March 31, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Doug Wiersma went to college after high school and quickly decided it was not the right place for him. But now, he spends his days at Grand Rapids Community College teaching students as they start down their own educational journeys, helping them gain in-demand skills.  Wiersma left college to work as an electrical apprentice. He worked his way through the electrical trade from a Journeyman’s to a Master’s License. Eventually he became an estimator and project manager specializing in electrical design-build projects.  Wiersma began teaching at GRCC as an adjunct professor in 1999. He never intended to work in higher education full time. However, colleague George Waite encouraged Wiersma to start a Construction Electrical Job Training program at GRCC.  Wiersma was won over, and soon discovered how much he enjoyed working with students and helping them reach their career goals. He teaches them through hands-on demonstrations and projects. Job Training programs are unique due to the amount of time instructors and students spend together. Wiersma spends eight-hour days, four days a week with his students, providing an opportunity for students to experience “life in their trade” first hand.  Some of Wiersma’s most memorable moments as an instructor involve watching students discover their passions and grow through the electrical trade.  Wiersma recalls one specific student who came into Job Training frustrated and lost. The student was married, had some life experience, and was looking for an opportunity to change the direction his life was going. Upon graduating he was offered an apprenticeship with a major company.  Wiersma ran into this student over five years later while sitting at the Gerald R. Ford Airport. He heard someone call his name, and when he turned around the student was there with his wife, two daughters, and a new Disney t-shirt. The family was returning from a vacation in Orlando. “I barely recognized him,” Wiersma said, “His whole face had changed from despondent and lifeless, to cheerful and confident. He went on to introduce me to his family and talk about how much he enjoyed his career as a Journeyman and project manager.” Moments like this encourage Wiersma to continue to invest in the students in the Job Training program. Many students coming into the program are unsure what direction their career will take. Wiersma encourages students to work hard and make sure they enjoy what they are doing.  Current student Ben Mast said, “I feel like most of the students don’t have any experience when they started. I’m super grateful to have Doug as my instructor. He is super knowledgeable. He’s got an answer for everything and he also makes it super fun!”    

March 30, 2023, SHEPHERD, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams bounced back from game one losses to Mid Michigan College by combining to score 33 runs in victories of second games of doubleheaders on Thursday. The softball team’s opener was a pitcher's duel, with both aces combining for 24 strikeouts. GRCC lost 5-1, with just one of those runs being earned. Pitcher Izzy Regner took the tough loss. Mid Michigan built a 9-3 lead after three innings in the nightcap, but GRCC exploded for nine runs on 11 hits in the top of the fourth inning.  That inning included a three-run blast by Lauren James, her second home run of the season. GRCC tacked on eight more runs in the sixth inning enroute to a 20-10 victory. All nine GRCC players had at least one hit, with Jaye Guichelaar, James, Brittany Cisler, and Maci Huver all with three hits.  Huver and James each had four runs batted in.  Vanessa Hewitt hit her first collegiate homer and drove in three runs. The baseball team mustered just three hits and dropped a 3-2 decision in the first game, with Jared Berkenpas getting the loss. But the team bounced back to win the nightcap 13-7. GRCC totaled 14 hits from eight players. Luke Huerta and Trevin Laming each had three hits and Aaron Bess led the team with four RBI. Connor Foley picked up the victory, his third win of the season, pitching five innings and striking out eight batters. Both teams are scheduled to resume play Friday at 1 p.m. and finish the series out on Sunday.   This story was reported by Ben Brown.

March 29, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Jared Berkenpas and Zacarias Salinas 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 sweep its first conference opponent of the season. "Jerad has been pitching with great confidence and pounds the strike zone," head coach Mike Eddington said. "He gives our team great confidence when he pitches." Berkenpas earned his second win of the season, shutting out Delta College on Friday. He allowed just two base hits and struck out 12 while walking none. Berkenpas, who earned NJCAA All-American honors last year, is now 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA. Opponents are batting just .148 against him. "After the offseason Z had, I don't think anyone is surprised by his performance to start the season," said assistant coach and former teammate Brady Owen. In seven games last week, Salinas, a sophomore from Canton, Mich. went 9-for-20, including four doubles and his second home run of the season. The outfielder and first baseman has played and started in 18 of GRCC's games and leads the team with 21 hits and is second on the team with a .412 batting average, an OPS of 1.714, four doubles and two home runs. The baseball team is now 9-9 overall after starting the season 2-8 in a tough spring break down south. GRCC is scheduled to resume conference play next at Mid Michigan College on Thursday at 2 p.m. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

