August 15, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is partnering with the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity to remove financial obstacles preventing residents in underserved communities from connecting with life-changing career skills. LISEP is providing financial support to GRCC to cover living expenses for eligible students. Students with dependents will receive $350 stipends per week or $6,300 over an 18-week career-training course. Students without dependents will receive $225 per week, or $4,050 in total. The Washington-based institute will cover students enrolled in GRCC’s welding, electrician, and computer support technician courses. “To date, these students haven’t received financial assistance geared specifically toward living expenses while they pursue their credential,” said Gene Ludwig, who founded LISEP in 2019. “This means some of them have had to forego valuable training courses or drop out prior to earning an industry certification. This stipend is intended for students to be able to put food on the table and complete classes at the same time. Ultimately, it will give young adults a better chance at a good-paying job and a better future.” GRCC will work to place these students into jobs with local, minority-owned businesses they are working with that employ welders and electricians and that are positioned for growth. “We get to see the transformation in a student’s life when they leave our program with in-demand skills and a job,” said Julie Parks, GRCC’s Dean of Workforce Training. “We also know there are so many more people who could benefit, but worry about the financial obstacles. The Ludwig Institute’s program will remove those barriers and give people opportunities that will not only help these students, but the region’s employers as well.” West Michigan employers are looking for welders, fabricators, electricians, and computer support technicians, and are often struggling to find people with the needed skills to fill openings. GRCC partners with employers to create programs that match the skills needed in evolving fields. The Ludwig Institute’s mission is to improve the economic well-being of middle- and lower-income Americans through research and education. Its research includes new economic indicators for unemployment, earnings, and cost of living. Gene Ludwig is an internationally recognized leader on matters related to banking and fiscal policy and was Comptroller of the Currency during the Clinton Administration. Ludwig is also the co-founder of the Carol and Gene Ludwig Family Foundation, whose grantmaking in education primarily focuses on empowering young people from low-income backgrounds to achieve their educational and professional goals. The Carol and Gene Ludwig Family Foundation has been helping grantees award direct financial assistance to students from low-income communities since 2014.  

Aug. 15, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC alumna Sonia Riley is always finding – and learning – new ways to serve her community, taking on roles in education, politics and health care. Riley is a community school coordinator for Kent School Services Network, a nonprofit organization that collaborates with K-12 schools to connect families with support services. She works with Dickinson Academy in the Grand Rapids school district. 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 majority of my career has been working for nonprofit organizations that work with underserved communities reducing health disparities, removing barriers to academic success and providing a voice for those who have been intentionally marginalized,” said Riley, who earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice in 2010. Working with one agency or organization frequently points her to others that need her help. Her jobs as a community health care worker with Strong Beginnings, a federal program that works to improve the well-being of African American and Latino families during pregnancy and early childhood, and as an administrative aide for the city of Grand Rapids led to her entering the civic sphere. “Although I was doing great work for some amazing organizations such as Strong Beginnings, I felt obligated to do more,” she said. That led to her roles on Wyoming’s Community Enrichment Commission and as 2nd vice chair of the Kent County Democratic Party. Every step of the way, Riley has taken advantage of opportunities to learn more. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University and is looking at programs to earn a master’s in education leadership.  She also completed FSU’s Latino Talent Initiative (now known as the Leaders Program), a Fellows Program at affordable housing advocate LINC Up, and New American Leaders training. Riley credits her time at GRCC for giving her a strong foundation for her work. “I value the connectivity and the real-life experiences that were shared with us,” she said. “GRCC gives a lot to the students. It’s not just the textbooks, but also the internships. It was the whole college experience.” She has maintained her GRCC connections, serving on the Juvenile Services Advisory Board and collaborating with the Criminal Justice Club. “They have been a great partnership to our school, providing winter gear for all our students during the pandemic,” she said. “Anytime I presented to the club and staff, they have answered the call to action.” Riley, who was a single mother of three during her time as a GRCC student, said her journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been fulfilling. “I have a lot of people who provided a lot of support on my journey, and the GRCC staff is one of them, because, as an alumna, I know I can count on them to steer me in the right direction,” she said. “They believed I could do it, and I did.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply  

