Feb. 17, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- After a dozen years as an adjunct instructor at Grand Rapids Community College, Jonathan Marshall is in his first year as an assistant professor in the music department and the college’s Director of Guitar Studies. And he couldn’t be happier. “This is the best job in the world,” he said. “Our students are great, and the people I work with in the music department, just amazing, amazing people. I couldn’t ask for anything more.” In addition to his teaching and work as director, Marshall also heads up the  GRCC International Guitar Series and the  GRCC Community Guitar Ensemble/Society and is director of the  GRCC Virtual Youth Guitar Competition . “It’s busy,” he said with a chuckle. “But it’s a busy I wouldn’t trade for anything. I was a student here myself to be back in this capacity is a dream come true.” In fact, Marshall added, he and the college’s three other guitar teachers – Brian Morris (his predecessor as Director of Guitar Studies), Kyle Thompson and Jeremy Verwys – are all GRCC alumni, graduates of the guitar concentration that is part of the associate degree in music. “We all walked these halls as students,” he said. “Now we’re back to teach the next generation. And what’s even better is we all get along, we all work hard, and we all want to see our students succeed. It’s pretty cool.” What’s also pretty cool, he said, are the students he and his colleagues work with daily and the opportunities they have to succeed. “The students we work with value their education, and they want to get as much knowledge as they can while they are here,” he said. “And for us, we walked the path they are on now, so it’s really fulfilling to see them develop these skills that they can use the rest of their life. At the end of the day, you can either watch Netflix all day or you can practice guitar, right.” GRCC music students can be a guitar performance major and also have guitar as their applied instrument while pursuing a different music degree, including Instrumental Studies , Piano and Organ Studies , Recording Technology and Vocal . Marshall said there are typically 10-15 students enrolled in applied guitar lessons (one-on-one lessons), and the department also offers group guitar classes in classical guitar, beginning guitar and jazz guitar. And students who take applied lessons or guitar class often later enroll in the GRCC guitar ensemble. “It’s safe to say that there is a lot of guitar going on at GRCC music,” Marshall said. Marshall and his guitar colleagues all play professionally, and he said the thrill of performing never gets old. It’s also eye-opening for GRCC students to see their instructors in action. “When people hear something, and you see them happy because our fingers can do this, it’s satisfying,” he said. “And for our students, yeah, we’ll play, maybe as part of the (International Guitar) series, and it opens their eyes.” Marshall performs with Morris in the  Grand Rapids Guitar Duo , and they will perform at GRCC on April 13 as part of the International Guitar Series. Morris was his mentor when Marshall was a student at GRCC, before he went on to study classical guitar with Carlos De La Barrera at Grand Valley State University and complete his master's degree at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati under Professor Clare Callahan. As he looks back on his academic career though, his experience at GRCC, Marshall said, remains the most formative part of his higher education experience. “Being here was just an amazing experience,” he said. “I think sometimes when students leave GRCC, and this was true for me, maybe they are expecting something better and bigger. But that’s not always the case. And wherever they go or whatever they do, I know our students are well prepared for the next step.” Marshall added with a laugh that he initially came to GRCC because of the culinary program, but then realized there was a waitlist so figured he’d bide his time until there was an opening. Having studied music as a child, including guitar, he migrated to the music department, and it was love at first note. “I never left,” he said laughing. “GRCC Music is where I found my purpose.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.

Feb. 17, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Jessica Pierce had no idea the true impact she could have on someone's life when she came to GRCC.  Pierce is the program manager for the MTEC Champions Program. A program that fast tracks students to enter the workforce. MTEC Champions allows underserved young adults aged 18 to 24 the opportunity to receive free training in any MTEC program that is 12 months or less.  The program also offers services such as transportation assistance, mental health resources, and more.  “By alleviating these barriers to education we help students gain meaningful experiences and careers,” Pierce said.  Pierce loves seeing student’s success stories, and often gets to be a part of their story. She recalls one student who was unsure what they wanted to do with their career, or even how to go about it. Through the Champions program the student was able to receive free training, as well as support while having a baby, and searching for a job after graduation. The student was also able to purchase their first home and now is pursuing a degree in healthcare.  “It feels so good to know you helped make a difference in someone’s life, and that your work  is impacting the community,” Pierce said.  Pierce’s career journey allows her to connect with students.  Pierce entered the healthcare industry after graduating from St. Philip's College. It wasn’t until five years ago that she stepped into the world of higher education. “I realized I like to teach and to encourage learning, GRCC allowed me a space to merge my two passions together, healthcare and education,” Pierce said.  Pierce came to GRCC to teach courses on employability skills in the Certified Nurse Aide program. Over time she has taken on more responsibility and now gets to help students on their own career journeys.  Pierce encourages students to give themselves grace if they are unsure of their next steps. She pushes students to take advantage of all of the opportunities and resources available to them.  “GRCC provides tons of resources to help you reach your goals. Know that the staff are here to support you and want to see you succeed,” Pierce said.  More information about the M-TEC Champions Program is available here.  More information about workforce training is available here.

