March 1, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is reflecting on the leadership and achievements of women at the college and in society with a series of events commemorating Women’s History Month. The GRCC Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has planned a series of activities throughout the month, focusing on wellness, leadership and support. Events include: YWCA and Women’s Resource Center donation collection, running all month at the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Library and Learning Commons. Donation wish lists are here .   YWCA information session. Participants will learn about what the YWCA offers and how they can volunteer with the organization. The event is planned for 2-3 p.m. on March 2 in Library and Learning Commons, room 123.   Women’s Wellness Workshop, where participants can take a deeper dive into self-care with Tashuna Hunt, LMSW. The event is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 21 at the Library and Learning Commons, room 123.   YWCA visit. Students will drop off donations collected throughout the month and get a tour of the YWCA building at 2-3 p.m. on March 22 at the YWCA, 25 Sheldon Ave SE in Grand Rapids.   Diversity Lecture Series: Graci Harkema: “Finding Belonging in Intersectionality.” Harkema is an international diversity, equity, and inclusion speaker and author, specializing in inclusive leadership and unconscious bias for Fortune 500, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. The event is planned for 4-5 p.m. on March 23 in the Wisner Applied Technology Center, room 168.   Salute to Women. This event celebrates the accomplishments of women and gender equity advocates who impact the GRCC community and beyond. The award is open to all GRCC stakeholders regardless of gender or gender identity. Annually, persons who exemplify high achievement in advocacy, community service, leadership, and student engagement are nominated in three categories. The event is planned for noon to 1 p.m. on March 29 at Sneden Hall room 108. Additional information on these events and others is available on the ODEI website .

Feb. 28, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Chris Coleman and Sally Merrill scored career highs to help lead Grand Rapids Community College basketball teams to a season sweep over Kirtland Community College on Tuesday. Both the women’s team and men’s team celebrated the careers of seven sophomores before their games, and both cruised to fifth wins in a row after defeating Kirtland Community College 90-66 in the opener and 97-78 in the night cap. Kirtland's women's team led by as many as eight in the opening quarter thanks to four straight three-point-shots by Racquel Du Breuil. But GRCC responded to finish out the quarter up 20-18 and led the rest of the way. "I was happy with the way our kids finished, keeping their composure and focusing on the next play," head coach David Glazier said. "Also, really good to see Alyssa (Katerberg) find her rhythm and confidence tonight which complimented the performances that Sally and Grace (Lodes) put on.  All seven sophomores played well tonight, which was fitting on this special night." Merrill knocked in a career-high 30 points on 12-of-22 from the field and added eight rebounds.  Lodes - coming off a 23-point, 11-rebound performance in her last game - totaled 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. She also had five blocks and four assists. Katerberg finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. The team is now 16-7 and 10-3 in the conference, with one game remaining before postseason play. GRCC's men's team was on fire in the first half on the offensive end, racking up 59 points on 24-of-36 from the field and 9-of-18 from behind the arc in the first half. Coleman scored a career-high 22 points in just 19 minutes, while shooting 10-of-14 from the floor. He also had six rebounds and two of the team's 12 total three-point baskets. Eight GRCC players made at least one three and all but one player scored on the night. Danyel Bibbs finished with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists.  Isaac Warning dropped in a career-high 17 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds and assisting on a career best five shots. Both teams return home on March 2 for the regular season finale against Delta College. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

Feb. 28, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . — As a mom, Cassandra Tiensivu knows actions speak louder than words. So instead of just telling her young daughters about the importance of a college degree, the Comstock Park mother showed them and enrolled at Grand Rapids Community College herself. “I understand how hard it is for young people to follow the advice of someone who doesn’t put their money where their mouth is, so that’s when I decided to apply to GRCC and get myself a degree,” said Tiensivu, an honor roll student who’s pursuing a General Studies degree. Her daughters, now 21 and 18 years old, literally followed in her footsteps: Sabrina is in her second year at GRCC studying Business Administration and Juliana is a freshman in the college’s Math, Science and Engineering Academic Pathway . Tiensivu, now 43, married soon after high school and never attended college, instead working as a stay-at-home mom after her daughters were born. Several years after her divorce, she enrolled at GRCC in 2016. “Part of the reason I went back to school was because I wanted to instill the importance of college and a career so they wouldn’t be in the same position that I found myself,” she said. “I felt like the luckiest person in the world when I got my acceptance letter from GRCC.” When it was time for each daughter to start classes, Mom stepped up as their personal tour guide. “I was so proud to show them where everything was on campus,” Cassandra Tiensivu said. “If I hadn’t been a student myself, I don’t think I’d be able to assist them with the transition as well as I have.” Although she began at GRCC as a full-time student, Tiensivu’s class load flexes when her family needs more of her time. “In 2018, Sabrina was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and I took a year off school to be there for her,” she said. “Thankfully, she beat the cancer and is doing great.” Balancing classes, homework, household and “mom stuff” isn’t always easy. This semester, Tiensivu took a break from classes to focus on Celestial Kittens, a new company she started featuring space-themed felines she designed. Her product line includes stickers and stuffed toys, with a children’s book and fashion accessories on the way. “I would like to be self-sufficient with my own business and still be able to pursue other things,” she said. After exploring several academic fields through the years, Tiensivu is just nine credits away from an associate degree in general studies. She hopes to soon attain GRCC degrees in Pre-Art and Pre-Business before heading to a university and becoming a paleontologist. “I know it’s taken me a long time to get a degree but I’m going to get there eventually … I’m not giving up,” Tiensivu said. For now, she enjoys the time with her daughters, carpooling to GRCC with her youngest, eating lunch on campus at Quiet Cafe, and watching all three of their career aspirations come to life. And her daughters are still watching and learning. “I think it's awesome that Mom is going back to school,” Sabrina Tiensivu said. “When I see Mom study, all I can think of is how hardworking and dedicated she is.” This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

