June 16, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Tom Mulder spends his days teaching students English at Grand Rapids Community College. The classroom conversations and assignments often allow him to learn just as much as he teaches.  Mulder encourages his students to always give their all in the classroom and creates a space where students can collaborate and look out for one another.  “The camaraderie of colleagues and the openness and determination of students are what I most enjoy about teaching for GRCC,” Mulder said.  His English and writing classes often incorporate themes from Grand Rapids. This could be a writing assignment focused on a current event in Grand Rapids, or an activity focused on exploring the community.  Throughout his nearly 15 years of teaching Mulder has enjoyed many chance encounters with colleagues and former students. It is inspiring to hear their success stories and the impact that GRCC had in their journeys.  “GRCC’s community is filled with remarkable graciousness and generosity,” said Mulder.  When he is not teaching Mulder can be found writing his own works. He has authored two books that are being released this summer: Grand Rapids Walking Tours Kids Can Lead, Scribe Publishing; and Writing the Pandemic, Equinox Publishing.  Grand Rapids Walking Tours Kids Can Lead is an interactive guidebook to exploring Grand Rapids. The book is easy for kids to read and encourages them to take control of leading the exploration. Mulder was recently interviewed on Fox 17 Morning Mix to discuss the book. Watch the conversation here.  Writing the Pandemic gives an inside look into what education looked like during the pandemic. The book discusses the “new era” of education and its impacts on both students and instructors. Much of the information in this book came from students in Mulder’s classes during the height of the pandemic.  More information about the English department can be found here.

June 16, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College was the right fit at the right time for Jacqueline Lopez-Bravo. “There was a great selection of classes; the professors were helpful, and the small class sizes were just what I needed,” said Lopez-Bravo, who graduated from Lee High School in Wyoming. “It was close to home, so I could live with my family, and was flexible enough so I could work a part-time job.” It also laid the perfect foundation for her academic future. Now in her final year at the University of Michigan, Lopez-Bravo was recently named the university’s 2023 Senior Student of the Year Award for excelling in academic achievement, student leadership and service. “It was truly shocking when I heard my name called at the Michigan Difference Student Leadership Awards ceremony,” she said. “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it.” School wasn’t always easy for Lopez-Bravo, the first woman in her family to attend college. Her mother, from Chiapas, Mexico, raised three children and decided to migrate to the United States to pursue better living conditions. Lopez-Bravo, now 23, was born and raised in Grand Rapids, where she had the opportunity to begin her academic journey. “Being the first generation, it’s hard to navigate things like applying for college or filling out your FAFSA forms,” she said. “Even though my mom couldn’t help me with those things, she’s always been supportive.” Lopez-Bravo graduated from GRCC in 2021 with an associate degree in pre-business. She then transferred to U-M, finding great satisfaction and success in Ann Arbor. “Jackie wasted no time getting involved in supporting over 350 transfer students through our programs,” said Paige Horsburgh, of OptiMize, a U-M organization that offers programs and mentorships for students. While pursuing a double major in communications and media and Latinx studies, she’s made time to help community college transfer students adjust to university life. She also facilitated workshops at GRCC and Henry Ford College to mentor students hoping to move on to a four-year institution. It’s not always an easy transition, she said. “It can be hard as transfer students to meet friends or find a community because it's a completely different experience than a first-year freshman,” she said. “At a four-year school, there’s a lot of support for the first years, but not a lot of resources for transfers.” That’s why peer support is so important. Often, community college transfer students are “nontraditional,” working to succeed in college while balancing spouses, children, jobs or responsibilities. “I think because of my time at GRCC, I have a soft spot for community college students and want to do whatever I can to make their transition to university life a little easier,” Lopez-Bravo said. After graduating from U-M in December, she plans to return to Grand Rapids and pursue a career in marketing or public relations. “I’ve even considered creating my own business that could be a resource for Latinx students either in high school or community college,” she said. The Transfer Bridges to Michigan partnership is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation. To learn more about the transfer experience, or opportunities made available through the GRCC partnership with U-M, visit  Transfer Bridges U-M .  This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

