July 10, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Ruben Watson is thankful for the good advice he’s received at key times in his life. “I didn’t want to go to GRCC after graduation, but my grandmother convinced me to go,” he said. “It was a more affordable option for me, and, in retrospect, it was the foundation to my college career.” Start at Grand Rapids Community College and go anywhere. Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC gave them the education and opportunity to be successful.  After withdrawing from a freshman math class because of low grades, Watson talked to his advisor in the TRIO program, which provides academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, financial guidance, counseling and other supports to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Fátima Nieves told him he just needed some extra help and found him a tutor. “I re-enrolled in the class the next semester and attended every tutoring session,” Watson said. “I ended up passing that class with a B – which is a grade I would not have received without the right supportive services.” Watson has built his post-college career around improving access to higher education, currently as assistant director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He credits GRCC with giving him the key skills he needs in his job. “Communication and public speaking are two vital skills that I acquired by attending GRCC classes,” he said. “I passed those classes because I had great teachers who challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and learn and fail until I mastered professional communication strategies.” After graduating with an associate degree in 2004, Watson earned a bachelor’s in communications from Western Michigan University and a master’s in K-12 education administration from Michigan State University. In addition to his work at UNC, he volunteers as a mentor and development committee co-chair with 100 Black Men’s Triangle East chapter and serves on the national board for Learning Heroes. In between his career and volunteering, he also found time to establish a publishing company, Watson Family Literacy, and write two children’s books: “Where Is My Grandpa?” and “Friendly Skies and Sunny Days.” A self-described  “proud Raider,” Watson credits GRCC for a good start on higher education: “GRCC is a launchpad into the ‘real world’ and a supportive place where focused students can succeed!” Start your story at GRCC by applying here .

July 7, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Rose Sickrey is a proud Grand Rapids Community College alumna and staff member.  Sickrey came to GRCC as a first-generation college student being raised by a single parent. She was impressed by the support she received from professors, staff and fellow students.  “I remember turning in an exam one day and leaving the classroom. My professor quickly came into the hallway; I thought I had forgotten a portion of the exam. He surprised me by sharing his excitement and support for my educational career as I was transferring to the University of Michigan. I will always hold the memory, and his kind words dear to my heart,” Sickrey said.  Sickrey is a Customer Service Specialist in the Student Financial Services. The department assists students across all financial brackets to make education accessible.  Sickrey encourages students to be unashamed in asking for help.  “There are so many resources available at GRCC, whether it be for mental health, finances, research opportunities, or extracurricular activities,” Sickrey said.  The faculty and staff at GRCC are always willing to help students. Sickrey loves helping the next generation of students figure out how to make their educational dreams achievable.  Sickrey continued her education with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Arts from The University of Chicago.  More information about Student Financial Services can be found here.

July 7, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Zeke Grandy carefully sanded the leg of a table, designed to hold the concrete top he poured earlier in the week. With other students in Grand Rapids Community College’s summer camp series, he’s thinking about his future and exploring a variety of potential careers.   Students in grades six through nine are learning through hands-on activities and employer tours through the camps, offered by the Grand Rapids Community College Workforce Training team with support from partners including the City of Grand Rapids. Students are learning about careers in water sustainability, construction, manufacturing, and wood working in four-day sessions. There is a limited number of spots available in the manufacturing and water careers camps. The camps are an opportunity for students to explore careers and meet people who are experts in their fields. They also are seeing some of the real-world applications for math, science and other subjects. Zeke attends Wyoming High School and would someday like to be a contractor. Alex Winowiecki said he enjoyed learning about electricity, and working with his friend Brendan Snider. There are some spots available for the Manufacturing camp at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus from July 18-21. The manufacturing camp costs $119 to attend. There are three sections of the Water Career Camp which is open to students in grade six through nine and costs $25. Sessions are planned for July 25 to July 27, Aug. 1 to Aug. 3, and Aug. 8 to Aug. 10. The Water Career Camp explores the urban water cycle and various careers. Campers will follow the lifecycle of our water, including where our water comes from, how it is treated and how to measure water quality. They will see how waste water is treated and returned to the environment. Campers will participate in hands-on experiments, activities and tour worksites in West Michigan to see all of the careers that make up a public works system and the vital role they play in our communities. This camp requires permission to travel to tour the drinking water plant on the Lakeshore and to the wastewater treatment plant in Grand Rapids. Students will experience what happens when a water main breaks and how it gets fixed. "Behind every drop of water you use, there is a huge team of professionals dedicated to ensuring your water is safe and reliable,” Hillary Caron, a chemist for Lake Michigan Filtration Plant, said recently. “The Public Works camp will be an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience showing each step of the water and wastewater treatment processes and the available careers in an extremely rewarding industry!" Details are available at grcc.edu/camps.