Feb. 16, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Brockton Kohler recorded a season-high 29 points to lead the Grand Rapids Community College men's basketball team to its second win in as many nights with a 105-80 over Aquinas College’s junior varsity team. "It was good to see the team respond with a dominant second half after struggling against AQ's hot shooting in the first half," head coach Joe Fox said. "Kohler had a great night on both ends, leading the team in scoring and steals. It's great to see a sophomore playing great down the stretch. I was also happy to see every player score, and record an assist for the first time this season." GRCC jumped out to a 12-3 lead, but Aquinas fought back to take a 45-39 lead at the half. The Saints lead increased to 13 just a minute and 26 seconds into the second half, but Jordan Houser gave GRCC the lead back with 11:13 on the clock.  GRCC did not trail for the remainder of the game, nearly scoring on every possession to cruise for the 25-point victory. GRCC shot a stellar 65 percent in the second half, and finished 51 percent overall, including 41 percent from behind the arc. Kohler played a huge role in the efficient shooting by going 11-for-17 overall and 6-of-10 from three-point range. All 12 players scored at least two points and had at least one assist. Rico Wade, Danyel Bibbs, Chris Coleman and Bashir Neely all scored 10 points. Isaac Warning added eight points and a career-high five assists. GRCC, now 17-7 overall, returns to conference play on Feb. 18 when the team travels to Alpena Community College.  This story was reported by Ben Brown.  

Feb. 16, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Sally Merrill of the Grand Rapids Community College women's basketball team was named National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Player of the Week after two games of scoring more than 20 points.   Merrill was also named Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference Player of the Week, marking two weeks in a row that a player on the team received this honor. "I thought Sally had a heck of a week for us and her numbers back that up," head coach David Glazier said. "I’m proud of her efforts and think the recognition is well deserved." Merrill, an Allegan native who attended Hamilton High School, is coming off a 26-point game where she shot 12-of-19 from the field in Saturday's game at Bay College, helping her team to a dominating 71-36 victory. The two-year starter also added six rebounds and two blocks, giving her a two-game total of 46 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and four assists. Merrill leads the team in scoring, with 291 points and averaging 15.3 per game, and free throw percentage at 69.4 percent.  She is also second on the team in rebounding and blocked shots. Merrill last year was earned All-Region, All-MCCAA, First Team All-Conference honors, and was named to the All-Freshman Team. Last week, Grace Lodes was named Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference Player of the Week after a career best performance, and earlier in the season, teammate Marlene Bussler was named Player of the Week for week ending Dec. 11. The women's basketball team is 12-7 overall, 6-3 in the conference and will attempt to stay in second place when it takes on Muskegon Community College in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.   This story was reported by Ben Brown.

Feb. 15, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Emersyn Koepke, Marlene Bussler and Myron Brewer all had career nights helping the Grand Rapids Community College women's and men's basketball teams defeat Muskegon Community College on Wednesday. David Glazier's women's team earned its biggest win of the season by defeating Muskegon 62-55.  The rivals had won 16 of the previous 19 against GRCC, including three in a row. "Extremely proud of the effort we played with tonight," Glazier said. "This was a big win in a big moment of this season and it came against a really good team in Muskegon." Koepke was a huge spark for GRCC, especially early on, scoring eight of the team's 21 first quarter points.  She finished with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and seven rebounds. Bussler's career-high 12th assist to Karissa Ferry with 1:36 remaining broke a 55-all tie. GRCC hung  on after several defensive stops and five big free throws. Ferry finished with her second career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sally Merrill added a game-high 16 points. The team is now 13-7 and moved into second place in the conference with a 7-3 record. The men's team jumped out to a nine-point lead, but Muskegon came back to take a 43-41 lead going into the break. The visitors extended the lead to six points in the second half, but GRCC went on a 12-0 run and never looked back, leading by as many as 20 to win 95-78. Brewer was one of 12 GRCC players to score in the game, including a career and team-high 19 points on 7-of-11 from the field, and four of the team's 10 total three-pointers. The Raiders shot 51.4 percent overall from the field and 34.5 percent from behind the arc. Danyel Bibbs finished 6-of-10 for 14 points and a team-high seven assists. Chris Coleman and Herman Brown added 13 and 12 points respectively. GRCC snapped a two-game skid to improve to 16-7 overall and 5-5 in the conference, holding on to third place. The men's team is in action again on Thursday, Feb. 16 for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off against the junior varsity of Aquinas College.  The women don't play again until Feb. 18 at Alpena Community College.   This story was reported by Ben Brown.

