June 6, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s Craft Brewing program is changing to best prepare students for careers in the popular, evolving field, with a series of in-person and virtual open houses to share information about classes.   “The craft brewing industry continues to evolve,” said Allison Hoekstra, an assistant professor in GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. “The industry has grown as a whole since the program was first launched. Our revisions are designed to meet the changing needs of the industry.” Planned open houses include virtual sessions from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 10 and noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14. An in-person event is planned for 5:30- 7 p.m. on Monday, June 12 at the Fountain Hill Brewery in GRCC’s Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center. Registration for the sessions is available here. Hoekstra said the Secchia team has researched program changes for about two years, talking to students, alumni, and industry leaders, and worked with the program’s advisory board. “We sought their input about the skills they think graduates need to be successful in the industry and got their feedback on proposed program changes,” she said. “We used this information to determine what our program needed to add to stay current with the demands of the industry.” The program created five new courses and revised expected outcomes in all other brewing courses. The new courses focus on the science and quality control aspects of brewing as well as expanding on topics like regulation and packaging. New courses are: Fermentation Biology; Draft Systems and Packaging; Quality Control; Developing a Sensory Program; and Brewing Operations and Regulatory Affairs. Details are available on the program’s website here . The new classes will also be open to program alumni who have graduated & want to expand their knowledge.  

June 5, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  The Grand Rapids Community College Athletic Department earned the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s most prestigious honor after all eight of the department’s programs had successful seasons. The Charlie Chanter All-Sports Trophy, named after the former GRCC coach and professor, is presented annually to the college with the most successful programs. GRCC's athletic programs had a banner year with five teams - men's and women's cross country, volleyball, women's basketball, and golf -- making national tournament appearances. "I'm so proud of all our student-athletes and coaches for their tremendous year," Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. "I'm honored to lead such an amazing group of coaches and look forward to many more great years to come." The trophy is awarded to one of the 23 MCCAA colleges based on where each team finishes within the association. Points are awarded to each member college based on each team's rank in an MCCAA sponsored sport with bonus points added for teams who finish as an MCCAA champion or runner-up. GRCC has won the award 16 times, second only to Lansing Community College, which has claimed the award 19 total wins since it was first presented in 1958. Both cross country teams finished runner-up in the MCCAA and NJCAA Region XII championships and the women's team finished in seventh in nationals and the men finished in 12th.  Kaylee Scott, Audrey Meyering and Rose Meyer all were named to All-Region and All-MCCAA teams.  Scott also earned All-American honors for the second time and Meyering became GRCC's first-ever three-time All-American.  Three men received postseason honors including Coleman Clark and Mason Kolhoff who earned All-Region and All-MCCAA honors. The volleyball team won its 11th conference title, ninth MCCAA title, and 11th district title.  The team tied for its second-best finish ever in the national tournament, finishing fifth.  Eight players earned postseason honors, led by Audrey Torres and Eliza Thelen who were named to All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference teams.   The women's basketball team finished third in the conference, won the district title and participated in the national tournament for the second time in three years.  Six players received postseason honors including sophomores Sally Merrill and Grace Lodes, who were named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference. The golf team earned its 14th straight conference championship and won the NJCAA Region XII championship for the ninth time and third time in its past four seasons.  The team placed 19th in the national tournament and was led by Drew Harrington who was the team’s most consistent golfer of the year earning All-Conference, All-Region and was named the Conference Freshman of the Year.  Three other golfers earned postseason honors. The men's basketball team, the softball team and the baseball team didn't make it to the national tournament, but all had successful years. The men's basketball team won its first 11 games of the season and finished in third place in the conference with a 21-8 overall record. Five players earned postseason honors including point guard Danyel Bibbs who earned Second Team All-Conference. The baseball and softball teams each won the first ever Northern Conference Championship and the baseball team won the MCCAA title with a 35-14 overall record. The softball team finished runner-up in the regional tournament – its best finish since advancing to the national tournament in 1998. Eight players earned postseason honors for the baseball team, including Jerad Berkenpas, the Conference Player of the Year. Berkenpas, Fernando Rivera-Calderon and Xander Reisbig were the top three vote getters for All-Conference honors. They also all were named to All-Region and All-MCCAA teams. Seven players from the softball team earned honors, led by Izzy Regner and Jaye Guichelaar who were also named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference. Chanter was the MCCAA executive secretary for 42 years, and served in the MCCAA from the 1950s until 2008. Chanter began teaching at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College in 1954 and retired from full-time work in 1994. He taught in the Business Department and was its chair at one point. He continued teaching as an adjunct and remained golf coach until 2007. This story was reported by Ben Brown. 