July 6, 2023 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College students can finish up those last few enrollment steps for fall with help from GRCC’s Academic Advising and Transfer Center at events in Grand Rapids and on the Lakeshore. The center is hosting its first Advising Day, from 9 a.m. to noon July 13 at both GRCC’s Main and the Lakeshore campuses. “Everything needed to complete enrollment will be on-site so you’re ready to start the fall semester,” said Kristie Kozub, an academic advisor at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus. The event is targeted to students who attended GRCC during the 2022-2023 academic year but haven’t enrolled in Fall 2023 semester classes. Incoming students who have gone through orientation but haven’t signed up for their fall classes are also welcome. Students will be able to get help from academic advisors, success coaches and enrollment specialists. “We’ll help you review your career and college plan and then assist you in choosing the classes you need,” Kozub said. “We are here to support you.” On the Main Campus, Advising Day will be held on the first floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. Parking passes will be provided to students who see an advisor at the event; parking at the Lakeshore Campus is free. RSVPs are encouraged, but not mandatory. Students can RSVP here .    

July 5, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Zach Adsit had always regretted not pursuing welding any further than high school. "Returning to welding has been a remarkable journey for me,” he said. “I had some previous experience my high school's automotive program and I grew up welding with my dad. Then an unexpected opportunity came my way when my mom received an email notification from GRCC about the Metallica Scholars Welding program. I signed up right away.” From the moment Adsit filled out the paperwork through the interview process, he felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. “Now, I find myself immersed in the class, grateful for the chance to rekindle my passion for welding,” said Adsit, who currently works as the maintenance person at a trailer park. “I've been actively applying for jobs, and this class has opened up the possibility of joining a union in the future.” The GRCC Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp offers students the opportunity to gain skills for entry level welding positions.  It is a short-term program to get welders work in West Michigan, with the goal of helping these students grow into apprenticeships or other learning opportunities within the welding field.  “What I love most about the class is the ever-changing nature of each day,” Adsit said. “The projects and tasks assigned to us ensure that every day brings something new and intriguing. Unlike spending long hours in a traditional classroom, I thrive as a hands-on learner, and the lab environment is a perfect fit for me.” The techniques taught through this program are different from what Adsit learned in high school, broadening his understanding and skillset. “Initially, I was quite nervous about stepping into this class, unsure of my abilities,” he said. “However, after just a couple of weeks, the feedback I received from the instructors was immensely encouraging. Hearing them say, 'You're doing really good,' was music to my ears and boosted my confidence.” In moments when Adsit faced challenges, he appreciated having both the instructor Nick Pinckney and his assistant, Brianna Lampe, always ready to assist and guide him. “Throughout the initial weeks, Nick guided us through the setup process, teaching us the slight differences involved in different welds and ensuring we understood the equipment and procedures,” Adsit said. “Overall, my experience in this welding class has been rewarding beyond measure. It has reignited my passion, provided invaluable hands-on learning, and allowed me to grow as a welder. I am grateful for this opportunity and eagerly look forward to further honing my skills in the captivating world of welding." To qualify for the program, participants must be 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED, and be able to work in the United States. For more information go to grcc.edu/metallica .

