April 6, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Heather Klare has enjoyed many roles in her career – even “change doula.” Klare is an assistant professor and clinical coordinator of Grand Rapids Community College’s Radiologic Technology program. She appears on the latest episode of the “Speaking of Teaching” podcast, talking about her approach to her career and life. “Speaking of Teaching,” in its second season, was created by the GRCC Distance Learning and Instructional Technologies Department, with hosts Meg Lockhard, Rachel Lutwick-Deaner and Ian Matthews. The podcast focuses on talking with professors on a personal level, learning about their journey and expertise. Klare is a proud “cheerleader of students” who recently helped three of her students earn seats in a prestigious program at Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Medical Imaging. Klare shares how she wasn’t sure what we wanted to do while growing up. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History, with a Computer Applications minor, from Grand Valley State University. She worked in banking after graduation. But then, like so many adult students who attend GRCC, she decided to make a career change. Klare attended GRCC and earned an Associate of Applied Arts & Science, Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer. After graduation she worked at Metro Health and then Mercy Health St. Mary’s as an interventional radiology technologist. The field was changing from film to digital imaging “I knew technology was going to catch up with this particular industry. I was already doing the IT, and the customer service and doing the training,” she said. “No matter what is handed to you, you have to be open to it, even if you don’t like it, or you don’t agree with it, you have to learn how to manage it and work with it.” The hosts probe into Klare’s thoughts about trying new things, even joking that she is a “change doula.” “The thought of doing the same thing for the rest of my life is intimidating to me,” Klare said. “And, it feels like I’m putting barriers in front of myself. Because if you are, like, ‘This is the only way I can do something,’ then you’d artificially put a barrier in there. When it comes to my growth or education or teaching, or just inspiring somebody else, push the edge of the box just to see what happens. Sometimes things won’t work out. But sometimes they do, and you don’t know where they’re going to go. You have to keep pushing a bit and see what you can do.” “Speaking of Teaching” is available here , and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other popular podcast hosts.

April 6, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Aaron Bess and Colton Leatherman of the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team were named Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference Players of the Week after helping the team to a 4-1 record against Calvin University and Mid Michigan College. Bess played and started in all five games, posting a .429 batting average in 21 at bats. He was tied for the team lead with nine RBI and nine hits, three of which were doubles and another being a home run. He also scored a team-high 10 runs and stole two bases. The freshman outfielder from Boyne City has played in all 22 so far this year, averaging .279 while hitting a team-high seven doubles. Leatherman was named Pitcher of the Week after defeating Mid Michigan in game four of the five game series. In six innings he gave up just two earned runs, while striking out six and holding his opponent to just a .182 batting average. The sophomore righty from Rockford is 2-1 so far this season with an ERA of 3.50.  He is first on the team in opponents’ batting average, .159; second on the team in innings pitched, 18; and second on the team in WHIP, 0.89.  He also has one shut out on his resume. The baseball team is 12-10 overall and 7-1 in conference play. GRCC is scheduled to conclude its season series with Delta College on Friday at 2 p.m. and plans to finish the series with Mid Michigan on April 11.  This story was reported by Ben Brown.

April 5, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Samara Kolehouse and Izzy Regner of the Grand Rapids Community College softball team were named Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference Players of the Week after helping the team win its series against Mid Michigan College. Kolehouse slugged her way to earn Player of Week honors after going seven-of-10 from the plate, while hitting two doubles and three home runs. She also walked once, scored six runs and batted in seven runs. The freshman catcher from Kent City is batting .357 with four doubles, four home runs and 14 RBI.  She is third on the team with a slugging percentage of .738. Regner was named Pitcher of the Week after going 2-1 on the mound and picking up a save.  In 20.2 innings, she struck out 36 batters and had an ERA of 1.02. Regner leads the conference in many statistical categories including wins, with eight; complete games, 10; shutouts, five; strikeouts, 142; and strikeouts per game, 12.97. The freshman from Elkhorn, Wisc. is also one of the best players at the plate, batting .492 with eight doubles, a triple and four home runs.  She leads the team in slugging percentage, .864; and OPS, 1.433. The softball team is 11-9 overall and 4-4 in conference play. GRCC is scheduled to conclude their season series with Delta College on Friday at 2 p.m.  This story was written by Ben Brown. 