Feb. 15, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Bayard Brooks, Grand Rapids Community College’s coordinator of facility operations and events, is one of eight people saluted by West Michigan Works! for outstanding and exemplary service. Brooks was presented with a 2022 Essential Service Award from Malinda Powers, the organization’s communications director, at the Wisern-Bottrall Applied Technology Center this month. As a conference services coordinator, Brooks is responsible for the details that give people a positive event experience when they visit GRCC. Over the past 22 years, Bayard has consistently ensured that rooms are reserved, equipped with audio visual equipment, set up as planned, and confirmed with catering. He leads tours of the facilities and is often a customer’s first point of contact. “Bayard can always be counted on to get the job done, even if that means showing up early or staying late,” Powers said. The Beverly A. Drake Essential Service Awards recognize the important role service workers play in the West Michigan economy. “Without those who faithfully fulfill necessary roles, our economy would suffer greatly. These awards shine a bright light on these very special people,” the organization’s website reads. Drake, a GRCC alumna, was a champion to those in need and a mentor to West Michigan community leaders. She started her career in 1971 as an administrative aide for the city of Grand Rapids and then worked for the Grand Rapids Area Employment and Training Council. From 1985 to 2011, she served as executive director of Area Community Services Employment and Training, which creates economic opportunities for low-income, elderly, disabled, unemployed and under-employed people. She was a founding member of the Coalition for Representative Government, and Michigan Works!, where she served on the directors council, established the Beverly A. Drake Essential Service Awards in her honor. She was a member of the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation’s board of directors for 27 years and was named the college’s Distinguished Alumna in 1995. Team members must display pride in their job, have a positive attitude, a strong work ethic and habits, punctuality and complete work on-time. Nominations are submitted by employers and community members, and winners are chosen by a committee established by the Workforce Development Board.  

Feb. 14, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College women's soccer team signed its first five players as it looks ahead to its inaugural season this fall. "I am excited about the first five women's soccer signings," coach Lizzie Hornack said.  "They are all from the Grand Rapids area and will be a great fit for our program. There is so much talent in the Grand Rapids area for women's soccer. There has already been so much interest in this program." 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. The team is preparing for a fall season debut. The men's team signed its first four players of their inaugural class two weeks ago and recently signed several more. Added to the women’s team is: Brooklyn Williams, a center back/center forward who attends Rockford High School and played on a club team at Michigan Futbol Academy and was State Cup champions in 2021. Allison Seevers, who plays outside midfielder/forward and was a four-year varsity player at Lowell High School. She played on a club team with SCOR-Meulensteen. Claira DeYoung, a forward/midfielder, was a two-year varsity player at Jenison High School and played with the Michigan Rangers. Belicia Cuevas, a forward/midfielder, attends GRCC student who played at Wyoming High School. Brooklyn Geerlings, a left winger, was a two-year varsity player at Zeeland West High School and played for the Michigan Rangers. Men's signees are: Daniel Beyers, from Thornapple-Kellogg High School, played for a club team at Thornapple Area Soccer Club before going to play for Midwest United. His team won the district tournament in 2019 and was the varsity captain during his junior and senior years. He received First Team All-Conference, All-District and All-Team academics honors. He is studying pre-engineering and is pursuing a career in product design. Cole Drozdowsk is a center back/defensive mid who attends East Kentwood High School and plays outdoors for Midwest United and MigosFC for futsal. His team won the district championship in high school in 2022 and won State Cup with MFA Revolution in 2022. Jonathan Garcia is a goalkeeper/fullback for Kelloggsville High School. He plays for Michigan Power and boasted a 82 percent save percentage in high school, helping his team win four penalty shootouts. He kept five clean sheets during senior year, earning him Second Team All-Conference honors. Allex Hernandez plays center mid and was a four-year varsity player at Dowagiac Union High School, a two-time district champion. He was a two-time First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State; three time All-District Jeremy Mazariegos plays center attacking mid at Union High School, where he was named freshman and junior varsity team most valuable player and plays for the Midwest United FC club team. Jordan Marquez - Striker - Northview High School where he was named All-District; plays club at Michigan Rangers and was the leading scorer for the team this past year There are still opportunities for students looking to be a part of both teams.  Recruiting questionnaires are available here. This story was reported by Ben Brown.