Feb. 27, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College student-athletes are teaming up with Student Life to support students challenged by food insecurity and collect food donations at upcoming basketball games. Spectators who bring two or more food items to the Thursday, March 2 games against Delta College will be given free popcorn at the concessions stand. The women’s team plays at 5:30 p.m., and the men’s team takes the floor at 7:30 p.m. Free popcorn also will be available for students, faculty and staff who donate two items or more earlier in the day, between 12:30 and 3 p.m. in the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse.   All of the food items will be donated to the GRCC Food Pantry, which has served thousands of students since the start of the pandemic. “Our student-athletes strive to be leaders on and off the court, and care very much about our campus community,” Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “It’s important for us to all support our campus food pantry. But we also need to raise awareness of the problem of food insecurity and how it affects our students.” GRCC’s Food Pantry and snack pantries are designed to meet the immediate food needs of its students on campus by providing a variety of non-perishable food items and basic necessities to students and their families. GRCC’s Food Pantry is located in the Student Center, and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Students can visit the pantry weekly. Students can register in the Student Life Office. There are 10 snack pantries located across campus, providing grab-and-go options including granola bars and microwavable soups. They are maintained in partnership by Student Life, the English department, Psi Beta, Counseling and Career Development, Library and Learning Commons and the Tassell M-TEC. The Snack Pantries do not require registration and food is provided when available. Information is available at grcc.edu/foodpantry . Students can connect with additional campus and community resources at grcc.edu/gethelp . The food drive is part of a conference-wide effort organized by the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.

Feb. 27, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – As the first director of Workforce Development at Latin Americans United for Progress, Grand Rapids Community College alumna Maria Morales strives to connect West Michigan residents to the skills that will give them satisfying careers as they fill crucial gaps for area employers.  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. The “3+1” program allowed her to complete three years of a bachelor’s degree program  at GRCC before completing the final year at Ferris State University. She credits GRCC’s  equitable access and opportunities for her success.  “GRCC was indispensable to my education,” she said. “As a first-generation college student, I had the guidance of incredible advisors and professors who helped me navigate unfamiliar educational systems and structures, who believed in me and advocated for me each step of the way. Being able to enroll for online learning and the 3+1 program reduced the challenges of completing a degree as a full-time professional, wife, and mother to an infant." Morales completed her bachelor’s in business administration with a certification in leadership and supervision from Ferris and is commissioned by the state as a notary public. With her work at LAUP, she has come full circle – as she explores opportunities to collaborate with GRCC on building career pathways to better equip people to meet workforce needs.  Start your GRCC story today here.