March 29, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College on Wednesday honored four women whose dedication and talent have inspired and empowered those around them. The 2023 Salute to Women Awards honored Maria McKee, Melissa Gheorghiu, Senita Lenear and Peni Weninger during ceremonies on Wednesday at Sneden Hall on GRCC’s DeVos Campus. The event, conducted by annually during Women's History Month, honors four women within GRCC's community for personal and professional excellence and for serving as role models and mentors to other women. The event is coordinated by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This year’s honorees are: McKee, who has worked at GRCC for just over three years, first as a tutor at the Lakeshore Campus, IRW Lab, and Early Middle College sites. Maria became the interim Language Arts Tutorial Lab coordinator. Maria studied writing with a poetry focus at GVSU and soon graduates from the Michigan State University College of Education with a master’s degree in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education.    Gheorghiu, who is a single mother of three who returned to education after 20 years away, and has been tremendously successful. She co-organized a clothing drive for students in need as part of an Honors Program project, is a member of Psi Beta Honors Society; TRIO student support program for first generation students, and is a chapter officer for GRCC’s Alpha Upsilon Kappa chapter. Melissa is a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, and is the recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa All State Academic Team for GRCC. She is also the recipient of this year's Brian Kloet Campus Involvement Award. Melissa has been accepted at University of Michigan.   Lenear, who was elected as the Third Ward City Commissioner, takin office in January 2014. Her extensive service includes serving as chairwoman of the Mayor's Safe Alliance for Everyone Task Force, which developed a violence-reduction strategy. She also served on the Great Housing Strategies committee, which provided recommendations for addressing our community's housing needs. Additionally, she served on the Kent County's Friend of the Court and Lead Task Forces; both were designed to research and make recommendations that positively impacted the community and elevated the services being provided. Commissioner Lenear has more than 25 years of business experience, which includes a variety of leadership positions at the largest healthcare insurance provider in the state of Michigan and co-owning an event planning and business consulting firm.   Weninger, who started at GRCC in 2004 as a support staff member in the Instructional Support Department Interdisciplinary Studies Department, where she planned faculty and adjunct faculty learning days, retreats and coordinated professional development classes and events. Her last role was on the Human Resources team, where she managed intake, applications, and arranged interviews. She retired in 2017 and continues her involvement in the college community, serving on the Golden Raider Retirees’ Gold Team.

March 29, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —  From building motorized LEGO creations to watching robots in action, Western Michigan University-Grand Rapids, Autocam Medical and Grand Rapids Community College are is opening the doors to exploration for future scientists. The second annual AMP Lab Family Open House event is planned for Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the AMP Lab @ WMU, located at 200 Ionia Ave. SW in downtown Grand Rapids. This free event encourages children ages 5-12 to explore the world of STEM and manufacturing through a variety of curiosity-provoking hands-on activities. Aiming to foster a multitalented workforce to help reinvigorate the advanced manufacturing industries, the lab features high-tech equipment such as 3D printers, lasers and scanners to offer hands-on instruction and training, including computer numerical control programming, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. “Our next generation of students and workers will be facing a world much different than in decades past, so it is vital for us to find ways to evolve and support the changing needs of tomorrow’s students as well as the workforce of the future,” said Joanne Roehm, senior director of strategy and operations at WMU-Grand Rapids. “The AMP Lab Family Open House is an exciting and engaging opportunity to connect Western Michigan University with our local community. We continue to explore ways to inspire curiosity in children, adults and everyone in between.” GRCC will join Western engineering faculty, Autocam Medical, Bricks4Kidz, West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology and JR Automation to present an array of fun-filled activities, including building programmable LEGO robots, making buttons, sitting in a Formula 1 car and watching 3D printers in action. The AMP Lab Family Open House welcomed 300 attendees in 2022. "We are proud to call the AMP Lab @ WMU our home for manufacturing education and to provide K-12 students a place to explore and learn about rewarding opportunities for future engineers, designers and skilled workers in West Michigan,” said Dr. Steven Butt, dean of Western’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Occupying the first two floors of Western’s Grand Rapids regional location, the AMP Lab @ WMU is a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing partnership laboratory where the next generation of engineers, designers and other skilled individuals can cultivate their abilities. “The AMP Lab was designed to foster collaborative learning between industry leaders, educators and students and provides a unique opportunity to create pathways to careers in manufacturing and engineering,” said John Kennedy IV, general manager of Autocam Medical.