June 15, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s new Secchia Piazza and its iconic SkyCone are on the cover of a leading Michigan construction industry magazine, highlighting the opportunities the unique project created for GRCC students and the community. CAM Magazine is the publication of the Construction Association of Michigan , the oldest and largest construction in North America. The monthly publication highlights people and projects in the industry. The Secchia Piazza project transformed an existing outdoor patio in the Wisner-Bottrall Advanced Technology Center into an indoor multi-use space, and another opportunity to tell the stories of students’ journeys from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education to destinations around the globe. The article, “Changing the Grand Rapids skyline: Secchia Piazza and iconic SkyCone add pizzazz to GRCC campus,” highlights the collaboration between architects from Progressive AE, Granger Construction, and GRCC Facilities and Communications teams to create the event space and other renovations to the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. “This high-profile project reflects both GRCC’s and the city of Grand Rapids’ identities as cultural magnets,” the story reads. “Secchia Piazza is one of the many projects helping to reshape the campus and the city, and the entire project team is proud to have played a role in helping to make GRCC’s vision a reality.” The cover photo focuses on the SkyCone, noting it is the first of its kind. The 31-foot wide by 15-foot-tall cone-shaped skylight feature includes 20 colorful panels with laminated glass that produce a kaleidoscope of light designed to both illuminate the space and serve as a highly visible campus beacon on the downtown Grand Rapids skyline. The story also highlights the Tondo, a 30-foot polished concrete floor with steel inlays to create a circular art directly below the SkyCone. “GRCC artists designed the metal panel inlays to evoke the educational pathway students take from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education to culinary opportunities around the world.” The story also includes the renovations to The Heritage restaurant. “While this was a smaller-scale project based on the size and dollars, it involved complex designs and signature pieces anticipated to leave a legacy for GRCC and the greater Grand Rapids community.” The project earned statewide honors for Granger Construction, the company that built the event space. The Washtenaw Contractors Association in March celebrated the work with a 2023 Pyramid Award in the category of Best Project Team for projects costing $3 million and $25 million. The Secchia Piazza is a gift from the late Peter Secchia and his family, whose generosity and drive for excellence helped the Secchia Institute create state-of-the-art facilities, attract top faculty members, and prepare students for rewarding careers in the hospitality industry. GRCC’s culinary program was renamed after Secchia and his wife, Joan, in 2007. The Pietro and Regina Amphitheater, named after Peter Secchia’s grandparents, was added in 2012. Peter’s Pub was launched in 2016 as part of GRCC’s Fountain Hill Brewery, tapping into the demand created by Grand Rapids’ growing craft beer industry.

June 15, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The area's best high school players will square off in the annual John Bos Baseball and Softball All-Star Games to benefit Grand Rapids Community College scholarships. Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University are hosting the games in partnership with Game One athletic and equipment supplier on June 20 at Davenport University. Baseball games are scheduled for 3, 5, and 7 p.m., and softball games are 5 and 7 p.m. Admission for spectators age 8 and over is $10, with proceeds going to GRCC's John Bos Scholarship Fund. "The John Bos games are a tradition that goes back to 1959, and generations of baseball and softball players have competed,” GRCC Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “The games showcase some of the best players in the region, but also support students by raising money for scholarships.” Bos started as a physical education teacher at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College. By the 1920s, he coached all the men's sports teams: football, basketball, baseball, track, tennis and swimming. His teams were known as the "Bosmen" and won state championships in football (1923, 1924, 1926 and 1928), basketball (1925, 1927 and 1928), tennis (1927) and swimming (1928). He left GRJC in 1938 to head the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department. GRCC now competes in baseball, softball, basketball, cross country, golf and volleyball, with soccer programs starting this fall. Student-athletes receive academic counseling and advising, along with tutoring and peer academic coaching. The proceeds from admissions benefit the Bos Scholarship, awarded to GRCC student-athletes who compete for at least one of the college’s teams and maintain Michigan Community College Athletic Association eligibility. Donations to the Bos Scholarship can be made at grcc.edu/donate . Click “other” in the pull-down menu and write in Bos Scholarship.

June 14, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is participating in community Pride festivals in Grand Rapids and Holland and preparing educational resources, as part of a focus on being a welcoming and inclusive campus and community. “GRCC is proud of its role in being the community’s college, being the place where everyone belongs,” President Charles W. Lepper said. “Pride Month is a time for us to share our support for our LGBTQ+ students and community members, and to recognize our mission to serve everyone and reflect on the value of diversity and inclusiveness.” GRCC volunteers will be at the Grand Rapids Pride Festival on June 17 on Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids. The event, which is in its 35th year, is organized by the Grand Rapids Pride Center and runs from noon to 10 p.m. GRCC Lakeshore Campus team members will be participating in the Holland PRIDE Festival  on June 24, located in Centennial Park. The event is organized by Out on the Lakeshore, and runs from noon to 5 p.m. GRCC team members at both events will be available to talk about educational opportunities at the Main Campus in Grand Rapids, GRCC Lakeshore Campus in Holland and available online. Information will be available about support services, financial aid, and state programs including Michigan Reconnect and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which can reduce the cost of tuition. A limited amount of GRCC Pride t-shirts and materials will be available at both events. Pride Month was first designated by President Bill Clinton in 1999, and has been a national event to uplift LGBTQ+ voices and advocate for rights. June was selected as Pride Month to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, considered the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States. The GRCC Library has an LGBTQ+ resources page on the Library and Learning Commons webpage and this month has a display of books about the Stonewall Riots. The library is located at 140 Ransom Ave. NE, in Grand Rapids. The events build upon the work of the college’s LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team, which is dedicated to supporting GRCC’s greater commitment to equity and values of diversity, innovation, respect and responsiveness. The team works to provide resources that highlight and celebrate LGBTQ+ students, employees and community members.