Aug. 12, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team is the preseason favorite to win the newly created Northern Conference in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. The MCCAA released its coaches’ poll on Friday, with GRCC earning four of six first-place votes. North Central Michigan College and Muskegon Community college each earned one first-place vote. Alpena Community College, Delta College and Bay College round out the conference. The MCCAA split into three conferences this year in five sports due to the addition of three additional schools to the association. Two of the schools, North Central Michigan College in Petoskey and Bay College in Escanaba along with Delta College, are first-year programs. "I'm very confident that this year's team has what it takes to contend for another regional championship and get back to nationals," Coach Chip Will said earlier this month. "We should have strong leadership from our nine sophomores and a great incoming class and I'm very excited to get the season underway." GRCC last year posted a 24-7 overall record, and was undefeated in the MCCAA Western Conference. The team finished as the runner-up in regionals after winning its 10th conference championship and an eighth MCCAA title. Will reached a milestone 400 th victory, and is 410-75 in his 17-year coaching career. Nine players are returning, including outside hitter Audrey Torres, who earned All-Region, First Team All-Conference honors; setter Shannon Russell, who earned Second Team All-Conference honors; and Kara Hecht, Karissa Ferry and Eliza Thelen who were all named All-Conference Honorable Mention. Also returning is Alena Visnovsky, recently named to the NJCAA All-Academic team for a perfect 4.0 GPA; Rylee VanPatten, and outside hitter from Charlotte; Charlie Baker, a defensive specialist from Whitehall, and Audrey Gower, a defensive specialist/libero from Dimondale. The team has three incoming freshmen. Outside hitter/defensive specialist Braelyn Berry graduated from Morley Stanwood High School and was named Female Athlete of the Year. Defensive specialist Lexi Heavner went to Rockford High School, and defensive specialist Vienna Koenigsknecht comes from Portage Central High School. Also joining the team are setters Autumn Cole and Alyssa Wierenga. Cole is a graduate of Kenowa Hills High School and Wierenga is from Forest Hills Northern High School.  The regular season begins on Aug. 19 as the Raiders travel to Rockford, Ill. for the McHenry County College Invitational. The team will face stiff competition including Iowa Central Community College and Johnson County Community College, which finished third and fourth in the NJCAA National Tournament last year.

Aug. 12, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Gregory Corfixsen enjoys teaching so much, he helps students at both the high school level and at GRCC as an adjunct professor.  “Teaching can be a difficult job at times, but it is also very rewarding,” Corfixsen said. “It takes a lot of time outside of just being in class. Building relationships and helping to teach students how to learn, and not just what to learn, is very rewarding.” Corfixsen said GRCC instructors are very caring, and are sensitive to the general needs of the students. “The program evolves to meet the academic needs and expectations of the students and community.” Corfixsen’s day-job is teaching science-related courses at the high school level. After graduating from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and Teaching, he began teaching biology and general science at Algonac Community schools. A couple of years later he moved to Wyoming High School where he teaches biology, ecology, human anatomy and physiology, and AP biology.  In 2003 Corfixsen completed his master's degree in secondary education and teaching with an emphasis in biology from Grand Valley State University, and he began teaching as an adjunct professor at GRCC in 2007. “GRCC has a terrific student-centered atmosphere in which to teach,” Corfixsen said. “The faculty and staff are professional, supportive and willing to collaborate with each other.” Look for Corfixsen on the class list this fall, teaching BI 101 General Biology, BI 117 Human Anatomy & Physiology, BI 121 Human Anatomy & Physiology I, or BI 122 Human Anatomy & Physiology II.   