Feb. 25, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Dr. Patricia Pulliam and the late Cedric Ward, who created the GIANT Awards 40 years ago to preserve history and inspire the next generations, were honored Saturday with the GIANT’s first Legacy Awards for their impact. GRCC since 1983 has hosted the annual awards recognizing African American leaders and organizations for their exceptional contributions in shaping the history and quality of life in Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Leaders are honored each year in 12 categories, and with an overall GIANT Among Giants revealed at the ceremony. The 40th anniversary celebration highlighted the past GIANT honorees and honored Pulliam and Ward. “Whatever the GIANT banquet has become is beyond my wildest imagination from 40 years ago,” Pulliam said. “That you, community. The GIANT banquet has grown, and grown, and grown. It’s all because of people like you. It’s all because of the people who have received awards during the past 40 years. I thank you for keeping it going in the spirit in which it started. We are recognizing people who made a difference here, not for themselves, but for the rest of us.” Pulliam has made two careers shining a light on minority issues and concerns: first as a Grand Rapids Community College educator and later as a newspaper publisher. She began at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College in the early 1970s as a language arts instructor and advisor to the Black Students Union. She later became chair of the Council for Minority Concerns, an advisory group to GRJC President Richard Calkins that worked to attract, support and retain minority students. The council organized conflict resolution workshops, an annual banquet for minority high school seniors and their parents, and a loan fund to help African American, Hispanic and Native American students. After a referendum passed in 1991 that created the independent Grand Rapids Community College, she became executive vice president and vice president for instruction and administration. Pulliam capped her 30-year college career by serving as interim president in 1998 – the first woman and the first African American to lead GRCC. She received an inaugural Salute to Women Award in 1999. Patricia and Yergan Pulliam purchased The Grand Rapids Times in 1986. Founded in 1957, it is the oldest existing weekly publication targeting the black community in Grand Rapids. She is active as both publisher and editor. The arts and social justice were the twin passions of Cedric Ward, who passed away in 2002. His theatrical debut at the age of 13 in a Circle Theater production of “Little Foxes” was the start of four decades of directing, performing and volunteering. He and his wife, Sandy, established Circle Theater’s first children’s company, and he wrote and directed its first production, “Hansel and Gretel.” He founded the Robeson Players in the 1980s to provide theatrical opportunities to African Americans and co-founded the Grand Rapids Symphony’s “Symphony with Soul” concert. Ward was focused on helping young people have access to higher education. and the Junior Giants Cedric Ward Leadership Scholarship is named in his honor. The Cedric and Sandy Ward Leadership Award goes annually to a Grand Rapids Community College student. He was honored by the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids for his leadership and received the Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp Legacy Award posthumously from the Grand Rapids Symphony. “As I look through the list of GIANT Among GIANT honorees, I see people who made an impact nationally, and those who focused on strengthening our community right here in West Michigan,” GRCC President Charles Lepper said at the event. “There are doctors, educators, pastors, artists, business leaders, activists, judges, and those who filled other important roles. One thing they have in common is that none of them likely sought the recognition they received. They followed their hearts, did what they knew was right, and focused on making their community a better place. Some are with us tonight, others we cherish in our memories. By sharing their stories, we inspire the next generations to think about what they can do for others.”

Feb. 25, 2023, PETOSKEY, Mich. – Myron Brewer and Grace Lodes led the Grand Rapids Community College basketball teams to a season sweep over North Central Michigan College on Saturday. GRCC's women's team opened up the day by defeating the Timberwolves 72-24, and the men's basketball team cruised to a 99-69 victory. Coach David Glazier's women’s team jumped out to a 20-4 lead and never looked back, improving to 15-7 overall and holding on to second place in the conference with a 9-3 record. Sophomore Grace Lodes was nearly perfect from the field and finished with a team-high 23 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Sally Merrill recorded a career-high six assists and added 13 points. GRCC assisted on 28 of their 32 total field goals made, while shooting 52.5 percent overall. GRCC's men's team maintained its third place ranking in the conference with the team’s fourth win in a row,  improving to 19-7 and 7-5 in the conference. "It was fun to go on the road and play a solid game today," head coach Joe Fox said. "Defensively the guys locked into the game plan and executed well.  Rico Wade has really emerged as a ball stopper defensively, and the team feeds off his energy.  Carter Thomas and Jajuan Walker made great defensive plays as well. I was impressed with Myron and Chris' play on the offensive end, and the roster of sophomores were very impactful as well. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate them on Tuesday nights home game verses Kirtland."  Myron Brewer became the eighth player to lead the Raiders in scoring this year, finishing with 21 points, including four three-pointers and three dunks.  It also was his first career double-double after a game-high 11 rebounds. Danyel Bibbs also had a double-double, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds and 10 assists.  Chris Coleman was two points short of his career-high with 20 points.  "Our team came out with a lot of effort and energy and picked it up early on the defensive rebound and finished good around the rim," Coleman said. Both teams return home on Feb. 28 to take on Kirtland Community College, where GRCC will honor all the sophomores before their respective games. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