March 28, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  Fernando Rivera-Calderon hit a grand slam and drove in a season-high seven runs as the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team topped Calvin University's reserves 15-9 on Tuesday. GRCC started the game with three straight hits, and led 5-0 before Calvin even batted.  The team extended the lead to 7-0, but Calvin closed the gap to just three runs after a four-run second inning. GRCC would score the next six runs enroute to a 15-9 victory. Seven GRCC players had multiple hits in the game, including three for Zacarias Salinas and Fernando Rivera-Calderon and four by Jacob Gumieny. Rivera-Calderon's grand slam was his third home run of the season. Gumieny totaled three RBI and was just a home run away from the cycle. Jeremy Marble started on the mound for the Raiders and picked up the win.  Ethan London, Riley Hawkins, Kellan Smith and Caden Van DeBurg  saw action in relief work. The baseball team is now 9-9 overall after starting the season 2-8 in a tough spring break down south. GRCC is scheduled to resume conference play next at Mid Michigan College on Thursday at 2 p.m. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

March 28, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A free Grand Rapids Community College summer program for graduating high school seniors is aimed at boosting foundational math and reading skills, and preparing them for success. Bridges to College - Raider Ready will be offered between June 5 and August 11 at both the Main Campus in Grand Rapids and the GRCC Lakeshore Campus in Holland Township. The program is open to 2022 and 2023 high school graduates from Kent County and Ottawa County who are planning to attend any college in the fall. Students will get a $500 stipend based on participation and attendance, and will get a free laptop to use for as long as they are enrolled at GRCC and Wi-Fi hotspots for use during the summer program. “We want students to start college successfully, then continue building on that foundation all the way to a degree,” said David Selmon, GRCC’s Dean of Strategic Outreach. “We’ll focus on academics, but also help students transition to college and also explore careers. This is a great example of GRCC serving students, but also our greater community.” The program focuses on boosting reading, writing, and math skills. Students also will work with college navigators to prepare for their higher education experience in the fall. They’ll meet with advisers, learn about financial aid opportunities, and gain career readiness skills. The program takes place during the morning to early afternoon hours during each session, allowing students to continue working at summer jobs and activities.   It also includes breakfast each morning and lunch for the field trips. Bus passes (Wave Card) are available for transportation to and from GRCC during the program. Information is available at grcc.edu/bridgestocollege , by email at bridgestocollege@grcc.edu and by calling (616) 234-3388.

March 28, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . — Married at the age of 16, Yasmina Zimmer’s dream of college and a career were shattered before they’d even taken shape. Now 23 and with that relationship behind her, Zimmer is earning high praise — and high honors — at Grand Rapids Community College where she was recently voted student of the year in both biology and geology. “Yasmina is one of the most inspiring students I’ve had in my 20-plus years of teaching,” said Tari Noelani Mattox, GRCC Physical Sciences Department head and geology professor. “She is a natural leader not only because she is motivated and ‘gets things done,’ but because she has the calm strength needed to lead others.” It’s that strength that fortified Zimmer throughout her five-year marriage and resuscitated her three years ago when her marriage ended. “I was already 21 and felt really stuck in life even after leaving because of the healing I had to do,” Zimmer said. “I knew there were so many more things in life for me, but I wasn’t able to do them while I was in that relationship. So, I decided now was the time.” Compelled to drop out of high school shortly after her wedding, Zimmer earned her GED certificate a year ago and began taking classes at GRCC last summer. It’s there where she fell in love with biology and geology and hopes to one day attain advanced degrees in both academic specialties. Zimmer will get a taste of university life in May when she begins a 10-week paid Community College Summer Fellowship Program at the University of Michigan.  GRCC teamed up with U-M to provide select students with cutting edge research opportunities through the program, made possible by the  Transfer Bridges to the Humanities, U-M,  grant partnership. The fellowship, Mattox said, appears to be designed for a community college student like Zimmer who has a “love of learning and thirst for knowledge that inspire you as a teacher.” “It’s going to be an amazing opportunity to learn from expert researchers in their fields,” Zimmer said. “No matter what my future holds, having that fellowship on my resume is going to be really great.” Before she heads to Ann Arbor, though, there’s still work to be done at GRCC. For her Honors Program project in Historical Geology, Zimmer is working with Mattox and focusing on interpreting Michigan bedrock stratigraphy. The final product will be an exhibit in April at GRCC’s Calkins Science Center featuring rock samples and their history. Her Animal Biology honors project with professor Matthew Douglas will study a selection of arthropods to look at how closely they’re related based on similarities in antennae structure and genetics. All this while carrying 19 credits, sustaining a 3.88 GPA, putting herself through college and waiting tables on weekends at a Grand Rapids brewery. Not to mention starting GRCC’s first Geology Club in her spare time. Zimmer credits GRCC’s faculty as integral to her success. “I couldn’t have asked for better professors to learn from and who have also provided me with such great opportunities and support in my academics. They have each truly made GRCC a home for me,” said Zimmer, who’s on track to graduate in December with an associate degree in Pre-Environmental and Sustainability Studies . It all seems surreal to her at times. “I never thought any of these things would be my life,” she said. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished … but I don’t want to be too proud because not all the work is done yet.” This story was reported by Beth McKenna.  

