March 6, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Two Grand Valley State University professors, one current and one retired, have teamed up on a Grand Rapids Community College art exhibit showcasing their interpretations of nature. “One Wilderness, Two Paths,” featuring the work of professor Bill Hosterman and Ed Wong-Ligda, who retired from GVSU in 2015, runs through the end of March in GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery, located on Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall’s fourth floor at 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. The gallery, which reopens on March 13, is available between 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; admission is free. All the pieces in the exhibit focus on nature, while highlighting the unique perspectives of the artists, both of whom are avid hikers. Hosterman, who has been a faculty member in GVSU’s Department of Visual and Media Arts since 1999, said his prints focus on relationships – land and water, nature and humanity. “Through my personal experiences and research into the habitat, landscape and human history of an area, I create images that explore how nature defines humans and they, in turn, define nature,” he said. Wong-Ligda combines what he sees on his treks with his knowledge of painting. “My landscape paintings are invented studio landscapes made by combining what I’ve seen while hiking in wilderness settings and selective 18th-, 19th-century and contemporary painting conventions to form a fictional landscape,” he said. “The titles of my paintings usually imply a specific location, but in reality, the work is almost wholly fiction.”

March 6, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Elizabeth Usadel immersed herself in art at GRCC, and that passion has sparked not one, but two careers. Start at GRCC and go anywhere. Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. She studied Visual Arts at GRCC, earning an associate degree in 2004. She then earned a bachelor’s in K-12 art education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, both from Calvin University. She has spent the past 14 years as an art teacher, with the East Grand Rapids, Northview, Godfrey-Lee and, currently, the Grand Rapids school districts. In 2019, she began making polymer clay earrings and realized quickly that she wanted to turn this hobby into a business. She opened a store -- The Color Forest -- at 341 S. Division Ave., where she sells her jewelry and runs workshops. “I love getting to combine my love of color and making things with my teaching background,” she said. “Each workshop is like a little art party.” The Color Forest is one of the more than 30 enterprises you can find on GRCC’s list of alumni-owned businesses . “Our goal is to encourage and empower women with our bright and fun jewelry,” Usadel said. “I hope to make my business my full-time employment. I’d like to hire a small team in the next five years and eventually become a national brand.” Usadel credits GRCC with giving her skills that have helped with both her careers. “My path to starting my business was unconventional,” she said. “I am an art teacher who found a reignited passion for making things. The support I felt at GRCC helped give me the confidence to take a risk and try something new.”  Start your GRCC story today  here.

March 5, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams both split games Sunday in competition in Florida, part of an early season road trip against tough competition. The softball team, returning after a year without playing, opened its season with an 18-5, five-hit, five-inning loss to Mid Michigan College. But the team rebounded to beat its second opponent, 10-0 in five innings, giving Chuck White his first win as GRCC head coach. The baseball team played a doubleheader against Chipola College, which competes in NJCAA Division I, and defeated it 17-6 in the first game, and was shut-out 13-0 in the nightcap. In the softball game, Jaye Guichelaar went 2-for-3 in game one and Brynn McArthur and Lauren James each had two RBI to lead GRCC. In game two, against West Virginia Wesleyan’s junior varsity team, Izabella Regner threw a gem, not allowing any runs while giving up just one hit and striking out 11.  She also went two-for-three with two RBI.  Annika Roersma had a team-high three RBI and James finished with two RBI. The team struck out just three times. The baseball team had 14 hits in its first game, led by Joe Hoeks, Xander Reisbig and Tommy Reid, who all had three hits. Hoeks and Reisbig each had five RBI and a home run. Connor Foley picked up the win and Ethan London closed the game by pitching the final two innings. In the second game, GRCC had just two singles, by Zacarias Salinas and Andres Rivera-Calderon. Both teams will be back in action on Monday. The schedule is at www.grccraiders.com. This story was written by Ben Brown.

