Oct. 3, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- When Braden Myers returned from deployment overseas with the Military Police, GRCC was there. 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. Myers entered the Police Academy and found the internship opportunities especially valuable. “Through the academy and with assistance from instructors, I was able to gain the basic knowledge and connections needed for my desired field,” he said. After serving in some internships, Myers, who graduated from the academy in 2014, joined the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Police Department. “I was chosen for promotion and worked as a law enforcement sergeant for two to three years,” he said. “I then had a desire for the next level and put in for the vacant chief of police position.” Myers, who has served as chief for two years, oversees 22 sworn department members and 40 contract employees. He credits the GRCC Police Academy for setting him on his way. “GRCC is the necessary foundational step I needed to start my career in civilian law enforcement,” he said. Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply

Oct. 2, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team extended its victory streak to 14 matches, defeating McHenry County College and Lake Michigan College on Sunday in the Raider Challenge tournament. GRCC first played a tough McHenry team, which last year finished in 10th place at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship tournament. After narrowly winning the first two sets 25-23 and 31-29, GRCC started the third set with an 8-1 advantage. McHenry, from Crystal Lake,, Ill., battled back to take the set 25-22, but GRCC rebounded to take the final set 25-18. Outside hitters Audrey Torres and Kara Hecht combined for 33 of the team's 52 total kills, and seven of the team's 10 service aces. Audrey Gower led the team with 23 digs, Shannon Russell had a team-high 40 assists and Alena Visnovsky was the team's block leader with five. "I feel like it was nice to play some competition outside of our conference, especially a top-20 team in the nation like McHenry, so we can see where we are at,” sophomore Karissa Ferry said. “I'm happy with our success this weekend, but know we always have to keep working.” In the final match of the tournament, GRCC topped the Western Conference leading- Lake Michigan College, winning 25-15, 25-19, and 25-11. Every GRCC player played in the game, and 12 players scored or had an assist. Torres led the team again with 12 kills and Eliza Thelen contributed with 10 while hitting a solid .381. “I think that playing teams we haven't played before is beneficial,” Gower said. “It teaches us how to find new ways to play above other teams and pull out a win.” GRCC, now 14-2 on the season, begins round two of conference play on Oct. 7. The game is against North Central Michigan College, and the homecoming celebration includes honoring GRCC’s 2012 national championship team.                                      

Oct. 1, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Bishop Dennis J. McMurray was honored for his leadership in the church and in the community, and named 2022 GIANT Among Giants during a ceremony on Saturday. McMurray is the senior pastor at Renaissance Church of God in Christ of Grand Rapids, saluted as a spiritual visionary who brings an array of theological, business, management and financial expertise to his ministry. “Bishop McMurray’s intellectual depth, unwavering love of family, pastoral service, and advocacy for justice exemplifies the core ethos of servant-leadership,” said Dr. B. Afeni McNeely Cobham, Grand Rapids Community College’s chief equity and inclusion officer. “His contributions to the Grand Rapids community are immeasurable.” The 39th Annual GIANT Awards and Banquet returned after a two-year hiatus, commemorating the stellar contributions of Grand Rapids leaders and organizations. GRCC since 1983 has hosted the awards recognizing exceptional leaders who shape the history, quality of life, and culture of the Grand Rapids community. Each award is named after a historical local “giant” whose dedicated service, advocacy, and activism are memorialized through honorees. Now in its 30th year, Renaissance is a progressive 21st century ministry that influences humanity globally through local church ministries and national/international television, radio programs and virtual platforms. As a social activist, McMurray has provided leadership and has been a catalyst for many social change movements and organizations. He was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Clergy Task Force for the State of Michigan, and is a member of the Community Board of Directors for Spectrum Health. McMurray served on the state Community Corrections Board, the National Board of Bethany Christian Services, Kent County Community Mental Health and Spectrum Health Executive Patient & Advisory Board. He was the recipient of the Religious Life GIANT Award and the Who’s Who Award in Black Grand Rapids by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Detroit Michigan. Professionally, McMurray has had a successful corporate career in the areas of sales, marketing, finance and management. His secular career has been in the areas of aerospace and industrial sales, finance and management and entrepreneurship. Additional 2022 honorees are: Floyd Skinner Justice Award: Adam C. Sturdivant, partner, Drew Cooper & Anding. Walter Coe Public Service Award: Shellie Cole-Mickens, founder and executive director, Our House of Blessings. W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award: Nikeidra Battle-DeBarge, CEO and co-founder, New Destiny Pathways, Inc. Ethel Coe Humanities Award: Henry Sapp, CEO, Better, Wiser, Stronger Inc. Milo Brown Business Award: Daryl D. Reece, owner, Stock Da Bar & Stock Da Bar Vodka. Phyllis Scott Activist Award: Grand C.I.T.Y. Sports, Inc., Chris Sain, Jr., co-founder and CEO, and Preston Sain, co-founder and executive director. Raymond Tardy Community Service Award: Raynard Ross, president, Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education, and associate dean of student success at GRCC. H.C. Toliver Religious Life Award: Julian S. Newman, CEO and founder, The FutureCast Foundation. Hattie Beverly Education Award: Lorenzo Bradshaw, principal, Brookwood Elementary. Martha Reynolds Labor Award: Kevin L. Clemens, president, Kent County Court’s union, an affiliate of the Technical, Professional, and Office Workers Association of Michigan. William Glenn Trailblazer Award: Jermale Eddie, co-owner and CEO, Malamiah Juice Bar & Malamazing Juice Co. The 2021 and 2022 Junior GIANT scholarship recipients are: Ashyah Patterson, Georgetown University Christian Baty, Michigan State University James M. Baker, Grand Rapids Christian High School Alexandria Vaughn-Earvin, Prairie View A&M University Zhaniya Robinson, Michigan State University Summer R. Brown, Howard University Each year, the GIANT Awards selection committee undertakes the task of selecting honorees based on the merit of their nomination and stellar achievements. Committee members are: Larry Johnson, Tempy Mann, Darius Quinn, Faye Richardson-Green, and Shannon Wilson. The GIANT Awards committee, made up of former GIANT honorees, is soliciting help to plan and facilitate the 40 th celebration. Please send inquiries regarding the nomination process, sponsorship support, and volunteer opportunities to: GIANTaward40@gmail.com    

Oct. 1, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A balanced attack led the Grand Rapids Community College's volleyball team to two wins in day one of the annual Raider Challenge, extending the team's win streak to 12 matches. GRCC faced two former Western Conference rivals: Kellogg Community College and Lansing Community College. For the eighth time this season the team came away with a sweep. "I thought today I excelled in taking big swings at both in and out of system sets," Kara Hect said. "This helped me put more balls down. I also defended my heart out because it was our first outing on our home court.  It was a good day.  It was nice to finally play in our own gym, and of course it was nice to win both of our matchups." In set two of the first match against Kellogg, GRCC had seven players compile at least one kill and six players with at least one assist. For the match, nine players had at least one kill, led by Hecht, Karissa Ferry and Eliza Thelen all with seven.  Eleven players had at least one dig with last week's Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Audrey Gower, leading the way with eight. In match two, Hecht and Audrey Torres led the GRCC offensive attack with nine kills each, while the sophomore setter led the team with 22 assists and nine digs. For the day, GRCC totaled 75 kills and hit a solid .294. They also had 18 aces and 13 blocks. Hecht led all hitters with 16 kills with Torres, Thelen and Ferry each picking up 13. GRCC, now 12-2 on the season, finishes out the Raider Challenge on Sunday with a 10 a.m. match against McHenry County College and a 4 p.m. match against Lake Michigan College. 

Sept. 30, 2022, STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College's women's cross country team cruised to victory at the Oakland Raider Invitational with three runners finishing in the top six on Friday while the men's team also was victorious; and in dramatic fashion. GRCC's women's team, ranked No. 6 in the first U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll of the season, dominated the field of 13 teams, beating second place Southwestern Michigan College by 22 points; 49 to 71. All-American runners Kaylee Scott and Audrey Meyering along with Rose Meyer finished second, fourth and sixth in the 5-kilometer race with times of 20:07, 20:11 and 20:32. The field consisted of 80 runners from the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. Six of GRCC’s seven runners all ran personal bests for the season, including freshman Zoe Zawacki, who ran 7:37 faster than her first collegiate race. “Kaylee and Audrey ran a strong race together,” coach Sharon Becker said. “I’m thrilled that they were able to help each other power through almost every step together. Audrey was a little dissatisfied that she was unable to hold off the third-place finisher, who passed her at the very end. But moments like that are great ones to learn from. Audrey will be working on her finish kick the next few practices. Becker said she is proud of all of the student-athletes on her team. “Each of them ran an excellent race with their efforts for their last mile of the race continuing to be strong,” she said. “I saw every one of the women Raiders pass competitors or keep their pace so that they were giving every effort to reach the finish line as fast they could possibly go. I’m proud of our team and their commitment to each other and to helping each other. Today was a beautiful day and it was very fun to coach the team.” The men's title came down to the untraditional tiebreaker rule. With GRCC and St. Clair County Community College tied at 59, the race was determined by how each team's sixth-best runner did. By a mere eight seconds, GRCC's Lucas Schneider defeated St. Clair's sixth runner 28:36 to 28:44. “Wild race today!” men’s coach Rob Hyde said. “We had some season-bests today and some not season bests.  What that created was our pack was closer together than normal.  Looking back, that was a blessing in disguise.” Freshman Mason Kolhoff continued his fantastic freshman season, finishing second overall with a time of 26:48, tying his personal best. Andrew Periard was second on the team with a time of 28:02, finishing in 13th place. GRCC is next scheduled to compete in the Muskegon Community College Invitational on Oct. 15.  

Sept.30, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Whether virtual or in person, Dr. Nathan Lindy, builds connections with students, focusing on the success of each one. Lindy, a GRCC physical sciences assistant professor, originally wanted to teach in the K-12 system, but later decided to teach at the college level.  “The strength of the GRCC physical sciences program is the smaller class sizes, where students are able to interact with their actual instructor,” he said.  “Designing teachable labs is hard work and time intensive,” he said. Lindy focuses on building time into labs to connect with students and help them through the material. Using those teaching moments to build bonds with students and learn from them –making him a better teacher.  “My father always taught me to explore the world around me (and beyond), and I’m doing that every day with my physics students at GRCC,” he said.  A former student of Lindy’s shares that though physics is a tough subject, and students should plan to do a lot of studying and be prepared for class, Lindy is very helpful during class and his office hours.  “Dr. Lindy is one of those professors who genuinely cares about your performance in the class as well as your well-being,” they said. Learn PH 115 Technical Physics, PH 245 Calculus Physics 1, and PH 246 Calculus Physics with Lindy at GRCC this winter. Registration is open and classes start Jan. 9, 2022.

Sept. 29, 2022, MUSKEGON, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team stayed perfect in conference play, and won its 10th match in a row with a 3-1 victory over Muskegon Community College on Thursday. GRCC beat the rival 26-24, 18-25, 25-21, 25-21. "The team came in with a positive attitude and carried that positive attitude throughout the whole game," freshman Lexi Heavner said. “We didn't let the crowd bother us and we played the game we know how to play. Today proved that we are capable of greatness this season." GRCC had three players reach career-highs in the win; Karissa Ferry, Eliza Thelen and Audrey Gower. Ferry had five blocks and Thelen had eight, including two solo blocks. Gower had 32 digs, including 12 in the third set. One of the biggest keys to the victory was the comeback by GRCC in the third set.  With Muskegon up 17-11, the team went on a 10-0 run, all with Gower behind the service line, and wound up stealing the set 25-21. Audrey Torres led the team in kills with 15 including seven in the final set. Kara Hecht added 13 kills and Ferry finished with 10. Shannon Russell finished with the lone double-double on the team with 40 assists and 14 digs. GRCC, now 10-2 on the season and 6-0 in conference play, have just one day off before the annual Raider Challenge on Oct. 1 and 2.  The Raiders first match will begin at noon and they will face former conference foe Kellogg Community College.