April 5, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Lydia Sprik graduated from Hope College last spring, then commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard. She was in Oklahoma for field artillery officer training until December of 2022. Sprik was considering her next move when she found out about the GRCC Automotive Technician Job Training program. “I’ve been friends with car people and honestly, I am inspired by anyone who is familiar with the ins and out of cars and can just fix things,” she said. Sprik wants to be prepared for any emergency - especially if her car breaks down. “For me, I will be a lot more comfortable in a car emergency situation if I am able to do something or at least be able to start helping myself. I think this is a great skill that I can take forward into my life, whether I do it for my job or not.” The GRCC Automotive Technician program prepares people to perform basic automotive care and maintenance, including changing oil, checking fluid levels, and rotating tires. Additionally, students learn shop safety, electrical systems, front end and steering systems, brake systems, ABS, heating and air conditioning, recovering and recycling, and teamwork/communication skills. Repairs are performed to manufacturer and customer specifications. Sprik started the program the end of January and will complete the end of May. She is planning on moving to Georgia after graduation to be with her fiancé who is serving in the Army. “I have been working with my job developer, Sydney Plaggemars, who has been super helpful. She suggested how to reformat my resume and update my new skills. Earlier this week I had a job interview with BMW.” To become an automotive technician, students are required to be certified and licensed in the State of Michigan. Licensed technicians use precision diagnostic equipment, service manuals and hands-on power tools to diagnose and repair customer vehicles. Sprik has had experience in the traditional college setting and now is experiencing a more hands-on approach to learning. “I was a good student in high school. While in college hit I a few road bumps. I really think I just got burned out. I really like the format of this program. We do a little bit of lecture in the morning, maybe an hour, but I appreciate how limited the class time is. I have really gained the most knowledge from our time working hands-on.” The Automotive Technician program is taught by instructor Brice Emory, who has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. “People who go into this field or program want to learn by doing.  Learning by having to wrestle with the problem is way more beneficial than just learning from a textbook,” Sprik said. “Brice is great. He is really there to help but also makes you solve problems on your own.” GRCC holds a partnership with Chrysler Fiat to provide MOPAR CAP Level One Certification - giving students the opportunity to acquire the value credential which includes 37 certifications. The next section of Job Training programs begins June 12, 2023. For more information grcc.edu/jobtraining or (616) 234-3800.

April 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- “Teach children to be their authentic selves,” Graci Harkema told an audience at Grand Rapids Community College’s Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center recently. “If you’re presenting your authentic self, being open and inclusive, that’s what your kids will learn to do.”  An international diversity, equity and inclusion speaker and author specializing in inclusive leadership, Harkema was the Women’s History Month keynote speaker for GRCC’s Diversity Lecture Series, offered by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. A Grand Valley State University graduate, she has also been named one of The Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders of West Michigan and one of the 50 Most Influential Women of West Michigan, and is the author of her forthcoming memoir, “Rising: From a Mud Hut to the Boardroom — and Back Again.” Harkema was born to a young mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a time of civil unrest and violent, deadly riots. When she was only a few weeks old, a family from Grand Rapids serving as missionaries in the country adopted her from an orphanage. At 4 years old, Harkema moved back to Michigan with her adopted family. By the time she was 6, she knew she identified as queer. “I already felt so different I didn’t want to be even more different than everyone else, so I kept (my sexuality) a secret for 22 years,” she said.  Harkema said she eventually discovered that the intersection of her identities was her superpower. “I wasn’t Black enough, straight enough, successful enough,” she said. “I couldn’t pick and choose my identities; I had to accept all aspects of myself and no longer saw my identities as my shame.” Based on her own experience navigating intersectional identities, Harkema explained what it means to “cover” parts of yourself in the workplace. “Covering is when you purposely tone down an aspect of yourself to fit into the mainstream. It’s exhausting,” she said. “Inclusive, equitable environments allow us to be ourselves and give opportunities to achieve success.” Harkema advised the audience to step into their discomfort, take opportunities to grow and learn, and share their stories. “You are in this life for a reason. Look back on your journey and see how far you have come,” she said. “You don’t have to be born in a mud hut to have a story.” This story was reported by Alexis Stark of the School News Network .