July 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- By all accounts, Matthew Wilkinson had a pretty normal life growing up and even into high school. After graduating from Rockford High School in 1992, he headed north to Big Rapids to enroll in Ferris State University’s Professional Golf Management program with an eye toward a career as a club pro. But three decades after graduating from high school, Matthew Wilkinson was not working at a country club, giving golf lessons, supervising greenskeepers and deciding what merchandise to stock in the pro shop. Instead, he was a divorced alcoholic who spent eight months just prior to the pandemic living in his car. That period, from August 2019 through March 2020 was rock bottom, he said. But escaping rock bottom is a tale in and of itself, one he willingly shares -- not for his own sake but rather in the hope that his story might inspire hope in others. “There are certainly multitudes of people who have faced daunting challenges and risen above them, and I myself have such a long way to go and much to learn,” he said. “When I share during an AA meeting, I focus on lessons I have learned and solutions that have worked for me. So perhaps my story can inspire someone else in some small way.” Wilkinson said his journey to alcoholism began innocently enough. “My senior year of high school, I started out as pretty strait-laced and a good student,” he recalled. “An all-As student who excelled in golf and music, had a part-time job. But one day I gave a kid a ride home from school, and he introduced me to marijuana. I absolutely loved it and was off to the races.” By spring break of his senior year, he’d been arrested at school for possession of marijuana, was suspended for 10 days and almost didn't graduate (his "performance" at the senior party later in the year also played a role, he admitted). Still, he rode off to Big Rapids hopeful about his education and a future as a PGA pro. “My first two semesters went well,” he said. A summer internship was also a good thing. But toward the end of that internship, he was introduced to “some fun-loving, middle-aged guys who loved to drink and golf on Fridays, and I was off to the races again.” When he returned to Ferris State in the fall, his priorities were scrambled. “I wanted to work full time and party when I wanted to,” he said. “I was going to make money and climb the ladder of success while my poor peers were stuck in school writing papers and studying for exams. Ironically, they are probably successful now, and I haven't been so much.” On one level though, his plan succeeded. He was able to party at will. But with that freewill came plenty of problems. There was a DUI in his early 20s. Then a marriage, a brief period of sobriety, a return to drinking and a divorce. By this time, he was physically dependent on alcohol. An alcoholic. Still, he was able to hold a job for almost 20 years, he said. But the bottom fell out in early 2019. He’d been living with a girlfriend but, in his words, “wasn’t pulling my weight at home.” He moved in with some friends on the condition that he didn’t drink, but he lied to them, was caught and was asked to move out. He was arrested yet again for another DUI, continued to drink, worked odd jobs here and there and began living in his car. By November 2019, he said, he had no job, no career, no friends or family, no money, nowhere to live and no direction. “I was scared, alone and clueless,” he said. He decided, not for the first time, to stop drinking, the first step on what he knows is a lifelong journey of sobriety. He got an overnight job at Meijer stocking groceries. Another step. And when he looked for direction for his life, GRCC helped him find it. “During intensive outpatient therapy and after a couple months of sobriety, the therapist running the classes planted a seed in my head related to making a career in the field of substance use disorder,” Wilkinson said. “That seed turned into me enrolling in the Addiction Studies program at GRCC.” The Futures for Frontliners program -- a state scholarship program for Michiganders without college degrees who worked in essential industries during the state COVID-19 shutdown in spring 2020 -- made it possible for him to afford college, and being back in school in his late 40s was surreal but satisfying. “Walking into the Student Center to get my books and ID card was very exciting and gave me a sense of finally once again being where I belong,” he said. “Being back in school gave me a sense of direction and purpose in life. Along with that came dignity and accountability as I had goals to achieve, which meant that I had to stay sober and continue to work hard.” His favorite classes were the addiction studies classes, followed by psychology classes. “The curriculum addressed almost every aspect of the field one will encounter, from counseling to recovery coaching, documentation and ethics, and so much more,” he said. In addition to the certificate in Addiction Studies, Wilkinson also earned an associate degree in pre-psychology and now is considering a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology through Cornerstone University’s program for working adults. And he now works as a recovery coach for a mental health clinic, approaching his one-year anniversary in the position this summer. He's also getting back in touch with the music that was such a big part of his life as a high school student. A talented saxophonist, he is part of a group that plays at Westminster Presbyterian Church called the "Westminster Winds.” “We have a lot of talent in the group, including a lot of GVSU music students,” he said with a smile. “It's open to anyone who wants to be a part of it and is a lot of fun.”  And though he recently suffered a bit of a setback when he had to have open heart surgery, he said he’s not about to let this recent medical issue slow him down. “I sobered up at age 46 and finished my degree at age 49,” he said. “I had set a four-year plan for myself when I sobered up, with the goal of figuring out a new direction in life and building the foundation for it by age 50. “By the grace of God, it happened with time to spare, both the education and the job. I'll be sober four years in November and continue to live a life of recovery in both AA and my new career.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.

June 30, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jaqueline Araiza disliked high school so much that she dropped out. Now she helps students navigate their own education journeys at Grand Rapids Community College Araiza is a first-generation college student. She dropped out of high school, but ultimately went back to get her diploma when her mother insisted she needed to if she wanted to live at home. After graduating from West Ottawa in 2016, Araiza knew that college wasn’t for her. She began working long hours to make ends meet.  During the summer, Araiza met with a success coach who insisted she should give college a try. She began taking classes and proved to her mom and herself that she could do it. She left her job and became a student employee at GRCC’s Lakeshore Campus.  Araiza graduated with her associate degree in 2019, and then continued her education at Grand Valley State University where she completed a bachelor’s degree in social work. She is currently working towards a master’s degree in social work at the University of Michigan.  While she is taking classes at other universities, Araiza still calls GRCC home. She has moved from a part-time student ambassador, to an Administrative Professional Support Staff, and is now the Admissions and Enrollment Coordinator and the Lakeshore Campus lead.  “I never imagined I would have stayed in higher education,” Araiza said, “I only learned about higher education opportunities once I started as a student employee at GRCC. I am so happy to have found GRCC, as it has opened endless opportunities for me.”  Araiza spends the majority of her time helping students navigate admissions steps, and working with students is her favorite part of her job. The admissions department focuses on provisioning accessible support to students to make their college experience as easy as possible to navigate.  “Navigating college and choosing a career is an exciting but challenging journey,” Araiza said, “I recommend students seek as much guidance as possible. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your academic advisor, GRCC staff, and professionals in the field. Everyone is here to help you.”  Apply today at GRCC at grcc.edu/apply .  