Feb. 23, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Everyone attending the GIANT Awards 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday will enjoy a chocolate treat created by students and faculty from three Grand Rapids Community College programs, gaining in-demand skills. Since 1983, GRCC has hosted the annual awards recognizing African American leaders and organizations for their exceptional contributions in shaping the history and quality of life in West Michigan. The 40th anniversary celebration will highlight past GIANT honorees and present a special award, with recipients revealed at the event. The gala starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at DeVos Place’s Exhibit Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW. Details are at grcc.edu/GIANT40. Dr. Werner Absenger, program director for GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education, said he recognized the significance of the event, and connected with colleagues in the Manufacturing Department, the School of STEM Mechanical Design department, and the College Advancement team to work on a special project to enhance the celebration. Faculty and students created about 1,000 chocolate bars with the GIANT Awards 40th anniversary logo, which will be shared with all guests attending the Saturday gala. Students gained in-demand career skills while learning about the history of the GIANT Awards and how honorees shaped the community. “The learning experience here is that to mass produce a simple food item, such as a special occasion chocolate bar, we need to have an interdisciplinary approach,” Absenger said. “Mechanical designers conceptualized a mold for plastics engineering students to create, and be used by culinary artists to pour the chocolate into. Communication and planning were the keys to an awesome product.” Professor Michael Merchant, head of the Mechanical and Architectural Design Department, worked with students and state-of-the-art equipment in GRCC’s Makers Lab to craft the shape of the chocolate bar with the logo, then created a model using a 3D printer. Merchant then collaborated with professor Scott Lampe, who works with students in the Plastics-Polymer Engineering Technology Certificate program. Lampe used the 3D printed mold and a thermoformer, a machine that surrounds the model in heated plastic, vacuums out the air and creates a reverse image that can be used as a mold for the chocolate. After a test run, additional models were created to fabricate 66 molds to share with the culinary students in chef Wilfredo Barajas’ pastry class, who used dark chocolate couverture to melt and pour into the molds, then added a golden coating before packaging. “It’s not a special recipe, but what makes it special is that my CA 204 Pastry students get tons of practice tempering chocolate,” he said. “Working chocolate to have the right crystal formation is advanced pastry. Having 1,000 bars to make has given my students an opportunity to practice and master chocolate tempering. We finished the chocolate bars with edible food-grade gold powder by brushing and, in some instances, we used an air compressor and a spray gun.” The 40th anniversary logo and packaging was designed by Lisa Kirschner of the GRCC Communications Department.  

Feb. 22, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Jenna Ackerman’s creation looked like a fancy egg on toast, but it was actually something much sweeter. Ackerman is an advanced pastry student in Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. The class recently showed off  its colorful array of treats in a pop-up sale in the Foodology Eatery and Café in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center. “This pastry buffet is a five-star level; it compares to any hotel or restaurant in the area,” Chef Wilfredo Barajas proudly said of his students’ work. “It might take someone 10 years to learn pastry, but these students learn and master 30-50 techniques in seven weeks.” Through the Secchia Institute, GRCC students develop baking and pastry skills, and are mentored by instructors who have years of experience in the field and around the world. Barajas led the seven-week baking and pastry program and prepared his students to create desserts for the pop-up sale, their final project. “My students may come into this program knowing how to cook, but many of them start with no training or knowledge of pastry,” Barajas said. “When students come to me, I say ‘Let me control you for three to four weeks to build your foundation,’ and then after that they can expand and grow their skills.” Having trained with master chefs and college-level pastry programs around the country, Barajas said his goal is to prepare his students to go into any kitchen around the world with a well-rounded pastry knowledge and training. Barajas compared techniques for making pastry to tools in a tool box; if he can give his students all the right tools, he said, they will be well equipped to create desserts with tastes and textures. More than 2,000 patisseries were prepared by students for the popup and were plated and displayed on a three table-long buffet. Patrons could choose from chocolate marshmallows, jelly sweets, different flavors of macarons, tiny cream puffs and bonbons of every shape and color to fill their box. “It was a lot of work,” Ackermann said. “Our class was separated into different teams and each team made a different flavor of macaron and bonbon. That’s how we learned about coloring chocolate.”  She explained how students used existing recipes and selected their own flavors and colors to create patisseries for the event. “We learned a lot of new techniques, and it was a team effort to get it all done,” she said. In addition to their team’s assigned recipes, some students worked on personal projects, like Ackerman’s egg and toast. She created a mango and panna cotta “egg” atop a slice of pound cake to replicate toast. Even some of the decorations looked delicious. Weeks away from completing her final semester at GRCC, Kat De Vries completed two personal projects to put on display. “I made a crescent moon and flowers out of pulled sugar and it took two days to make,” she said. “The vase took longer, probably two weeks, and everything is made of fondant and chocolate. Except the flowers on top are gum paste.” De Vries said she had very little knowledge going into the project of the techniques she would use. “Now I’ve learned that I can make something like this,” she said. Previously a Kent Career Tech Center pastry student, De Vries plans to open an online bakery after completing her certification. This story was reported by Alexis Stark of School News Network.