Aug. 11, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Students attending Grand Rapids Community College through the Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs are eligible for additional assistance from the state government to help overcome financial obstacles to starting or restarting their education. The Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners cover the cost of in-district tuition. Lawmakers this year approved an additional $6 million for help pay for other expenses, such as daycare or transportation. Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II at GRCC on Thursday touted the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2023 budget’s inclusion of $55 million for the Michigan Reconnect program, calling it an affirmation of the program’s ongoing success in easing the path for working-age adults to earn a college degree or certificate. “The groundbreaking Michigan Reconnect program is fully funded for next year and that is reason enough to celebrate on behalf of the tens of thousands of hardworking people taking the first step toward earning a college degree or certificate,” Gilchrist said. “But there is more to applaud. We’ve added another $6 million in new grants to reduce educational barriers and we’ve hit a milestone this month with more than 100,000 people accepted into the program.” Gilchrist, speaking at the new computer lab in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, added, “By working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, we hit a trifecta in our work to put adult learners in Michigan on the path to a brighter future and to provide employers with the highly skilled workers they need to keep and grow their businesses throughout the state.” The Michigan Reconnect program, launched in Feb. 2021, is aimed at students 25 and older who have not yet earned a degree. Frontliners was available in 2020 for residents who worked in essential fields during the state’s COVID-19 shutdown. Gilchrist was joined by Sarah Szurpicki, director of the state’s Office of Sixty by 30, part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity; GRCC Interim President Juan R. Olivarez; Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Director of Government Affairs Nate Henschel; Eula Gaddis, the director of Quality at Jireh Metal Products in Grandville; and Michigan Reconnect student Morgan Brink. Olivarez said 22 percent of GRCC students were using the state programs last academic year. The number of GRCC students age 30 and older was 14 percent above pre-pandemic levels, with the state programs a significant factor. The college has enrolled 1,100 Reconnectors and 1,004 Futures for Frontliners students for the upcoming fall semester so far. “We are proud of our success as a Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners partner as we strive to attract, train and graduate students for the high-paying and high-demand jobs that will drive Michigan’s, and our region’s, economic future,” Olivarez said. A married mother of two, Brink said she and her young family understand the value of the Reconnect program. At 32, Brink never thought college was in the picture for her until the COVID pandemic forced her to take another look. Realizing that college was the path to a more secure future and an opportunity to demonstrate to her children the power of education, she decided to enroll through Reconnect. “Honestly, I barely graduated from high school,” Brink said. “Now, my daughter sees me studying and going to school and now she’s already talking about going to college. That’s the power of the Michigan Reconnect program – it’s for college degrees now and for our children later.” Gilchrist said the $6 million in grant funding is aimed at helping defray other costs that often keep adult learners returning to college or enrolling for the first time through the Michigan Reconnect or Futures for Frontliners programs. The new grants, which will be distributed by the state’s community and tribal colleges, can be used for books, childcare, internet access and transportation to help students pursue associate degrees or skills certificates. GRCC and other eligible institutions can distribute the allocated funds directly to eligible students who have completed at least one semester – with as much as $550 available per student per academic year. GRCC will have about $500,000 to distribute to students. To be eligible for the grants, students must: Be Michigan Reconnect or Futures for Frontliners scholarship participants. Have completed at least one semester within the respective scholarship program they are participating in. Be enrolled already or be in the process of enrolling for a following qualifying semester. The wraparound grants build on Michigan’s network of people and resources in place to provide students with the critical support they need to successfully enroll in classes and complete a skill certificate or associate degree program. To help Reconnect students succeed with the steps leading up to enrolling with a community college, the state’s Reconnect Navigators are available to help applicants complete admissions and financial aid requirements, set career goals, identify relevant educational opportunities and create a plan to graduate. Navigators, who reach out to students after they have been accepted into the Reconnect scholarship, will also connect students to additional programs and assistance offered by their community college and local partners to remove barriers to education. Since Michigan Reconnect launched, over 100,000 Michiganders have been accepted into the scholarship program and nearly 18,000 have enrolled in a community college, helping to drive success toward Gov. Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 goal of having 60% of Michiganders with a postsecondary degree or skills certificate by 2030. In Kent County alone, there have been approximately 6,500 Reconnect applicants. More information is available at Michigan.gov/reconnect and grcc.edu/reconnect .  