March 27, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Ryan Kauffman is the owner and president of Control Solutions Inc, a locally based, nationally recognized Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning contractor.  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. Kauffman began his HVAC career in 2004 when he began taking classes at GRCC. He completed an associate degree in Applied Art and Science at GRCC. Kauffman transferred to Ferris State University, where he took night classes to complete his HVACR Engineering bachelor’s degree.  He was thrilled by how easily his work with the GRCC HVAC program transferred into Ferris State University’s degree program. As a student working a full time job, Kauffman was impressed with the night time class offerings, and the professors who taught those classes.  “I remember a class on local history that was very interesting,” he said. “Our professor knew the history of the city very well and brought more to the class than just reading a book. He took us on a tour and showed us all kinds of historical places and items along with the many stories of the things we were seeing. He went over and above to make the class fun and more than just for a grade.” Professors understood life outside of school, and were typically very experienced in the workforce. Being able to bring real life experience into the classroom was incredibly impactful for students like Kauffman. Even as an alumnus, Kauffman encourages students to take advantage of the cost effective educational opportunities that GRCC offers. He often sends electrical apprentices from his company to the GRCC Leslie E. Tassell MTEC Center for electrical apprenticeship classes.  “ GRCC is a great local college that gives cost effective school opportunities to students to get their associates degree and to move onto higher degrees or into the workforce,” Kauffman said.  More information about the HVAC Certificate can be found here.  Start your GRCC story today here.  

March 26, 2023, CALEDONIA, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College's baseball team's starting pitchers tossed the team's third and fourth consecutive complete games in another doubleheader sweep over Delta College on Sunday.  The softball team also had a strong pitching performance, but lost a heartbreaker in the final inning of the game. GRCC's golf also competed, finishing in 10th place at the Heritage Hill Collegiate in Kentucky. Lucas McKinney and Colton Leatherman pitched complete games for the Raiders baseball team, helping the team to a 13-2 victory in the opener and 9-0 win in the nightcap.  It was the fourth straight game where the bullpen wasn't needed, with Jerad Berkenpas and Connor Foley pitching complete games on Friday. Eight GRCC players had at least one hit in the doubleheader, led by Zacarias Salinas, who was 5-for-6 with three RBI, including his second home run of the season. Jake Gumieny was 4-for-6 with a triple and Andres Rivera-Calderon hit his first home run. The baseball team is now 8-9 overall and 4-0 in the conference, after starting the season 2-8 in a tough spring break down south. In the softball game, Izzy Regner hit her third homer of the season to tie the game at one in the first inning. But Delta took the lead back in the third.  The visitors held the 2-1 lead until Brynn McArthur hit her second homer in as many games to give GRCC a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Raiders would tack on another run heading into the seventh inning.  But Delta responded with three runs - only one of which that was earned - to give it a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Despite loading the bases, GRCC was unable to score any more runs and Delta prevailed. Lea off hitter Jay Guichelaar had three of the team's six total hits.  Regner had two hits and McArthur's homer was the other. Regner had 11 strikeouts in just her second loss this season.  The golf team resumed play in Shepherdsville, Ken. finishing in 10th place of 13 teams at the Heritage Hill Collegiate.  Connor Oman shot a team-best 230 over three rounds, including a team-best 73 in the final round on Sunday. He tied for 25th overall. Drew Harrington shot a 75 in round one and finished in 34th place with a score of 235 strokes.  Zach Basiaga, 247 strokes, and Brad VandenHout, 248, finished the GRCC scoring. The baseball team is scheduled to play next at Calvin University on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and the softball team is scheduled to play at home on Tuesday at 3 against Cornerstone University's junior varsity squad.  The golf team isn't scheduled to play until April 7.  This story was reported by Ben Brown.