May 6, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It is a box that has the potential to withstand the tremendous G- forces created when rockets launch. And oh, it’s edible. The space-saving consumable packaging was designed not by aeronautics scientists, but by Cole Herring and Abby Tichelaar, students in the Launch U program, a partnership between Kent ISD and Grand Rapids Community College. Their effort was one of 22 finalists in the Health and Biomedical Science category of the NASA HUNCH competition, and they pitched their project to a panel that include astronaut Victor J. Clover and NASA scientists on April 19 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. They hope to hear how their project fared this month. NASA HUNCH challenges students around the United State to create innovative products that could be used by the aeronautics and space agency. Each of the competition’s eight categories undergoes a critical design review that determines who will go to Houston to present. Cole and Abby’s review took place via a video and brochure they created, and the pair got some practice presenting at a February preliminary round for the NASA HUNCH culinary program, in which two GRCC/Ottawa County Intermediate School’s Careerline Tech Center students participated. “I expected a lot more older people or people who were interested in engineering to come, but it turned out to be a whole bunch of kids and their parents who came (to the February event),” Cole said, adding they got a lot of positive feedback about their design. “They had no idea about any of the engineering, so you’d have to explain it to them. I think that was really great, because I think it helped get more people to understand the project without necessarily having to understand the engineering behind it.” The ‘HUNCH’ Moment GRCC professor Arthur Ward brought up the competition to Cole and Abby, who are in Launch U’s Middle College Engineering and Mechanical Design program. In the Health and Biomedical Science category, participants chose projects based on needs for future NASA missions. Out of six potential projects, the pair decided to focus on edible packaging. GRCC Secchia Institute program director Werner Absenger, who coaches the GRCC NASA HUNCH team with institute instructor Jennifer Struik, told the students about a composite resin created by Michigan State University material scientist John Dorgan’s lab. Abby researched the material, which Dorgan used to design wind turbine blades that have to withstand a G-force of 3-3.5. A rocket launching has a G-force of 3-4, so Coby and Abby concluded that a box made from the composite resin would work on a spaceship. “The material could be broken down into edible material that could be used for gummy bears, or sports drinks,” Cole said. “The rest of it that wasn’t edible could actually be reused to make anything that you could 3D print. “So that’s when we went, ‘Oh, that’s great material. Now we’ve just got to come up with a design for it.’” Saving Space in Space Using the measurements from the original NASA box, Cole and Abby created one with slots to hold granola bars. The goal was to provide the astronauts an easily accessible snack in a container that could be reused for other purposes. “The box can be broken down into their wall (side) segments, and when you need it, you can build them up to be a box and when the box is empty, you can break them down to save space,” Cole said, adding that a spacecraft does not have a lot of extra room for items such as empty boxes that have no other purpose. By using the composite resin, the box’s sides can be placed in a chemical bath that dissolves them into reusable and non-reusable material. Removing the non-reusable material and adding an alkaline solution such as baking powder separate out the lactic acid, which can be used to make edible items such as gummy bears. “Each wall segment can be broken down, so the astronauts don’t need to take the whole box and break it down at once,” Cole said. “They could break down half a box, and the other half could still be used for granola bar storage. “Once they’re through with the granola bars and there’s absolutely nothing else to do with that (box) panel, they can just dissolve it, get the edible material out of it, and then they can reprint whatever they need because they actually have a 3D printer up there (in the space station.)” Through the project, Cole said, he could see other potential uses for Dorgan’s composite resin, such as using it to build the rocket ship itself. “I wouldn’t want to make the assumption that it could be done, but I mean, if it could, that would be really great because instead of a bunch of waste orbiting us, we would have edible rockets that we just break down and eat and stuff.” This story was reported by Joanne Bailey-Boorsma of the School News Network.

May 5, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Victoria Keenan has the opportunity to support the growth of a new program at Grand Rapids Community College. The water and wastewater treatment programs are a partnership between GRCC, the City of Grand Rapids and Bay College in Escanaba. The program prepares students for careers in the water treatment industry. These workers are in high demand and are essential to protect public health. Keenan is a Community Recruitment Specialist for the Leslie Tassell MTEC. She is responsible for connecting the community with resources and programs by attending events, building relationships and creating outreach strategies.  Keenan also works with students to help them overcome barriers to their education both before admission and throughout their programs. She is passionate about connecting students with opportunities to benefit them and their communities.  “The best part of my job so far has been seeing the students in the water career pathway grow professionally and take interest in water careers,” Keenan said.  Keenan has a bachelor's degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration and Environmental Land Use and Planning from Central Michigan University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Grand Valley State University.   Prior to working at GRCC, Keenan was the assistant director and program manager for Seeds of Promise, a nonprofit organization focusing on urban community improvement.  Keenan’s experience has taught her the value of making connections and building relationships, a skill she uses daily when connecting with community partners and students.  Keenan encourages students to “be as curious as you can”. Encouraging students to ask questions and know that faculty and staff are here to help students be successful!  More information about the Waste and Wastewater Treatment Program can be found here.