Aug. 10, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Alena Visnovsky wouldn’t be at GRCC if not for volleyball . She played two years at Sparta High School, and also played club volleyball. It was through club play that she got connected to longtime GRCC volleyball coach Chip Will , who recruited her to be a Raider. She’s had a great time the past two years as a middle blocker on Will’s conference-champion squads -- the Raiders were 24-7 overall last year and 14-0 in conference play -- including earning national and conference all-academic honors. Indeed, she carries a perfect 4.0 GPA and last year was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Academic First Team . But as she heads into her third year as a student, she said her GRCC experience has become about so much more than varsity volleyball. For one, her classroom experiences have been amazing. “Gender Studies, taught by Derek Bolen, was one of my favorites,” she recalled. “I took it my first semester. That class opened my mind. Photography classes with Filippo Tagliati. I’m planning on majoring in photography, and his classes helped me create some of my favorite photos. And journalism with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood. I’m also majoring in multimedia journalism, and her class advanced my writing skills.” Now, as she heads into her final year at GRCC – with plans to next year transfer to a four-year school to complete a bachelor’s degree and play volleyball – she’s thankful that Will recruited her and opened her eyes to the beauty of the community college experience. Homeschooled for most of her life, she said with a laugh that her parents’ emphasis when she was growing up as the third oldest of five kids was “academics, academics, academics.” But Visnovsky also loved volleyball. Loved the competition, loved being part of a team, loved the thinking side of the game, loved the multiple ways volleyball allowed her to be introspective and ponder improvement. So, when Will recruited her, she saw the chance to both continue with volleyball and answer her parents’ call to excellence in academics. But she admits that it took a little bit for her to get past some of the stereotypes she had about two-year colleges. “In high school everyone, me included, judged community colleges,” she recalled. “It’s not cool to go to a CC. I’m not sure I even knew GRCC existed. I came here for volleyball. That was the only reason. But once I got here, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s so cheap, and it’s so nice.’ Now, I am so proud to be a GRCC student. That’s a little cliché, but it’s true.” That includes her work for The Collegiate, GRCC’s student newspaper, where she’ll head into her final year on campus as the new editor-in-chief. She first got connected to the paper last year, thanks to a pair of influential journalism classes, and quickly became the news editor. In fact, this past spring, an editorial she wrote, “Inherent classism continues to impinge community colleges and their students who choose to invest in these low-cost educational options,” was named a first-place winner by the Michigan Community College Press Association in the Best 2022 Editorial category. “We work really hard to highlight issues that matter to students,” she said of The Collegiate staff. “Journalism has a long history of exposing things, uncovering what is hidden or what people want to stay hidden. As editor that’s exciting. But I’m also looking forward to thinking through how I communicate with the staff, how do I motivate them, how do we work together as a team. I really believe that we go further together.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.

Aug. 9, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College was named a Gold Level College by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, reflecting the campus' commitment to helping student veterans gain the support and education they need to be successful. The state’s Michigan Veteran-Friendly Schools Program recognizes academic institutions committed to supporting the needs of student veterans. Colleges and universities are awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze level status based on their veteran-centric services and programs. GRCC had been a Silver Level College in the past. The college’s new Veterans Center and the work of staff supporting student veterans led to the elevated status. “We are incredibly proud of our student veterans,” Registrar Valerie Butterfield said. “GRCC has a long history of being a veteran-friendly campus, and our new Veterans Center has helped us provide even more support. The Gold Level status reflects our commitment, and our focus on finding even more ways to help veterans transition to college, and be successful.” The U.S. Education Department in January 2021 awarded GRCC a grant to create the center, which serves as a hub for planning and delivering services to students who have served in the armed services. The center, located on Level G2 of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, is staffed by the Veteran Success Coordinator, Patrick Coleman, who works as a single point of contact, connecting veterans with campus resources including financial aid, advising and disability support. The project also helps GRCC expand its partnerships with state and local veterans’ agencies, helping students access benefits and support in the community. The Veterans Center hosts workshops and events, and provides opportunities for networking and social interaction. The Veteran2Veteran program provides peer support, outreach, and resources for student veterans through Peer Advisors for Veteran Education, including veterans supporting each other through the transition to college. Veterans Center services include: One-on-one advising. Veterans Administration work study positions. Connections to tutoring and academic support. Assistance in completing the VA education benefits process. Peer support, outreach, and resources for student veterans through Peer Advisors for Veteran Education. The center is planning a veteran student orientation coming up on Aug. 17, and student veterans are still able to enroll in fall semester classes, which begin Aug. 29. Students can connect with Coleman by phone at (616) 234-2578 and with our benefits certifying official, Janice Holton by email at veterans@grcc.edu. Additional information is available online at grcc.edu/veterans

Aug. 8. 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- GRCC is a great place to learn – even while you teach here! Jesseca Schippa already had a bachelor’s degree in psychology, but she was ready for a career change and enrolled in GRCC’s Dental Hygiene program. 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 faculty not only taught me what I needed to learn for my profession, but I could tell they also cared about me as a person and wanted to help me succeed,” she said. Schippa earned her associate degree in 2014, but her GRCC experience prompted her to set a new career goal. “I went to GRCC to become a dental hygienist, and during my time there, the faculty made such a great impression on me as a student that I discovered I wanted to be on that end of the program and be part of helping future generations of students achieve their dreams,” she said. “When I went to graduate school to get my master’s, it was so I could teach at GRCC. I didn’t want to teach anywhere else. I wanted to stay in the program that cultivated and supported me so well and do that same thing for others.” After three years as an adjunct clinical instructor, Schippa accepted a position of assistant professor and first-year clinic coordinator in May. And she’s still learning from GRCC faculty. “During my time here as an adjunct, they have continued to support me and help me grow,” she said. “As I have assumed my new position, they have continued in their support and guidance, and I look forward to paying that forward for generations of students to come. “I love being a dental hygienist, but fast-forward eight years later, and I am in my dream position, doing something I absolutely love with some of the best colleagues I could ask for!” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at  grcc.edu/apply