June 5, 2023 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The  Grand Rapids Community College Foundation board of directors is recognizing the hard work and determination of two incoming freshmen with full-ride scholarships. Abigail Vink, from Covenant Christian High School, and Anastasia Murphy, from Coopersville High School, will receive GRCC Foundation Board of Directors Excellence Scholarships. The scholarships, started in 2022, cover tuition and all fees associated with registered classes for a full academic year. High school counselors nominate the students, with one student each from Kent and Ottawa counties receiving the scholarships. Counselors were asked to consider academics and other factors, including barriers and obstacles the student has faced, community service, and leadership activities or qualities. Vink, who plans to study Accounting at GRCC, stepped in this past year to care for her four younger siblings and run the household while her mom underwent a kidney transplant. She continues to shoulder all the additional responsibilities – including part-time jobs at Hi-Tone Cleaners and Rainbow Grill – so her dad can return to work while her mother recovers. “This means that responsibility for the housework, grocery shopping and food prep, as well as ‘taxi service’ for the three younger siblings continues to fall on Abigail, all while she worked to maintain her own schoolwork, college applications and decisions, as well as part-time jobs to help with expenses,” said Mindy Bergman, Covenant guidance counselor. Murphy is excited to start classes in GRCC’s Visual Arts Department. “Immediately after touring GRCC, I knew that it was the place I wanted to call home for the next two years,” she said. “The energy and culture in Grand Rapids are unbeatable, and GRCC’s flexibility and good reputation are exactly what I’m looking for.” She has worked hard to overcome a past that included abuse and self-doubt. At Coopersville, she was first chair in band, choreographer for the show choir, and president of Student Council and the National Honor Society. She also volunteered with Kids’ Food Basket and Versiti Blood Center of Michigan while working at Arby’s. Celebrating – and rewarding – achievements like Murphy’s and Vink’s is why the board of directors created the scholarship, said foundation Executive Director Erin Van Egmond. “Our board knows the struggles so many of our students face,” she said. “They also know the important role a scholarship can play in helping students overcome those obstacles and reach their goals. Creating the Excellence Scholarship is just one of many ways our directors support our students and their dreams.” The GRCC Foundation plans to distribute more than $1 million in more than 400 scholarships this year to over 1,500 students. More information about the foundation – including ways to contribute to a life-changing GRCC education – can be found online .

June 2, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College music professor Jonathan Marshall will be performing at the Festival of the Arts on Saturday with the professor who once mentored him as a student. Marshall and Brian Morris will be performing as the Grand Rapids Guitar Duo at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Festival’s Classical Stage on the Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center St. NW. The duo will perform classical guitar works by Alfanso Montes, Manuel de Falla, Ida Presti, Radames Gnattali, Johann Kaspar Mertz, Enrique Granados and a piece written by Marshall. Festival of the Arts, which runs from Friday, June 2 to Sunday, June 4, is the city’s annual celebration of culture. The event features more than 150 performers spread out over five stages. The event is in its 54th year, but the first under the direction of GRCC alumna Missy Summers. Marshall is GRCC’s director of Guitar Studies and is director of the GRCC International Guitar Series. He studied under Morris, a classical guitarist and vocalist, at GRCC before earning his bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Morris has been a GRCC faculty member for more than 20 years, and maintains an active performing schedule as an associate of the Michigan Arts and Humanities Touring Program. He has performed with the West Shore Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony; at the College Music Society’s Regional Conference in Madison, Wis. the Kennedy Center and has twice been featured as a presenter of Latin American Music at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies on the campus of Notre Dame University. He earned Music degrees from Florida State University and Montana State University.

June 2, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College was the top destination for Kent County high school graduates in 2022, with 27 percent of all college-bound students taking advantage of the college’s quality programs and affordable tuition. GRCC was “by far” the top choice for members of the Class of 2022 in 19 of Kent County’s 20 K-12 school districts, with Grand Rapids Public Schools and Forest Hills Public Schools sending the most students, according to the most recent State of Michigan data as reported by MLive.com . “We tell people they belong at GRCC, and we are proud to be the community’s college,” GRCC President Charles W. Lepper said. “We work hard to be accessible to everyone who wants to gain a quality, life-changing education. We don’t just want people to attend, we want them to thrive. We have support systems in place to help students be successful. We are in this together.” Grand Valley State University was the second most popular destination, with 13 percent, followed by Michigan State University and Ferris State University. GRCC was the top choice in Hudsonville and West Ottawa public schools in the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, and tied with GVSU for the top spot in Holland and Saugatuck schools. Many Ottawa County students take classes at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus , which opened in its Holland Township location in 2021.    GRCC is a popular choice for students looking to earn credits and earn a degree or transfer to a four-year college or university. All 15 of Michigan’s public universities and 20 independent colleges and universities are part of the Michigan Transfer Network . Nearly half -- 48.5 percent -- of the students graduating from the Grand Rapids Public Schools headed to GRCC. Kelloggsville, at 47.2 percent, was close behind. Students attending one of the 25 public, public charter or private high schools located within the city of Grand Rapids are eligible for the Grand Rapids Promise Zone scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition and expenses. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/promisezone . Students graduating this spring could be eligible for the new Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which could cover up to $2,750 a year to help with the cost of tuition and expenses. Students graduating this May and June still have time to enroll in GRCC’s second summer semester, as well as the upcoming fall semester. The no-cost application is available at grcc.edu/apply .  

June 2, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  A state organization is recognizing Kristi Welling for career supporting Grand Rapids Community College students.  Welling is GRCC's associate director of Enrollment Center Services, and was honored by the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association with a Distinguished Service Award. “I am so honored to receive this award!” said Welling, who served as MSFAA president during the 2021-2022 academic year. “I have spent 33 years as a member of the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association that works very hard to enhance student financial aid awareness, promote student access to postsecondary education and to provide professional development opportunities to its members across the state.” It is humbling to receive this award from my peers.” The award is bestowed upon an individual that has provided significant and outstanding service to the profession. “Working alongside financial aid professionals across the state that support each other is a blessing and an honor.” She said. “My life’s passion is to help students gain access to a college education.  I was first in my family to obtain a college degree and I know fear and anxiety that happens when you don’t have the supports available to be successful." Welling said she strives to help students and other financial aid professionals to be successful. “Being available, gracious, empathic and knowledgeable are attributes that I display when talking with the diverse population we serve in our MSFAA Association or the students we serve at GRCC,” she said. “People need support and grace when navigating the complicated world of education as well as the financial aid process.” Welling started her career in 1988 at a small proprietary school in Texas and has enjoyed the environment and helping students understand the process of financial aid. She worked at various institutions (Southwest Institute, Baker College and Albion College) before coming to GRCC 15 years ago to serve in the financial aid office. Welling earned her Bachelor Degree in Business Leadership from Baker College with an associate degree in Sales and Marketing. She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid and enjoys helping students with enrollment and financial aid.