April 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Collegiate, Grand Rapids Community College’s student publication, earned 20 awards from the Michigan Community College Press Association, an organization supporting student journalists in the state. GRCC is one of nine community college in the organization, which is based at Central Michigan University and focuses on educating students about how journalism contributes to the preservation of democracy. Award winners are chosen by a group of judges, which, according to the MCCPA website are, “seasoned journalist professionals with years of experience in the field.” Collegiate honorees are: News Story– Third place, Kevin Lopez with contributions with Blace Carpenter, Brandon Smith, Kenzie Davis, Anane Badom, and Annabelle Guysi. First Amendment Reporting– Third place, Blace Carpenter with contributions from Shane Madden Serious Column– Third place, Alena Visnovsky. Humor Column– Second place, Braeden Pelton. Critical Review– Second place, Joseph Poulos; Third place, Abigail Mulonas. Sports News– First place, Alena Visnovsky; Third place, Pierson VanGorp. Sports Feature Story– First place, Pierson VanGorp. Editorial– First place, Shane Madden; second place, Sophie Deiters. Editorial Cartoon– First place, Abby Haywood. Original Comic– Entertainment– Third place, Abby Haywood. News Photo– First place, Elizabeth Halvorson. Photo Essay/ Digital Slideshow– Third place, Alena Visnovsky. Informational Graphic– Second place, Abby Haywood. Headline Writing– Honorable mention, Joseph Poulos. Multimedia Reporting– Third place, Blace Carpenter. Video Production/Online Audio Slideshow Production– First place, Sophie Deiters. News Website– Third place.

April 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - When Randall Dragstra completed his service with the United States Marine Corps, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next.  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. Dragstra knew he wanted to start his higher education journey, but wasn’t sure what his goals were for the future. GRCC was an easy choice to complete his core classes as it was local and affordable. After completing his core classes, Dragstra received the Cascade Engineering Scholarship and began studying Manufacturing Engineering.  “Receiving a scholarship helped me tremendously with financial support that takes a burden off my economics at home, but also seeing someone willing to endorse me in that way gave me the stimulation to keep pushing and focusing on my education,” Dragstra said.  Dragstra recalls some of his most memorable moments at GRCC inside the classroom. He enjoyed connecting with students and learning together in a hands-on environment. One professor in particular, Scott Lampe, made a lasting impact on Dragstra.  “Professor Lampe made my experience at GRCC very meaningful. He has been a mentor to me, and is knowledgeable with advice for both inside and outside of the classroom,” Dragstra said.  Dragstra completed his degree by taking each step, and not worrying about the big picture. Every accomplishment, no matter how small, was something that he hadn’t done before. “Getting a good grade or using something I learned in a practical application outside of school were big accomplishments for me,” Dragstra said.  It paid off, too. Dragstra completed his degree in 2019 and has been working at Kent Manufacturing Company since. He is in the department of part development and validation, creating custom pressure sensitive adhesive parts and testing them to make sure they are correct for an application.   Dragstra shares that everyone has obstacles in their life. But he has put in the hard work and found the right people and resources to help overcome them. He just kept taking the next step. More information about the Manufacturing Programs can be found here.  Start your GRCC story today by clicking here .  