Aug. 5, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Sophie Nyson loves singing, writing and recording music for herself. But the 25-year-old always shied away from taking her music to the next level. Until today. Nyson, who goes by the name Matisse Zuzu when performing, released her first single and music video “Past Tense” today. Zuzu said she owes a debt of gratitude to Grand Rapids Community College, where she’s pursuing an Associate of Music in Recording Technology . “GRCC gave me the confidence to get to a place where I was ready to release this song that I’ve been sitting on for several years,” said Zuzu, who is using a Futures for Frontliners scholarship to attend college. Futures for Frontliners is a state scholarship program for Michiganders who worked frontline jobs in essential industries during the state's COVID-19 shutdown. The scholarship, now closed to applications, provides eligible frontline workers with free in-district tuition to pursue an associate degree or a certificate at their local community college. A similar program, Michigan Reconnect , is still available for adult learners 25 and older. Zuzu was eligible for the Frontliners scholarship because she worked as a credit union teller during the 2020 shutdown. “Because I didn’t go to college straight out of high school, I thought I’d missed my chance at a degree,” she said. “Futures for Frontliners was a gamechanger for me because I just couldn’t have afforded college otherwise.” Zuzu grew up in Grand Rapids and dabbled in music composition as a teen. After graduating in 2015 from East Grand Rapids High School, she wasn’t sure what to do with her music – or her life. But after attending her idol Aurora ’s concert the following year, she longed to perform on stage. Zuzu wrote “Past Tense” in 2020, recording the vocals and piano at home herself. But she still didn’t know how to take the next step. Eventually, she connected with a professional producer, and they re-recorded the single for release. Alec Hawkins, her future brother-in-law, worked with her to film, direct and edit the music video , which features a Heritage Hill home and the Aquinas College campus. “The single showcases a wide dynamic range and represents my desire to let any and all genuine emotions shine,” she said. Though thrilled with the song’s release, Zuzu knows there’s still a lot of hard work ahead if she wants to make it in the music world. She attends GRCC part-time while working and looks forward to the fall semester. GRCC’s Recording Technology program, which debuted in 2000, has been a great addition to the Music Department for students like Zuzu, professor Timothy Heldt said. Like all music majors, students who have selected an emphasis in recording technology must complete courses in music theory, aural comprehension, applied music, performance class, piano and major ensembles. In addition, they learn the fundamentals of the recording arts, analog and digital recording console operation, microphone design and technique, and multitrack audio production and mixing. Heldt said the program provides students with the state-of-the-art equipment and training they need to succeed. And that includes Zuzu. “She’s a very conscientious student, a dead serious learner and tries to absorb everything she possibly can,” Heldt said. This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

Aug. 5, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – GRCC mathematics faculty member Jodi Dawson values getting to know her students beyond coursework. “GRCC students are hard working; oftentimes trying to juggle a job, family and school,” Dawson said. “I appreciate getting to know what my students' goals are and how I can help them achieve them. Math is my passion, the environment created at GRCC allows me to not only teach math but also to get to know how I can help them apply math in real world situations.” Dawson is also proud to work with a team of faculty members and tutorial lab staff that seeks to help all students at the level they’re at. “Our free tutoring lab is wonderful, they are patient and helpful,” Dawson said. GRCC students can access the math lab in person, in room 100 & 105 Cook Academic Hall Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or on a variety of days and times virtually through Blackboard.  Her department's goal, and one she supports wholeheartedly, is to help students reach their personal and academic goals – which is not always straight As. “One thing that I have learned is that while grades are important, we are not ‘defined’ by our grades,” Dawson said. “Yes, I think all students should strive to do their best, but there are for sure other qualities of success as well. To me – and many future employers – integrity, hard work, effort and knowing where to look for solutions, is more important than the letter grade you got in algebra.” Dawson has wanted to be a math teacher since middle school.  “ I consider it pure joy that I get to work in a career I love,” she said. “When you love what you do it doesn't even seem like a job.” You can join Dawson this fall. There is still time to enroll! She typically teaches MA 97 Pre-Algebra, MA 98 Elementary Algebra, MA 107 Intermediate Algebra, MA 110 College Algebra courses. Check out ClassFinder in mid-August to see which of these classes Dawson will be teaching this fall.