June 1, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jared Berkenpas of the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team was named Conference Player of the Year, and seven other players were saluted on Thursday with postseason honors. 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-win streak. "I think we had a lot of players that were deserving of All-Conference," head coach Mike Eddington said. "We had a talented team that was very passionate about baseball." For the second consecutive year, Berkenpas was named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference. The 6-foot, 5-inch righty from South Christian High School was GRCC's top pitcher in the rotation and led the team with a 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. Fernando Rivera-Calderon and Xander Reisbig were also named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference. Rivera-Calderon led the team in 10 home runs, with half of those being grand slams. He also led the team with 59 hits, 15 doubles, 53 runs batted in, 17 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .699.  He was also in top-3 on the team with a .355 batting average, 1.106 OPS, six triples and 50 runs scored. Reisbig earned All-Conference honors for the second straight year after leading the team in batting with a .393 batting average and 1.203 OPS.  The slugger also hit eight home runs, seven doubles, had a slugging percentage of .682 and led the team with 29 bases on balls. Sophomore Jacob Gumieny earned All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference and All-Region honors after batting .391 with a team-high 59 hits and seven triples.  The middle infielder also had 37 RBI, nine doubles and scored 33 runs. Trevin Laming, the team's leadoff hitter and center fielder, earned First Team-Conference honors and was named to the All-Freshmen team. Laming batted .316 with 55 hits, 35 runs batted in, 11 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and 12 stolen bases. He also scored a team-high 55 runs and was second on the team with 103 total bases. Three GRCC players were named Second Team All-Conference: freshman pitcher Lucas McKinney; sophomore pitcher Colton Leatherman; and sophomore catcher Dylan Chargo. McKinney was named to the All-Freshman Team after a season where he went 8-2 in 11 appearances on the mound.  In 50.2 innings the Clarkston native struck out 38 batters and had an ERA of 3.37. Leatherman finished off his GRCC career with a 4-1 record and an ERA of 3.26.  He was second on the team with three complete games, 37 strike outs and an opponent's batting average of just .184. Chargo earned All-Conference honors for the second straight year after proving to be the best catcher in the league.  He threw seven runners out in the rare instance that runners tried to steal on him.  At the plate he batted .300 for much of the season and finished with 35 hits, 10 doubles, two home runs and 25 runs batted in. Fifth-year head coach Mike Eddington, who recorded a 100 career wins this season, was named the MCCAA Coach of the year and the Northern Conference Coach of the Year. This story was written by Ben Brown.  

June 1, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – People flock to the Festival of the Arts every year to see performers, make or appreciate art, and munch on food on a stick. All of those will be back this weekend, but Missy Summers promises the annual celebration will look a little different in its 54 th year. Summers, a Grand Rapids Community College graduate, was selected in January to be the executive director of the three-day event, which kicks off on Friday afternoon. It’s not an easy task. Summers said she wanted to see Festival continue to evolve while still retaining the features that are beloved by attendees. She attended GRCC from 2007 to 2009, then completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at Ferris State University and a master’s degree from Aquinas College. “I had some of my best teachers at GRCC,” she said. “I was very blessed. I’m positive on GRCC.” She worked in the financial world for 10 years before becoming the director of development for Junior Achievement of Michigan Great Lakes. But she was excited to see an opening for the Festival of the Arts’ first full-time employee. “I went to Festival, and I’ve always loved it,” she said. “I have an 8-year-old son, and every year I take him to Festival. When they had this opening, I was very curious. I started at the end of January, so it’s been a little bit of a whirlwind.” A whirlwind indeed. The event draws hundreds of thousands of people to downtown, with a small army of 200 volunteers coordinating performers, food booths, artists and businesses.  “I’ve been here since 2000,” Summers said. “When we moved up here, Festival was one of the first events I went to. Back in the day, there weren’t too many big events downtown. It was Festival, Riverbank Run, and that was pretty much it happening downtown. There’s been such an evolution, because now downtown is so vibrant.” Summers said Festival is a balancing act with art and culture -- and economics. “I understand supporting artists and helping out businesses,” she said. “Helping artists leave a bigger footprint is really important to me, and so is spreading multiculturalism. We think that’s such an important part of our city and our legacy.” Festival’s evolution includes 16 food trucks joining the traditional booths staffed by community groups, for a total of 25 dining options. More than 150 performances will be spread out among five stages, including a return to Rosa Parks Circle. Youth art will be on display in DeVos Place, and juried art exhibits will be in five galleries around the city. An Artisan Village will share Calder Plaza with performers and the Festival Beer Patio featuring a selection from Lost Art Brewhouse. Story time is planned for the Grand Rapids Public Library, and a scavenger hunt can help attendees explore the event. “We always think about the food and stuff, but for me, it was really cool to see the wide range of performance art,” Summers said. “One minute you could have a jazz group playing and the next minute you have ballet going. You just get this nice diversity of performances and music. I remember early on being able to go see all these wonderful local artisans and their businesses, to experience and see how they did their art.” Summers promises old favorites will return, including the T-shirt printing booth, hat-making area, Swingin’ Art – and lots and lots of paint. “One of my favorite ones was when my son was young, taking him down there and walking through the streets and all the experiences he could have,” she said. “He could paint. We create the environment where kids can paint, and they don’t want mom and dad interrupting them. He just had such a blast. It was such a powerful experience for him. As a mom, it’s really fun when they’re excited and happy. Those are those key moments you have in your life. And now I get to work for that organization, and that’s pretty amazing.”  