June 13, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College celebrated the career and legacy of President Emeritus Juan R. Olivarez by dedicating a mural and a student plaza in his honor. Olivarez is a lifelong educator who has served generations of families across West Michigan, including serving twice as GRCC’s president. “When we look back at the long and rich history of Grand Rapids Community College, there are leaders who shaped the institution into what we celebrate today,” GRCC President Charles Lepper said. “We can say they were, undoubtedly, the right people at the right time. Dr. Olivarez is without question one of those leaders, and I’m proud to dedicate this plaza and mural so his story will continue to inspire students for decades to come. The plaza, which stretches from Lyon Street to Fountain Street, was once a very busy Bostwick Avenue. It was closed to become Bostwick Commons in 1999. The space was renamed the Juan R. Olivarez Student Plaza at the urging of Lupe Ramos-Montigny, a Grand Rapids educator and community leader. “I accepted this because it really isn’t about me,” Olivarez said. “It’s about having a Latino name on a landmark to inspire other students of color to reach high in their endeavors and to be proud of who they are.” The mural was painted in a spot along the plaza near the GRCC Student Center by alumnus Raymond Trujillo, celebrating Olivarez’s ancestry and role as a trailblazer. He is the first Hispanic person to serve as a college or university president in the state of Michigan. Trujillo called the mural, which depicts a Mexican courtyard, a labor of love, sharing his appreciation for GRCC, its students and caring employees. “The butterflies represent the students here on campus,” he said. “I was one of those monarch butterflies.” Olivarez worked in the Grand Rapids Public Schools for more than 20 years before becoming GRCC’s Dean of Institutional Research in 1991. He was appointed the college’s eighth president, serving from 1999 to 2008, and as interim president from June 2022 to January 2023. He worked to increase access to a quality college education and cultivated student-serving partnerships with local businesses, public entities, and nonprofit organizations. Olivarez continues to support GRCC and its students. He and his wife, Mary, were honored by the GRCC Foundation at Scholarfest for their years of service.      

June 13, 2023 - GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College baseball ace Jerad Berkenpas’ was named Division II First Team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association after an outstanding season.    Berkenpas, who was also named All-American last season, joins Mike Pojeski, Doug Wabeke and Tyler Hall as the only other two-time NJCAA baseball All-Americans at GRCC.  He's also the first player to earn first-team honors since Hall in 2010. Berkenpas was one of 36 players selected by the NJCAA, and one of nine pitchers chosen. He joins three other players from Region XII; Hunter Lay, Hunter Shaw and Shane Juday, all from Lansing Community College. A sophomore from Byron Center, Berkenpas earlier was named Northern Conference Player of the Year, and to the All-Region and All-MCCAA team. The 6-foot, 5-inch righty from South Christian High School was GRCC's top pitcher in the rotation and led the team with an 8-2 record, 1.44 ERA, 71 strikeouts, .194 opponents' batting average, and had seven complete games. His ERA was second best of all NJCAA Division II players. Berkenpas finished his historic career at GRCC with a 17-4 record and 1.68 ERA.  He appeared in 31 games, started in 22, had 11 complete games and pitched five shutouts.  In 145 innings, he totaled 151 strikeouts against just 22 walks, and opponents batted just .207 against him. Berkenpas is the 32nd All-American in GRCC baseball history, and will be playing at Davenport University next season. He is the fifth 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; Audrey Torres earned the honor after helping the volleyball team to a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA DII National Tournament; and Izzy Regner led the softball team to a conference championship and runner-up finish in regionals. GRCC's baseball team finished the 2023 campaign as the Northern Conference champions with a 23-2 record and the MCCAA champions with a 35-14 record.  The season included a 17-game win streak.  This story was reported by Ben Brown.  

