving milestones of three, five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years were also recognized. Erin Van Egmond, executive director of the GRCC Foundation, noted that when combined, these donors had 432 consecutive years of giving. President Charles Lepper spoke to club members about the importance of consistency. “Your continued support and belief in GRCC allows us to offer the very best in education, facilities and resources to our students,” he said. During 2022, 45 people joined the Consecutive Giving Club, and the 255 active donors gave more than $1.1 million to the foundation, supporting 102 funds. This story was republished from GRCC’s 2022-23 Foundation Annual Report.

Sept. 20, 2024 GRCC student Lucero Orduna-Rivera won a Fine Arts Fellowship through Pierce Cedar Creek Institute . Lucero was able to get help from the Media Technologies department by checking out camera equipment in order to build her portfolio. During her fellowship, Lucero stayed on-site and captured the environment both on video and through photos for her own displays of art. "Without the resources at GRCC, I don't think I would be where I am today," stated Lucero Orduna-Rivera. She credits her professors, especially Matthew Schenk in Visual Arts who told her about the Fine Arts Fellowship, and the staff at the GRCC Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center who supported her along the way.