May 3, 2023, MUSKEGON, Mich. – Fernando and Andres Rivera-Calderon combined for three grand slams helping the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team to a non-conference sweep over arch rival Muskegon Community College on Thursday. GRCC out-hit the Jayhawks 19-6 during the 17-5 win in game one, before completing the sweep with a 20-8 five inning victory in the nightcap. Fernando Rivera-Calderon hit a grand slam in each game, running his season total to a team-high nine homers while his twin brother Andres hit his grand slam in game two, his second of the season. Andres Rivera-Calderon led the team with four hits in the opener, while Jake Gumieny, Xander Reisbig, and Aaron Bess all had three hits.  Reisbig was a triple away from hitting for the cycle, with his home run being his eighth of the year. In the nightcap, 10 GRCC players contributed to 12 total hits, led by Joe Hoeks and Dominic Palamara with two each. On the mound, Jerad Berkenpas and Lucas McKinney each improved their record to 7-1 while the team improved to 33-11. GRCC has one more game scheduled before hosting an opponent in the first round of the regional tournament. The team will visit fourth-ranked Lansing Community College on May 8 for a nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m.   This story was reported by Ben Brown.

May 4, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Trevin Laming of the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team was named Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference Player of the Week after helping the team sweep its five-game series against Bay College. "Well deserved," head coach Mike Eddington said. "Trevin has been a consistent hitter all year long and he also plays great defense in center field." Laming, a freshman from Kenowa Hills High School, had nine hits, including four doubles and two homers against Bay College.  He batted .429 and had a slugging percentage of .905. Laming has played in all but one game for the Raiders this season, primarily playing in center field. He leads the team with eight home runs and is second on the team with 88 total bases.  He is batting .322 with 32 runs batted in and has nine steals to his credit. The baseball team is now 31-11 overall and finished first place in the conference with a 23-2 record.  It plays Muskegon Community College Thursday in a double-header beginning at 2 p.m. This story was written by Ben Brown.

May 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After taking a year off to rebuild the program, the Grand Rapids Community College softball team earned a share of the MCCAA Northern Conference championship. GRCC shares the title with Alpena Community College, with both teams finishing with 15-10 conference records. GRCC won the season series against Alpena three games to two, allowing it to claim the No. 1 seed in the upcoming regional tournament, and a first-round bye. “I am so proud of this team,” Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “The players took a chance on GRCC after not having a team last year. They bought into the vision of former head coach Molly McKinney and continued to buy in with their new coach Chuck White. What an accomplishment!” The team, which last won a conference title in 1999, finished its conference play on Friday. It needed Delta College to beat Alpena at least two of the three games in their regular season finale.  After splitting the first two games, Delta shut out Alpena in the final conference game of the season. GRCC will play the winner of the East No. 2 seed and South No. 3 seed at 2 p.m. on May 11.  The tournament will be played at the LYSBA Fields in Stevensville, Mich. The winner of the double-elimination tournament advances to the NJCAA national tournament in Spartanburg, S.C. For GRCC, the conference title marks a solid return to form. White and Assistant Coach Steve Roersma built upon a solid foundation created by McKinney, who recruited players and restored the program after taking a year off. The team finished with an overall 23-16 record. Pitcher Izzy Regner leads the nation with 257 strikeouts, was second with 11.84 strikeouts per seven innings, seventh with a 1.29 ERA, and tenth with 19 wins. Outfielder Jaye Guichelaar also is among the leaders, with her .522 batting average 15 th in the nation, and her 72 hits 25 th .