April 2, 2023, SHEPHERD, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams won four of five games played at Mid Michigan College on Sunday, three in dominating fashion. Due to the inclement weather on Friday, the softball team was forced to play a triple header. The team lost the first game 7-4 despite pounding out nine hits. The team bounced back in the second and third game, 13-2 and 9-1, with Izzy Regner picking up both wins. In all, GRCC's softball team accumulated 36 hits over the three games and had just two errors in the final two games after five costly errors in the opener.  It batted .379 and slugged an impressive .653.  After missing the doubleheader due to sickness on Thursday, freshman catcher Samara Kolehouse was on fire, going seven-for-10 with seven runs batted in, including three home runs and two doubles that nearly went out of the ballpark as well.  Jaye Guichelaar also had seven hits on the day, batting .538 with two doubles. Alyssa Wierenga hit her first career home run in game three of the day, a three-run blast. Regner also hit a home run, her fourth of the season, and on the mound she gave up just two earned runs while striking out 22. GRCC is now 11-9 on the season and 3-4 in conference play. On the baseball diamond, GRCC and Mid Michigan had a pitchers’ duel in game one. But in the top of the seventh, the Raiders broke a 1-1 tie with two runs on three straight hits to put the visitors up 3-1. Mid Michigan led the bottom of the seventh off with a home run, but left the potential game-tying at third, as GRCC hung on for the 3-2 win. Lucas McKinney earned his team-best third win of the season, going six innings and giving up three hits while striking out five. GRCC got off to a 6-0 lead in the nightcap and cruised to a 17-3 victory, while totaling 15 hits and committing no errors. The highlight early in the game was a grand slam by center fielder Trevin Laming, his team-best fourth of the season.  Left fielder Aaron Bess blasted his first four bagger of the season, just one of three hits in the game. GRCC also got two hits from Fernando Rivera-Calderon, Tommy Reid, Jake Gumieny, and Joe Hoeks. Colton Leatherman allowed just two earned runs over six innings of work, while striking out six to pick up his second win of the season. GRCC is now 12-10 and 7-1 in the conference. The baseball team will be back on the diamond on Tuesday in a doubleheader at Davenport University. The softball team isn't scheduled to resume play until they make up their final two games of the Delta College series on April 7. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

March 31, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College Communications team’s efforts to share the stories of students overcoming obstacles and the people who support them earned three Gold Paragons from a national community college communications organization on Friday. The 2020-2021 GRCC Foundation Annual Report earned the top award in the Annual Report category from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations, an organization representing community colleges in the United States and Canada. The GRCC team also earned a Gold Paragon in the Logo category, for a design used to create a patch for students competing in the NASA HUNCH competition, and in the Novelty Advertising category for the “La Cerveza del Presidente” design, used on glasses at the GRCC Foundation’s Scholarfest honoring President Emeritus Juan R. Olivarez and Mary Olivarez. GRCC earned a Bronze Paragon in the Government or Community Relations Campaign category for its efforts to raise awareness of the Michigan Reconnect scholarship program. “Every day, we are inspired by GRCC students, and the faculty and staff members who educate and support them,” Communications Director Dave Murray said. “It’s an honor to tell their stories, and we hope they inspire others to start an educational journey that will change their lives.” The 2020-2021 Annual Report focused on people the foundation has helped and the lives it has transformed – shared by the people themselves, often telling their stories in their own words. Judges praised the report’s stories, photos, design, and graphics. “Grand Rapids’ annual report has a magazine-like quality in the way it communicates to its many groups the way the college is impacting students,” judges said. The annual report is a collaboration between the GRCC Foundation and Communications team, both part of the College Advancement team. It’s the third year in a row a GRCC Foundation Annual Report earned recognition. The 2018-2019 report earned a Gold Medallion from NCMPR’s District 3, and the 2019-2020 report earned a Gold Paragon and Best in Show, the organization’s highest honor. The drinking glass design was created for the GRCC Foundation’s Scholarfest fundraiser, honoring the Olivarezes for their service to the college and greater community. The glasses were used in conjunction with a special craft brew created by students in the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. “Really nice work. Illustrations, especially of those we love, can be really difficult. This illustration is beautiful, and honestly deserves to be on much more than just a beer glass,” judges said. The award-winning NASA HUNCH logo is worn by GRCC culinary students heading to the Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 19 and 20 for competitions. One team is a finalist in the competition to send a meal to astronauts on the International Space Station and the other is a finalist with a design to create edible packing materials. “This is super fun. Nice work. I really like how the logo flows,” judges said. The Michigan Reconnect awareness campaign included student profiles that were highlighted by the state government and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, social media campaigns, outdoor advertising and other materials telling people about the program, which covers the cost of in-state tuition for residents age 25 and older. “I love to celebrate the outstanding work of our community college marketers,” said Jeff Ebbing, NCMPR’s 2022-23 president. “The creativity and hard work that went into the winning entries is on par with some of the best agencies in the country and is a testament to the talent and dedication of our members. These people are pros in every sense of the word.” The 2022 Paragon Awards drew 1,726 entries from 323 colleges across the country and was judged by more than 40 professionals from the marketing and public relations industry.  GRCC's three Gold Paragons were more than any other college in the nation.  NCMPR’s Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges. It's the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges.