Nov. 14, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It’s 5 p.m. on a Thursday, and Islam Hoxha is pacing the hallways of the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse. He’s nervous. A first-year assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Community College’s men’s basketball team , Hoxha said he gets nervous before every game. But on this mid-November day, he and the Raiders are 2 ½ hours away from tipoff against their archrivals, the Lansing Community College Stars. And although Hoxha is new to the GRCC program, he knows that his head coach, Joe Fox , spent three seasons working under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach Mike Ingram at LCC, so this game has particular meaning for Fox. Which means it has particular meaning for Hoxha. Which means even more pre-game jitters than normal. Still, basketball, Hoxha knows, is not life and death. He knows this because he knows life and death. “I do still have memories of Kosovo,” he said of his home country, while safely ensconced in the cozy confines of the fieldhouse. “I can remember riding on my dad’s shoulders as he carried me, as my family fled to the mountains in search of safety, running from the people who wanted to kill us.” That was 1998, and Islam Hoxha was 5 years old. He and his family were caught in the middle of the Kosovo war, an approximately 16-month conflict that pitted forces from Yugoslavia against the Kosovo Liberation Army. Really though, the violence of the war had been going on for most of Hoxha’s life, beginning already in the early 1990s when the KLA formed to fight the persecution of Kosovo Albanians. So, after running to the mountains, the Hoxha family just kept going, first to Macedonia and eventually to the United States. Hoxha was 7 years old and starting over in a new country, fluent in the languages of Albania, Bosnia and Serbia but knowing no English. He smiled as he recalled that time in his life. “We were welcomed,” he said. “We had families who sponsored us and helped us. At school, we were put in a class with other refugees, so we could learn together. We had English language services available to us, and we just had so many people who helped us. I can’t thank them enough.” Part of his refuge, he says now, was sports. His dad had been a professional soccer player, so at Forest Hills Northern, Islam was a standout member of the school’s soccer team. He never played basketball though, neither in high school nor in college, first attending GRCC for two years taking hospitality courses and then finishing up at LCC in the hospitality program. So, how did a soccer-playing native of Kosovo end up as an assistant coach on the GRCC men’s basketball team? Well, part of the story includes a woman. And part of it is hooked to Hoxha’s bold approach to life. Again, he smiles as he recounts the story. “I had met someone on a trip back to Kosovo,” he said. “We were dating and then she became my fiancé and now she is my wife. But before that happened, I went back for a year to be with her. And one day, I went to see the local basketball team practice. And then I went to see their director of basketball operations, and I said to him, ‘I would like to join your staff as a volunteer.’” And that’s how Islam Hoxha became an assistant coach for the 2021-22 season for the KB Rahoveci Vreshtarët in the Kosovo Basketball Superleague, the top professional league in Kosovo and a member of FIBA, which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. “We had a coach from Greece, another from Turkey,” he said. “We had a dozen (NCAA) Division I players from the U.S. It was the learning experience of a lifetime.” Now Hoxha is back in the U.S., working at Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) as a patient services representative even as he plans to enter a new GRCC neurodiagnostic apprenticeship program that sees the college partnering with Corewell to fill a growing gap in the health care system. And he is sharing his experiences in Kosovo – and his deep love for basketball – with the GRCC basketball program, its 15 players and his fellow coaches. “I love basketball because it’s a beautiful game,” he said simply. “But another reason I love it is because I know I am helping young men achieve some goals they have set for themselves. It’s meaningful to be a part of their lives and always be there for them when they need advice, knowledge or just someone to talk to.” And, he added, there is a strong element in his coaching philosophy of paying it forward. “Coming to the United States as a refugee, a lot of people helped my family and me in the beginning and I could never be more thankful,” he said. “So, helping these young men get to where they want to be in life as people and as athletes is definitely a way in response to everyone who has helped me.” Fox said that in Hoxha’s short time with the program, he already is making a big difference. “It's hard to overstate how he has helped us in his first semester on campus,” Fox said. “Coming from the world of professional basketball, he sees the game with a different eye. The guys really respect his knowledge of the game and love learning from him. Beyond that, the players also respond to his positive energy.” In return, Hoxha said he is thrilled to be learning from Fox, whose coaching roots run deep.  Gary Fox, Joe’s dad, was a longtime coach at Greenville High School, and George Fox, Joe’s granddad, won a state championship with Magic Johnson at Lansing Everett.  “Coach Fox already has helped me a lot with learning the game further,” Hoxha said. “And, hopefully, me bringing some knowledge from the European way will help further bring success to the program.” Hoxha noted that before the game against Lansing Community College the team ran a new warm-up, based on large part on what the team at KB Rahoveci had used to get ready for games. “If we don’t win tonight,” he had said with a laugh prior to tipoff, “we might not ever run it again.” But at the end of the contest, the big scoreboard at the fieldhouse told the tale: GRCC 106, LCC 99, as the Raiders ran their 2022 record to a perfect 4-0 and the new warmup got its first “W.” Nervous no more, Hoxha could only smile as he walked with the team from the floor to the locker room after a hard-fought victory. Prior to the game, just two hours earlier, he had leaned in with his fellow coaches and the players for a final cheer before the Raiders took the floor. Together they had shouted, “One, two, three, team. Four, five, six, family.” In that moment, it was hard for Hoxha to not think about the path his life has taken and the journeys he has been on with both his biological family and now his GRCC basketball family. And while he knows his players aren’t literally riding on his shoulders to safety, as he once did with his dad, Hoxha said he hopes they’re perhaps doing so metaphorically.  “To me, personally, that chant is powerful,” he said. “It means I know I am changing someone’s life for the good every single day.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.  

Nov. 12, 2022, TALLAHASSEE, FL – Grand Rapids Community College runner Audrey Meyering earned her third All-American honor and both college cross country teams finished in the top 12 in the National Junior College Athletic Association DII National Championships. Kaylee Scott earned her second Coaches Association All-American honor in the event, where the GRCC women’s team finished seventh in the nation, and the men’s team finished 12th. “I’m proud of our student-athletes and coaches, who demonstrated again that GRCC’s cross country program is among the very best in the nation,” Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “Our teams work hard to be successful on the course and in the classroom.” Meyering, a Middleville resident, finished 23rd with a time of 20:23. She is the first GRCC athlete to receive athletic All-American honors three times in the same sport. Scott, who broke the school's 5K record earlier this season, finished in 21st place with a time of 20:10. She earned All-American honors last year as well. Rose Meyer finished a solid 37th place of 218 runners, with a time of 20:43. The women’s team, coached by Sharon Becker, had four freshmen rounding out the team’s performance. Samantha Sixberry was 84th with a time of 21:49, Chloe Jones finished 93rd in a time of 22:02, Mariana Zaragoza was 102nd with a time of 22:16 and Zoe Zawacki was 158th in a time of 24:01. The men's team, coached by Rob Hyde, claimed 12th place in the nation, with 2021 All-American Coleman Clark leading the way, finishing 34th in the race with a time of 27:15. Mason Kolhoff finished just five seconds behind Clark to finish 37th while fellow freshman Dan Kehoe was 84th with a time of 29 flat. Four sophomores rounded out the rest of the Raiders in the field of 219 runners. Craig Fuller was 97th with a time of 29:20, Lucas Schneider was 120th with a time of 30:05, Derek Hopkins was 154th with a time of 31:05 and Andrew Periard was 193rd in a time of 33:07.

Nov. 11, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After raising her children, Barb Bouthillier felt called to attend Grand Rapids Community College and study special education. While taking classes, an opportunity to help students struggling with math presented itself and Barb couldn’t say no.  Thirteen years later, she still loves supporting students as they study math.  Bouthillier, an adjunct math professor, recalls one of her very first students – one taking Math 95 for the third time.  The student had a very challenging, complicated personal life and worked very hard in the course. When the student passed the final exam, she was ecstatic! She told Bouthillier she was excited to tell her grandkids that if she could pass a college math class they could certainly handle college - no excuses! Bouthillier was awarded the Excellence in Education Adjunct Award in 2019 for her engaging and supportive approach to teaching. She encourages students to collaborate and ask questions and is a strong advocate for GRCC resources such as the tutoring labs and the Counseling and Career Center.  “It is more important to help students believe in their ability to learn math than to find the best way to teach a math concept,” she says. Success in education is a process of developing confidence, making mistakes, and learning from them. Bouthillier understands that all students learn differently and takes the time to discover how to best support and teach her students.  More information about the Mathematics Department can be found here.    

Nov. 10, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Marlene Bussler and Herman Brown led the Grand Rapids Community College basketball teams to a sweep over Lansing Community College on Thursday. The women's team picked up its first victory of the season with a 53-43 win, while the men stayed unbeaten, improving to 4-0, with a 106-99 victory.  Bussler carried GRCC for most of the night, connecting on 57 percent of her shots including three-of-seven from three-point range, while the rest of the team was just one-of-18 from behind the arc. "I thought we played much better tonight as compared to Monday night," head coach David Glazier said. "Defensively every player on the roster bought into the game plan with Grace (Lodes) playing a primary role in guarding one of their better scorers. Offensively I felt our balance and execution was improved. Marlene really put us on her shoulders at that end of the floor tonight." Sally Merrill and Allison Kellogg were the only other Raiders to score more than three points, with each of them picking up double-doubles in points and rebounds. Merrill with 14 and 10, and Kellogg with 12 and 13. The men's basketball team was on fire from three-point territory all night, helping it score more than 100 points for the fourth straight game.  The team ended up 15 for 30 compared to just seven-of-27 for Lansing. Brown set the tone early, making his first three three-pointers. He finished six-of-nine, totaling 22 points. He also added a game-high 14 points, for the game's lone double-double. Danyel Bibbs, who was just announced the MCCAA Northern Conference Player of the Week, also dropped in 22 points while dishing out a game-high seven assists. B.J. Neely and Jujuan Walker combined to go five-for-five with three-point shots, scoring 14 points each.

Nov. 10, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Obstacles such as food and housing insecurity can affect how a student does in class. A new partnership between Grand Rapids Community College and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services can help connect students with outside resources to help them be successful. This fall, GRCC became the only Michigan college to have a DHHS staff member assigned to it. Marjri Weller – a former GRCC student -- is on campus and working directly with students to connect them to both state and local resources for housing, food, child care and more. While Weller’s position is unique, she works to address student needs that are common, said Sandy Gregory in the office of the Dean of Student Success. “This is a vital service for our students,” she said. “GRCC has a strong interest in helping our students meet their basic needs so that they can be successful in their academic work. Our supports sometimes have limitations. Marjri, on the other hand, will be able to set students up with sustained support that they qualify for.” Weller agreed. “Working closely with the Student Success team, serving as the point of contact to provide information regarding MDHHS programs and community resources, serving as a referral source for students in need -- these are all things that can remove barriers to success for students,” she said. And, she added, she’s thrilled to be returning to her roots. “What caught my eye about this new partnership is being able to help students in whatever they need because I was once a student here at GRCC,” she said with a smile. “I have always wanted to give back, and this is the best way that I can.” A Creston High School graduate, Weller earned her associate degree at GRCC and then went on to Aquinas College, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in business, and Grand Valley State University for a master’s degree in communication. She returned to GRCC after four years as a family independent specialist/P2P success coach for MDHHS at César E. Chávez Elementary School in Grand Rapids. She is located on the third floor of GRCC’s Student Center, working a combination of in-person and remote hours, and she expects to have an ongoing caseload of approximately 150 to 200 cases. A 2020 Hope Center survey of about 1,000 GRCC students found that 48 percent experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity, including 29 percent who faced food insecurity in the prior 30 days, 40 percent who experienced housing insecurity in the prior year and 11 percent who experienced homelessness in the prior year. Weller’s work joins that of many others on campus intended to change those startling statistics. And she’s already having an impact on GRCC’s students. “I recently shared the first of what I hope will be many success stories,” she said. “A fulltime GRCC student came to me and said her biggest barrier was transportation. We worked together, and we were able to find her employment on campus, and then we also solved her transportation challenge (using a state program).” Weller said this is just one example of the variety of ways her work with MDHHS can help, including assistance with food and medical needs, child development and care, state emergency relief, and even cash assistance. Eligibility criteria need to be met to get assistance, and helping students navigate the various systems will be a big part of her work.   “I am finding that students are coming to me for assistance, but I am also getting a lot of referrals from staff, and I am thankful for that,” she said. “What I would like to say to the students who don’t know about me and the services is that even if they do or don’t think they qualify for assistance, please apply at michigan.gov/mibridges and let’s find out.” Gregory noted that while GRCC has many in-house systems to support students, those systems sometimes have restrictions. “For example, a student can only receive financial support from the Emergency Grant once in a 12-month period,” she said. “Also, while students can visit the Student Food Pantry once a week, we are often limited on the items that we have available, based on the stock on hand at Feeding America. With Marjri on campus, we can offer students so much more.” Gregory said the current agreement with the state that brought Weller to GRCC is in place for two years, and she and others at the college entrusted with helping students succeed plan to make the most of the time together. “In partnership with GRCC staff, she will be an integral part of making sure we are able to connect students to all applicable supports so that they can ultimately meet their educational goals,” Gregory said. Tracey Fountain, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Kent County office, is all in on the state helping GRCC students succeed. She said in the early discussions between the state and the college, it was quickly apparent that a partnership could benefit both. “GRCC students benefit from having an assigned Family Independence specialist from MDHHS stationed on-site at the GRCC main campus to assist with barrier removal and application support to access the assistance programs,” she said. “And this partnership also further supports the vision of MDHHS, which is to develop and encourage measurable health, safety and self-sufficiency outcomes that reduce and prevent risks, promote equity, foster health habits and transform the health and human services system to improve the lives of Michigan families.” An added bonus, Fountain said, is “the opportunity to strengthen our recruitment of students and graduates who have an interest in serving in the human services field to further the mission of our agency.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.

Nov. 10, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Enrollment at the Grand Rapids Community College’s Lakeshore Campus is up by more than 20 percent after its first year, and a Saturday open house can help potential students with any questions about enrolling in the future. Potential students of all ages can learn more about how GRCC can help change their lives at the event, planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at the campus, 12335 James St. in Holland. The event is open to all potential students and families, whether they are considering taking classes at the Lakeshore Campus, on GRCC’s Main Campus in Grand Rapids, or online. GRCC specialists and faculty can help open house participants navigate through admissions and financial aid processes and discuss eligibility for cost-saving programs such as Michigan Reconnect or scholarships through the GRCC Foundation. The event also will include tours of the 52,000-square-foot campus, which opened in August 2021 in the Shops at Westshore Mall. The facility has nine classrooms, four computer labs and five unique labs for biology, chemistry, electronics, automation, welding and machine tooling, housing programs for students working toward an associate degree or a career-focused certificate. Enrollment at the Lakeshore Campus has increased from 1,025 students in fall 2021 to 1,243 this fall. “The Lakeshore open house is a great opportunity for people interested in learning more about how a GRCC education can get them the skills, credits or degrees they need to transform their lives,” said Lori Cook, associate dean of Access and First Year Success. “Our new, consolidated GRCC Lakeshore Campus makes an affordable, quality GRCC education more accessible. We encourage people to come and visit whether they are planning to attend, or just want to know more about the new campus and how it benefits the Lakeshore communities.”  While walk-ins are welcome, students can reserve a spot by registering at grcc.edu/openhouse .    

Nov. 9, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Danyel Bibbs of the Grand Rapids Community College men's basketball team was named Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference player of the week. “I’m very excited for Danyel to receive this honor,” coach Joe Fox said. “His work ethic is relentless, and he brings energy and enthusiasm to practice every single day. He has persevered through a lot of adversity to get to this point, and I’m looking forward to watching him keep taking the next step forward in his academic and athletic career.” Bibbs, a Saginaw native who attended Union High in Grand Rapids, is coming off a season-high 28 points and 11 assists in Tuesday's game against the Great Lakes Christian College junior varsity team, helping his team to a 103-90 victory. Last week, the sophomore point guard helped guide the team to two more victories, scoring 27 points against Olivet College JV and 19 points against Cornerstone University JV.  He also totaled 10 assists with seven coming against Cornerstone, while shooting 15 of 26 from the field. The men's basketball team is off to a perfect 3-0 start to the season. The team's next game is Nov. 10 at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse against Lansing Community College, a former Western Conference foe, at 7:30 p.m. or 20 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.  

Nov. 9, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Thomas Gibson has been a teacher for the past 10 years, but decided he needed a change. “I left the field of teaching because I really wanted to do something more hands-on,” he said. “I was looking for something in high demand that has vertical growth opportunity. I was really missing the satisfaction of completing a product or project. I like being able to dig into a project complete the tasks and see that finished product.' Gibson was familiar with GRCC through his work in education. “As I did research, I found that the GRCC Construction Electrical program was the best fit for me,” he said. “This program is a great environment to learn the basics and because I was transitioning from one field to another, it provides a way to network with others in the field, including employers.” The GRCC Workforce Training Construction Electrical Job Training program provides the basic knowledge and skills required to be placed in an electrical apprenticeship program in just 18 weeks of training. “This is a really awesome teaching format,” Gibson said. “The combination of classroom learning and hands-on learning is perfect. The lab is set up with all the different simulations so we get practice for many different situations.” Students participate in job site, lab area, field trip and classroom settings. Learning is hands-on in all areas of electrical installation including employability skills, construction and electrical safety, hand and power tool safety, electrical math, electrical history, electrical theory, the National Electrical Code, electrical material identification, blue print reading, underground installations and residential and commercial wiring. As a former teacher, Gibson appreciates his instructor’s learning style. “Doug Wiersma is awesome and very supportive. He does a great job pushing us. I like the way he allows us a safe place to try and fail and actually encourages us to do that. You couldn’t do that on the jobsite.” He also enjoys his relationship with others in the program. “I like the students here,” he said. “We’ve really built a community. The smaller group allows us to get to know each other.” Gibson will graduate in December and is already applying for jobs. Once graduates of this program are hired, they may register with the State of Michigan as an Apprentice Electrician. The 18-week Job Training program covers the first year of training in the four-year apprenticeship. This type of life change takes courage and support for the whole family. Gibson is grateful for his wife’s support.  “When no one is in your corner when making a huge life choice like this it is quite easy to give up. I really enjoy this program. It is the best part of my day!” According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, there will be 16 percent job growth annually in this field from 2012 to 2022. New sessions of GRCC Job Training programs begin throughout the year. The next session begins January 23, 2023. For more information go to grcc.edu/jobtraining .

Nov. 9, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . — From her very first American Sign Language class in 2010 at Grand Rapids Community College, Justine Bryant knew she’d found the perfect career. “I instantly fell in love with interpreting and knew it was my calling,” said Bryant, now a nationally certified ASL interpreter and new affiliate assistant professor of sign language at GRCC. It’s a career that it’s in high demand not only in Michigan, but nationwide. According to the most recent study released in 2019 by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, 733,356 Michiganders — about 7.4% of the state population — identify as deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. In West Michigan, 8% of residents identify as members of that community. “The need for interpreters is everywhere as people and businesses realize it’s crucial to include sign language interpretation with their message,” said Bryant, a Comstock Park High School graduate. “It’s becoming more mainstream, and the more people see it, the more people will want to pursue it as a career.” The demand for ASL interpreters is expected to increase by approximately 24% by 2030, according to GRCC estimates. That’s one of the reasons that in addition to teaching, Bryant is developing an education pathway for students seeking a career as interpreters for the deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and deaf-disabled. This path includes taking ASL and general education courses at GRCC and then transferring to Lansing Community College for its interpreter training program, said Mary Lucas, chair of GRCC’s Language and Thought Department. “Once we finalize it with LCC, this will be a great pathway for anyone here in West Michigan interested in becoming an interpreter to start their education,” Lucas said. Because Michigan has some of the strictest rules for ASL interpreter certification in the nation, it’s difficult to get into the profession without the proper education, Bryant said. Most ASL interpreter posts require a bachelor’s degree. Bryant, who earned associate degrees at GRCC and LCC, completed her bachelor’s degree in ASL interpreting and transliterating in 2015 at Siena Heights University in Adrian. She worked as an ASL interpreter for the Kent Intermediate School District until 2021, has freelanced in the community since 2015, and has owned her own company, Access to ASL, since 2019. She said she looks forward to developing the educational pathway between GRCC and LCC so more students can enter this growing field. “When you’re working as an interpreter, every day is different … which is what I love about it,” Bryant said. “It’s one of those fields that remains a challenge because there’s always more to learn — but it’s a very rewarding and fulfilling career.” This story was reported by Beth McKenna.