May 31, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Izzy Regner and Jaye Guichelaar headline a list of seven Grand Rapids Community College softball players saluted on Wednesday with postseason honors. GRCC's softball team finished the season with a 25-18 record, and 15-10 in the conference, earning the team a share of their first conference title since 1999.  The team also finished as runners-up in the NJCAA Region XII Tournament. "I'm so proud of the accomplishments of this team," Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. "The players went beyond my expectations after we did not field a team last year.  They stepped up and believed in the coaches and the program. I'm excited to see them grow in the future." Regner and Guichelaar were both awarded All-Region, All-MCCAA, and First Team All-Conference honors. Both teammates were also named to the All-Tournament team at the regional tournament and Regner was named to the Northern Conference All-Freshman team. Regner, a native of Elkhorn, Wis., finished her lone season at GRCC as one of the best pitchers in the nation, as she was second among all NJCAA Division II pitchers with 292 strikeouts and second in averaging 11.7 strikeouts per seven innings.  She was also third in the nation for shutouts with eight, and eighth with a 1.36 ERA.  She had a 20-5 record and three saves in 29 appearances. Regner, who recently committed to Ferris State University - an NCAA Division II institution - had 19 games of 10 or more strikeouts, including a career-high 16 strikeouts against Mott Community College in the regional tournament. While a force on the mound, Regner also ranked as one of the best hitters in the MCCAA, with a .434 batting average, 16 doubles, five home runs and a slugging percentage of .690. Guichelaar's batting average of .523 was the best among all 20 teams in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and top 15 in the country.  She was also second with a .543 on base percentage and fifth in the MCCAA with a .775 slugging percentage.  In 42 games, she totaled 79 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 28 runs batted in and only struck out nine times in over 160 plate appearances. Three GRCC players were named Second Team All-Conference: shortstop and third baseman Brynn McArthur; catcher Samara Kolehouse; and outfielder Annika Roersma. McArthur tied for the team with 41 runs batted in and led the team with 20 walks.  She also was tied for second with five home runs; third with a .592 slugging percentage, 38 runs scored and 11 doubles.  She was one of three players to play and start in all 43 games while batting a solid .384. Kolehouse, the team's every day catcher, led the team with six home runs.  She also ranked in the top-5 on the team with a .321 batting average, .566 slugging percentage, 34 hits, 10 walks, and 34 runs batted in. Roersma, who earned her third straight All-Conference honor, finished off her stellar career with a .401 batting average, 108 runs scored, 15 home runs (including five this year), and a perfect 67 for 67 steal ratio.  In the last nine games of her career, she went 11-for-26 with four home runs and 10 runs batted in. Lauren James and Alyssa Wierenga were named All-Conference honorable mention. James, who split time as the team's starting third baseman or first basemen, was third on the team with a .387 batting average and finished her freshman campaign batting .417 in regionals with a home run, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament team.  She also tied for the team lead with 41 runs batted in and was tied for second with four home runs. Wierenga played outfield and second base and batted .276 for the year.  She was second on the team with three triples and third with 11 steals.  Her spectacular defense with many diving catches also helped her earn All-Conference honors. Wierenga was also a member of this year's volleyball team that finished fifth in the nation. This story was written by Ben Brown.