May 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Travis Sutter was bouncing job to job trying to find a spot somewhere that he felt comfortable. While he had spent most of his life fixing cars, he felt he needed a change. And then, he collapsed at his job in a warehouse this past July, was diagnosed with a weak heart valve, and found himself further re-evaluating his work life.  Sutter was working for Uber when he heard about the Welding Technician Job Training program and stopped into the Grand Rapids Community College Leslie E. Tassell MTEC building to see what it was all about.  “I talked to Rachael (Jungblut) in the office and just told her straight up, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know how to work computers. I need help,’” Sutter said. “She walked me through everything!” The Job Training Welding program meets for 18 weeks, Monday through Thursday, for 34 hours per week and offers career coaching and job placement assistance. Sutter got emotional as he talked about all the encouragement he received from the MTEC staff. “Michael (Wemmer) was such a support system for me all the way through my program,” Sutter said. “I could be having a bad day and talk to him for 10 minutes and it would totally flip my mood. He has such a positive energy. It was great.” In addition to the support Sutter received from career coaches, job developers and staff, he also qualified for the One Workforce for West Michigan Manufacturing grant. He was provided a new welding tool set and GRCC welding jacket. “I am so proud to represent GRCC at work,” Sutter said. The job training welding program is led by GRCC’s Instructor Nate Haney. Haney holds a Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology from Ferris State University and is an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator. “Nate was great and since he is a former inspector, I told him that I only want him to approve my welds if they would pass inspection in the real world,” Sutter said. “He took the time to really challenge me and that built my confidence.” As a student, you learn: shielded metal arc welding (arc/stick welding), gas metal arc welding (metal inert gas/wire welding), gas tungsten arc welding (heli-arc/tungsten inert gas welding), oxy-fuel welding (gas welding), cutting, brazing, blueprint reading, mathematics, metallurgy, problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. Sutter appreciated that the class was made up of students of all ages and backgrounds. “I was nervous coming back to school and didn’t want to be the only ‘older’ student and I wasn’t,” Sutter said. “It was cool having other classmates help me through it.” This program is highly regarded by employers as a top trainer in welding and fabrication. Job Developers are ready to help you with the job search process. When you graduate, you will be ready to begin a career as a welder, cutter, or brazer – with the skills to meet the needs of not only local companies but national companies as well. Sutter is currently working as a welder at Kent Design & Manufacturing. “It was quite a journey,” Sutter said. “I was working full time and going through the program. It was tough but so worth it!” The next section of Job Training programs begins, June 12, 2023. For more information: grcc.edu/JobTraining or 616-234-3800. To see if you qualify for the One Workforce grant, go to grcc.edu/OneWorkforce and submit an inquiry form.

May 2, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- After three months in Grand Rapids Community College’s Leslie E. Tassell MTEC program, Crossroads Alternative High School junior Sebastian Edmaiston discovered his passion for welding. The program partners with community businesses and industries to offer workforce training for professional trade jobs in high demand. For these high school students, it offers the opportunity to gain skills in construction and welding before they graduate. “My grandpa used to be a welder, and I started learning from him when I was 4 years old,” Edmaiston said. “It runs in our family.” In the welding lab, Edmaiston recently worked with senior Jahan Likely to learn the proper technique for welding, or bonding two metals by melting them where they meet so they form a secure joint. Likely used one of several of MTEC’s welding machines to fuse his two pieces of metal together. Then he and Edmaiston explained why they dunked the final product in water to cool and strengthen the bond. On Fridays, 17 juniors and seniors from Crossroads visit the workforce training department to work alongside GRCC instructors and eventually earn certificates in construction basics and gas metal arc welding. Crossroads in an alternative program operated by Kentwood Public Schools. Principal Ian Gibson said Crossroads started the partnership with GRCC during the 2018-19 school year, but the coronavirus pandemic put it on hold the following year. The program resumed in January. Students must meet the minimum number of credits and the age requirement to apply.  From there, they are interviewed and selected by the school’s Workforce Friday Leadership Team before they can enroll at GRCC. “To watch our own kids get hands-on training in welding and carpentry, this is amazing,” Gibson said. “We really want our students to earn their certifications in an industry that prepares them for life after graduation.” Next year, Gibson said Crossroads plans to enroll more students in the program, including a class to receive automotive training. GRCC’s new Center for Automation is also planned to start operating in time for the winter 2023 semester. “Students discovering their newly found passion has transferred into the classroom and student motivation has increased,” he said. “We look forward to continuing and growing this partnership next year.” Learning How to Do the Job Senior Alyssa Meyer said she was nervous and excited about her upcoming graduation. Her plans include a move to another state to pursue a job in construction. “This program gives you experience to take you to a higher level of skills for a higher-level job,” she said. “With these certifications, you’re starting out with more knowledge than someone else also looking for a job.” MTEC instructor Steven Ray told Meyer and her peers to “get a piece of pine” and he would show them how to patch a hole in drywall in the construction workshop. “Find a square of drywall that size you need, measure and cut it,” Ray said. “If it’s the wrong size, start over.” Mayer gave a tour of the room model her class built and continued working in throughout the semester, everything from the walls to drywall and paint. She explained the floorplan and where the bathroom and closet would be when the room is completed. “We put all the drywall up and door frames last week, and today we’re learning to fix holes in the drywall,” she said. “Then we’re going to put the doors in the room.” As Ray reminded his students as they worked to install patio doors, “This is all part of being a carpenter, having all the tools you need for the job.” Added Meyer: “We come in, and they teach us how it’s done. If we need help, (Ray) helps and critiques us so we do it right the next time.” This story was reported by Alexis Stark of the School News Network .