Feb. 13, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – GRCC’s Psychology Department Lecture Series is hosting the discussion, “Toward Trans Allyship: ‘They’ Isn’t Plural and Other Lessons in Gender Diversity,” in wake of the deadliest year ever for transgender and non-binary people. The event is planned for 1-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb.  15, 2023 in room 168 of the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center. There is no charge for the session, and it is open to students and the community. No registration is required. The session will feature Melissa Selby-Theut, a licensed social worker who is the associate director and director of Prevention and Community Education at Grand Valley State University. Selby-Theut will explore the fundamental tenets of gender in light of current research and dispel common myths with the goals of increasing understanding and promoting gender justice. She will share how centuries of misinformation and misunderstanding can impede efforts to support people in these communities and ultimately bring about change. She will discuss how communities and individuals are not only poised for, but called to, action.  The LGBTQ advocacy organization Human Rights Campaign has documented at least 302 violent deaths of transgender and gender-nonconforming people since the group began tracking such fatalities in 2013. That figure includes 32 people in the United States. According to a PBS Newshour report, the organizations believes the number of fatalities is undercounted because the deaths of trans people often go unreported or the victims are misgendered in news or police reports. The figures do not include those who died by suicide, which has also been documented at significantly higher rates among LGBTQ people than in the general population. Additional information about the Psychology Lecture Series is available here .

Feb. 13, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – When you find something you love, you want to share it with everyone. Grand Rapids Community College helped Bree Mitchell build a career on her love for music. 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. As East Grand Rapids High School’s director of orchestras, Mitchell shares her talent and experience with sixth- through 12th-graders. She tries to give them the same encouragement she received at GRCC. “GRCC was a valuable experience for me because it helped me work on my technical abilities on my instrument and get a lot of individualized attention and opportunities as a student,” said Mitchell, whose main instrument is the viola. “All of the faculty I worked with were passionate about helping students succeed.” After earning her associate degree in 2016, she completed a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Memphis. Before her East Grand Rapids post, she worked with music students in the Lowell and Caledonia districts and at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. “GRCC helped me prepare for my role now by offering me opportunities to connect with people in the community,” she said. “I did this through the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra and by being able to play with the GRCC Orchestra at different schools.” Start your GRCC story today here.  

Feb. 11, 2023, ESCANABA, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College women's basketball team scored the first 16 points of the second half and cruised to a 71-46 victory at Bay College on Saturday. The men’s team fell short, losing 99-72. After leading by just 11 at the break, the GRCC women’s team out-scored the Norse 41-17, while leading by as many as 41 mid way through the final quarter.  With the win, the team is now 12-7 and in third place in the conference with a 6-3 record. "Anytime we can get a win on the road in this conference, we’ve done some nice things,” coach David Glazier said. “Today it was specifically on display when looking at our play coming out of halftime. I’m especially proud given the added challenge of traveling nearly six hours away for this one. Credit to our kids for locking in and keeping a business-like focus for this trip." Sally Merrill led all scorers with 26 points on an efficient 12 of 19 from the floor, while grabbing six rebounds. It was her 16th career game with 20 or more points and fourth in her last five games. As a team, GRCC shot 44.8 percent from the field, which was their third best performance of the season.  It also bested Bay College in every other statistical category including 10 more rebounds, 11 more assists and 11 fewer turnovers. Grace Lodes, 12 points, Allison Kellogg, 11 points, and Karissa Ferry, 11 rebounds were the only other Raiders in double figures. The men's team trailed by 14 at the break, and went on a 13-3 run to start the second half and make it a four-point game. But Bay College coasted to a 99-72 victory to stay unbeaten in the conference.  GRCC dropped to 4-5 in conference play and 15-7 overall. Herman Brown came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points, including four-of-eight from behind the arc. Danyel Bibbs and Chris Coleman were the only Raiders in double figures with 11 and 10 points. Both teams will return home on Feb. 15 to take on rival Muskegon Community College.  The women will tip-off first at 5:30 p.m.  This story was reported by Ben Brown.