March 5, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's soccer team signed seven more players as it looks to its inaugural season this fall. The GRCC Athletic Department added soccer in response to a growing interest in the sport internationally and an increasing number of requests from potential student-athletes. With the addition of seven new players, coach Damiekco Smith has 17 players committed for the 2023 season.  Patrick Gakuru is a striker who played for Union High School. He also played for Michigan Futbol Academy, which won first place in its league and was the winners of the March Madness tournament. He is swift on his feet and very technical with the soccer ball. Jaret Jaramillo attends Kent City High School. He is a center-attacking mid known for his unselfish play and signature No. 5 jersey.  Jaramillo scored 22 goals and 10 assists during his 2022 high school season. He was voted to All-Region, All-District, and All-Conference teams during the 2022 season. He also earned All-Academic team honors. Alex Lagazo is a forward who played for Forest Hills Northern High School.  Lagazo was voted on the All-State Division 2 Team in 2022 and will bring toughness and aggression to the team. Jordan Okito attended Forest Hills Northern High School. He played forward and midfield. He earned second-team All-State honors after netting 25 goals and nine assists. He also led his team to a conference and district championship. Okito is very strong on the ball and will be able to create a lot of offense for the team. Jorge Saldanas-Veliz was a midfield player at Wyoming High School. He controlled the midfield for the Wolves for three years on the varsity team. He was a two-time captain for the Wolves and earned All-Conference and All-Conference Honorable Mention honors throughout high school.  A well-known player in the West Michigan area, Saldanas-Veliz played for several club teams over the years, including Revolution, Michigan Power, ABK, and Tricks FC. Jonathan Zamudio-Santoyo was named to All-Conference and All-District teams during his senior year, praised for his technical skills and leadership. Nathan Thomas played for Clarkston High School, a team that was ranked sixth in the nation at one point during his senior year.  He plays left and center back and center back and played soccer at a high level his entire life.  He played starting left back for Nationals Union 04 Black, starting every game in the State Cup, National League, and the Midwest Regional Championships.   This story was written by Ben Brown.

March 4, 2023, MARIANNA, Fla. - The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team opened the season with a 9-2 victory over Coastal Alabama Community College - South before losing 5-4 to Wallace Community College-Dothan in the nightcap The team kicked off a week of games against tough competition in Florida. In game one, GRCC ace and 2022 All-American Jerad Berkenpas threw a five-strikeout, zero-walk complete game. GRCC had 11 hits, led by Zacarias Salinas, who was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, including his first home run.  Fernando Rivera-Calederon and Xander Reisbig also went yard and each had two hits. In the nightcap, GRCC led 3-1, but Wallace-Dothan used a four-run second inning to take a 5-3 lead and held on for the one-run victory. Joe Hoeks and two RBI, Trevin Lamin and Dylan Chargo had the other two RBI for the Raiders. Chargo and Hoeks had two of the team's eight hits. Kellan Smith pitched four shutout innings in relief, giving up no hits while striking out six. GRCC will play again on Sunday, facing Chipola College in a double header starting at 2 p.m. This story was reported by Ben Brown.  

March 3, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - As both a professor and a tutor, Tom Neils is always looking for opportunities to help students have a “lightbulb moment” - when a student fully understands a concept.  Neils came to GRCC 25 years ago to teach a variety of chemistry courses. Upon retiring in 2021, Neils became a tutor for the TRIO program to continue supporting students. TRIO is a federally funded program that supports first-generation, low-income students, and students with disabilities during their college experience. The program's assistance ranges from academic and financial support to personal counseling and physical needs.  “TRIO is special because everyone works so diligently to help the students not only succeed in their studies, but also learn about all the opportunities available to them after they graduate from GRCC,” Neils said. Working with students is the best part of Neils’s day. He tutors all STEM topics, but enjoys chemistry and math the most. As a tutor he is able to identify the hurdles that prevent a student from learning a specific skill or topic. A level of personal attention that was not as easily given in the classroom. Neils is impressed that students have so many great questions, and are eager to learn.  Neils is always looking for opportunities to continue learning. Over the past 15 years he has worked with colleagues and textbook authors to correct an error that has existed in the chemistry world for a long time about the pKa of water. The error appears in many common use textbooks, and Neils has written many modules and letters to get it corrected.  Since beginning the work in 2006, he and his colleagues have been able to get several textbook authors to make the changes and also some reference tables on the Internet. Their work was acknowledged by one of the most prestigious chemical journals, The Journal of the American Chemical Society. Neils and his colleague were invited to record a YouTube video with the editor-in-chief to discuss the error and their work to correct it.  Neils’s passion for chemistry motivates him to encourage students to pursue their own passions.  Neils tells students, “Choose a career that you are passionate about. If you are not sure what you want to do, take courses in a wide variety of fields so that you can find what is of interest to you. In either case, community college is a great place to start!” More information about the Physical Sciences is available here.  More information about TRIO is available here.