June 8, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Elaine Yeiter has grown from student, to professor, to tutorial center coordinator at Grand Rapids Community College.  Yeiter graduated from GRCC with her associate degree in nursing in 2013. She entered the workforce and was a bedside nurse for about ten years. In her time as a nurse she was able to mentor and encourage many student nurses, new nurses, and staff.  “The precepting and orienting of new nurses made me realize that I really enjoy educating nurses at all levels,” Yeiter said. “I feel that nurse education is where my passion truly lies.” She began taking classes at Ferris State University to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. When the opportunity to teach came, it was an exciting next step. Yeiter began teaching nursing clinicals and enjoyed getting to pour into the next generation of nurses.  Recently, Yeiter stepped into the role of Health Sciences Resource and Tutorial Center coordinator. This role allows her to spend time working closely with students, giving them undivided attention outside of the classroom environment.  The Health Sciences Resource Tutorial Center provides support for students in all School of Health Sciences programs, which includes nursing, dental, exercise science, occupational therapy, and radiologic students.  “I think working one-on-one with students makes the center special,” Yeiter said. “We get to celebrate student successes after they work with a tutor and improve their test scores.” She encourages every student who comes into the center to keep doing their best. Yeiter knows first-hand that nursing is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. But encourages students to persist.  In her first year as center coordinator, Yeiter planned a grand re-opening event for the center. She invited all health sciences students to check out the center, eat some food, and play some games. The event was a success and lots of students came to learn more about the resources available to them.  More information about the Health Sciences Resource and Tutorial Center can be found here .

June 8, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Students can gain hands-on experience in the in-demand field of municipal water through an internship program developed in partnership with with Grand Rapids Community College, Bay College and the City of Grand Rapids. Applications are now being accepted for the yearlong Water to Work internship program, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 14, 2023. Interns work with the City of Grand Rapids Water Department and Environmental Services Department, and are based at the Water Resource Recovery Facility in Grand Rapid or the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant located in West Olive on the Lakeshore. Interns will make $17.71 per hour, while taking online courses through Bay College and Grand Rapids Community College. As part of the program, participants are mentored by current and retired City of Grand Rapids employees. Completing the program may lead to Michigan Drinking Water and Municipal Wastewater certifications. “We recognize the value of a strong, diverse workforce, and are dedicated to connecting West Michigan residents to in-demand careers,” said John VanElst, Interim Executive Director, Workforce Training and the Leslie Tassell MTEC. “This model of learning while working is a great example of how GRCC is willing to work not only with employers like the City of Grand Rapids, but also partnering with other institutions like Bay College to provide our community the education and skills needed for rewarding careers.”  The curriculum focuses on water and wastewater operations and management as well as utility management, business, and water career preparation. Additional non-credit professional development workshops are also required. The program is free for Grand Rapids residents. This project is supported by a national $3.8 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant. Participants must be 18 years old or older and have a high school diploma or GED.  Applicants are required to pass a background check and take a GRCC math placement test. “Behind every drop of water, there are hundreds of rewarding careers to explore,” said Hillary Caron, Water Education and Programs coordinator for the City of Grand Rapids. “This program allows you to find a career that aligns with your values and makes a positive impact on our generation and beyond.” Five interns successfully completed the pilot program. One intern accepted a position with the City of Wyoming, two others are working for the City of Grand Rapids while two others are currently applying for positions with the City of Grand Rapids. Additional information is available at  grcc.edu/watertowork .  

June 6, 2023 - GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College softball ace Izzy Regner was one of the best pitchers in the nation this season, and was honored by being named Division II Third Team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.   Regner was one of 39 players selected by the NJCAA, and one of nine pitchers chosen. She joins three other players from Region XII; Emily Breslin of Jackson College, Sammy Michael of Oakland Community College and Elizabeth Townsend of Macomb Community College. A freshman from Elkhorn, Wis., Regner earlier was named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference and also named to the All-Tournament team at the NJCAA Region XII Regional Tournament.  Regner finished the season with a sparkling 1.36 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 20-5 record. But even more impressive she was second in the nation in strikeouts and strikeouts per game, finishing with 292 punch outs in 174.2 innings; an average of 11.7 per seven innings. She also was second on the team in several categories including a .436 batting average, 56 hits, 16 doubles, five home runs, 89 total bases, .690 slugging percentage, 18 walks and a .510 on base percentage. Regner is the 14th All-American in GRCC softball history and the first since Megan Gregory and Krysten Bandstra in 2007. She will be playing at Ferris State University next season. She is the fourth 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, and Audrey Torres earned the honor after helping the volleyball team to a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA DII National Tournament.   The softball team, under the direction of first-year head coach Chuck White, won its first conference championship since 1999 and was runners-up at the NJCAA Region XII Tournament. This story was reported by Ben Brown.