June 29, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It’s an hour before Book.ish, a book fair for adults at the Center for Community Transformation in Grand Rapids, and Phalesha Kyes is on the phone. “We’re having to make a little pivot,” she says. “But, yeah, it’s going well. We are getting it done.” Those last five words could be on the business card for her eponymous company, By Phalesha Events. No matter the event she’s planning, she brings a getting-it-done attitude to the job. Those words are also a bit of a life motto for Kyes, who has overcome more than many in the journey to becoming a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), female entrepreneur in Grand Rapids. In 2019, just prior to the pandemic and prior to starting her own business, she was working for a local foster care agency, and she had a chance to write a letter as part of an outreach campaign to state politicians. In it, she wrote movingly about her lived experience in the Kent County foster care system, including the trauma of being separated from her parents. “When my three sisters and I were removed, we were placed in a shelter and then eventually separated,” she wrote. “We never had an advocate or someone working consistently with us through the process. We had multiple caseworkers, counselors and placements. Our journey left a deep scar on who we are today.” Still, she persevered. She found some healing and stability as a student at Lowell High School, where she moved as a ninth grader, and she found more stability at Grand Rapids Community College, where she began in 2009 after graduating high school. “I was the first one in my family to attend college,” she recalled recently. “I didn’t know anything about student aid or scholarships, but because I was a ‘Ward of the State,’ I was able to attend GRCC for free. And so, I did. It was one of the best choices I ever made.” Kyes earned her associate degree in arts, but, she said, she dabbled in English, psychology and communications to get a taste for what she liked. “Given that my credits were paid for, I had that freedom to do so,” she said with a smile. During the time she attended GRCC, she was also working full-time and was considered a full-time student due to the number of credits she was taking. As a result, she said she didn’t get involved too much at GRCC outside the classroom. “However, the friends I met in my classes, I’m still friends with today,” she added. “And the teachers were friendly, the guidance counselors were extremely helpful when discussing what classes to take and how to transfer when the time came. I’ve always struggled in school, so having the ability to get help through tutors or the open lab was a tremendous help as well.” After graduation she worked in insurance and then foster care and then started By Phalesha Events in September 2021. “I pulled my favorite things from all of my prior jobs, including customer services, event planning and public relations, and formed my own,” she said. Now, almost two years into running her own business, Kyes can’t imagine anything better. She does nonprofit, corporate, community engagement and even personal party planning. And while her business card says “We do the planning. You enjoy the event.”, she readily admits that in her line of work, the enjoyment her clients experience often comes as a result of her ability to adjust on the fly. Book.ish was an example of that. Though there were some last-minute wrinkles she had to deal with, when the event began it went off without a hitch. And Book.ish had an extra bit of pressure, Kyes said, as she was both planning it and also was one of the co-hosts, with Nye Aririguzo. We Are Lit GR, a multicultural bookstore, provided all of the books for sale and all of the vendors and performers were reflective of the BIPOC community. The event also was a fundraiser for The Diatribe, a Grand Rapids based nonprofit. Indeed, the event was a microcosm of her larger approach to business and life. “My mission is to empower and collaborate with as many BIPOC and female vendors as possible for every event,” she said. “And it’s important for me to represent organizations that don't have the resources to host events or grow their brand due to barriers.” That emphasis has roots in her personal identity. Feathers on both her business card and her body remind her of her Native American heritage, a heritage that in turn reminds her that she has a responsibility as a business owner to give back. As a result, she offers a nonprofit discount and donates a portion of her proceeds to local charities, often works on events for causes that resonate with her and sits on the Board of Directors of Mel Trotter Ministries. Her GRCC days still influence how she approaches work and life, she said. “I was a full-time student, worked, had relationships and friendships and extracurricular activities,” she said of that period in her life. “I had to learn how to balance all those things, how to give each the appropriate energy and time to each and find time for myself too. That skill is something I’m constantly working on, but I can absolutely say it started during my time at GRCC.” And, she added with a laugh: If GRCC ever needs help planning or managing events, I’m available.”   This story was reported by Phil de Haan.