March 3, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . — DeMarco Adkins has some advice for Grand Rapids Community College students with disabilities: If you need help, ask for it. “When I started at GRCC, I really didn’t want to ask for help from Disability Support Services ,” said Adkins, whose cerebral palsy makes writing difficult. “It was my pride. I really wanted to try my best to do my work without that extra support.” That, he said, was a mistake. Adkins, who attended GRCC after graduating high school in 2008, dropped out his first semester when poor grades threatened his GPA. When he returned the following semester, Adkins said he gave himself permission to ask for help. “I really wanted to start off the semester as best as I could, so I requested their services immediately,” he said. He found the Disability Support Services advisors helpful, explaining the types of accommodations available and all required documentation for services. GRCC’s Disability Support Services is one of many learning resources the college offers. Its mission is to help students of all abilities have equal access to all curricular and co-curricular activities. That’s made possible by helping to remove campus barriers or coordinating reasonable accommodations. That support made all the difference. “The advisors assigned an individual who was a note-taker because I write slow and couldn’t keep up with the class and what the instructor was talking about,” said Adkins, now 32. “I was also given extra time to take tests and exams, which was very helpful for me.” The college’s Academic Advising & Transfer Center later stepped in to assist Adkins when he decided to transfer in 2010 to Cornerstone University. “Most of my GRCC classes were transferable, which was great,” said Adkins, who completed an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in ministry leadership at Cornerstone. Adkins suggests other GRCC students with disabilities immediately seek support services to avoid falling behind like him. “There’s no shame in it, trust me,” he said. The Disability Support Services office is located on room 368 of the Student Center, and can connect with students in person and virtually. The office can be contacted by email at disability@grcc.edu , and by phone at (616) 234-4140. This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

March 2, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Brockton Kohler sank two free throws with 10.7 seconds remaining helping the Grand Rapids Community College's men's basketball to an 81-78 win over Delta College on Thursday. In the earlier game, Sally Merrill scored a career-high 31 points, but the women’s team fell 78-65 in the team's final regular-season game. With the win, the men's team will head to the postseason on a six-game winning streak, with a 21-7 overall record and 9-5 conference record.  The team finished in third place. “It was a back and forth battle all the way to the finish,” coach Joe Fox said. “We got some great performances down the stretch tonight, particularly from Kohler, Isaac Warning, and Danyel Bibbs. Defensively, Carter Thomas, Bashir Neely and Seth Schuitema all had a huge impact. I'm proud of this team’s regular season. Twenty-one wins is a great bounce back after a rough year last year from a wins and losses standpoint. Seeing the maturation of the sophomores has been great.” Kolher's game-high 21 points included five three-pointers on 7-of-13 from the field. Isaac Warning played a career-high 38 minutes and scored a career-best 18 points and had a team-high nine rebounds. Danyel Bibbs had  17 points, six rebounds and a game-high nine assists. The women's team led 16-15 after the first quarter, but Delta College erupted for 28 points in the second quarter and built a lead that GRCC couldn't surpass. GRCC did have fewer turnovers and more steals and assists than the visitors, but were out-rebounded by 14, which was an uncommon occurrence as the team ranks as one of the top rebounding teams in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. Merrill's 31 points came just two nights from her previous career-high of 30 points against Kirtland Community College. Grace Lodes led the team with nine rebounds, three blocks and five steals while scoring seven points. The team dropped from second place in the conference to finish tied for third with a 10-4 record. Muskegon Community College will host GRCC's women's team on March 7 in the first round of the playoffs, while GRCC's men's team hosts Delta College. Both games will be at 7 p.m.  If either team wins, it will advance to the semi-finals later in the week at Mott Community College. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

March 2, 2023 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Grand Rapids Community College Geography professor Mike DeVivo will receive a top award at a national organization’s conference later this month. DeVivo will receive the Presidential Achievement Award from the American Association of Geographers during the Denver event. The organization gives the award to only two geographers annually who have made long-standing and distinguished contributions to the discipline. The AAG credited DeVivo for defining the value of community colleges as a “nurturing ground” for new geography students. “I was shocked and at a loss for words when I learned I had been selected for this award!” said DeVivo, who has been with GRCC since 2002. DeVivo was born in Europe but attended high school in Connecticut. He enlisted in the Marines at age 17, serving in reconnaissance and later became a Navy diver. Following his honorable discharge, he was licensed as a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer, commanding several vessels for the mineral and oil industry. He then began his university studies. During the conference, which is being held face to face for the first time since 2019, GRCC’s Geography program will also be honored with the AAG Program Excellence Award Honorable Mention. The program is recognized for its successful students and alumni, as well as student-led efforts to counter food insecurity and poverty in Grand Rapids and fund raising to support female education in Africa. The AAG declared, “The current vision of a space to address society is compelling. The alumni and collegial testaments, along with the letters of support indicate a strong and reputable program.”  GRCC’s Geography program offers both Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. The curriculum, which combines writing-intensive courses as well as lab and field work, is offered in-person, online or a combination of in-class and online. Students have made presentations at academic conferences and have conducted research in the United States, Latin America and Africa. The Geography program runs a speakers series and sponsors a chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the International Geographical Honor society. DeVivo, who will also take part in two sessions at the conference, said he expects to meet with a number of GRCC alumni who work in the field.