Aug. 3, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Aaron Smalley knows firsthand the value of a second chance. “I made a really poor choice when I was young.”   Smalley is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. On his 21 st birthday he drove while intoxicated and was involved in a fatal accident. He served five years in prison, and was released this spring.   Smalley sought a fresh start and began classes in GRCC’s Job Training Welding Technician program in June. He was connected to GRCC by West Michigan Works! “I’m a really big car guy and I’d like to get into engine building,” he said. “I feel like welding is a great skill to have as I move in that direction. That’s my passion.” Smalley had no experience in welding. “It was pretty intimidating that first week. Having that big flame coming out of the torch! I like it now. You almost get into a meditative state while you are welding. It’s like artwork, almost.” Smalley likes the way the program is scheduled. Classes are hands-on and taught in a modern welding lab at the Tassell M-TEC, which is said is “really nice. Not what I was expecting.” The program meets for 18-weeks for 34 hours per week and offers job placement assistance. He said instructor Nate Haney “knows a lot to say the least. His brain is packed full of knowledge. I’m picking his brain for all he knows!” Haney holds a Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology from Ferris State University and is an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator. As Smalley navigates re-entry, he highly recommends the GRCC Job Training programs to others who may be in a similar situation. He has found GRCC’s Tassell M-TEC to be a place where people can rebuild their lives. “I was very anxious when I was first released. I’m trying to get some stable ground underneath my feet and this is the perfect opportunity to do that. It gives you a routine and adds some structure to your life especially with just getting out. It takes time to re-adjust to being out in society and the small class size and friendly environment is helpful. I like coming here.” As a student, you will learn: shielded metal arc welding (arc/stick welding), gas metal arc welding (metal inert gas/wire welding), gas tungsten arc welding (heli-arc/tungsten inert gas welding), oxy-fuel welding (gas welding), cutting, brazing, blueprint reading, mathematics, metallurgy, problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. Smalley is motivated by his parents and sister. “I want to do right for my family and make good decisions. This is a perfect decision -- a step in the right direction.” This program is highly regarded by employers as a top trainer in welding and fabrication. Job developers are ready to help with the job search process. Graduates will be ready to begin a career as a welder, cutter or brazer – with the skills to meet the needs of not only local companies but national companies as well. Smalley plans to finish his program in October, and might look into work as an independent welder.  “I’m still young, and don’t have a family of my own, so I need to take advantage of these opportunities while I can. I look forward to being done so that I can hop right into the workforce.” Additional support is being provided by the One Workforce grant. According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, there will be 34.7 percent job growth in welding from 2012 to 2022. The next section of Job Training programs begins, October 3, 2022. For more information: grcc.edu/jobtraining or (616) 234-3800 .

Aug. 1, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team is looking to return to nationals for the 12th time in the history of the program with a mix of honored sophomores and incoming freshmen. GRCC last season finished runner-up in regionals after winning its 10th conference championship and eighth Michigan Community College Athletic Association title. "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. "We should have strong leadership from our nine sophomores and a great incoming class and I'm very excited to get the season underway."   Will celebrated his 400th career win last season. 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; 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. GRCC lost All-American middle hitter Annie Holesinger, now playing at Lander University in South Carolina, and Ola Nowak, now at Davenport University. The 2022 season will include new competitors and a celebration of the 2012 National Championship team at Homecoming. The team kicks off its season with a scrimmage at Ferris State University on Aug. 11 in Big Rapids followed by two more scrimmages on Aug. 12 and Aug. 16 at GRCC. 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. A week later, GRCC travels to Owens Community College for three more matches, playing Terra State Community College, which finished in sixth at nationals and the host team, which won the NJCAA Division III National Championship. Conference season begins on Sept. 16 at Bay College in Escanaba.  With the addition of Bay, North Central College and Delta College, the MCCAA realigned the conference and GRCC and Muskegon Community College will play in the North Division.  This year's Raider Challenge is scheduled to take place Oct. 1 and 2 at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse on the campus of GRCC. The Oct. 7 match against North Central Community College will be Homecoming, with the 2012 National Champions invited. Postseason play begins Oct. 29 and this year's National Tournament is Nov. 17-19 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Aug. 1, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Miles Postema, Ferris State University’s vice president and general counsel, believes higher education can transform lives. He’s seen it firsthand. He attended what was then Grand Rapids Junior College as a first-generation college student because it was affordable and allowed him to live at home and continue working. 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. “All of my credit hours transferred seamlessly to Western Michigan University, and I was able to complete my degree in four years, which was important to me,” Postema said. “I was able to obtain my degree with little or no debt due to the reasonable cost of the coursework at GRCC and the financial support of my parents. “While I was confident that I would succeed in college, starting at GRCC lessened the risk and cost of failing had it not worked out the way I planned.” Postema went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance from WMU, a law degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Science in Taxation from Grand Valley State University. His legal career began in 1987 at Warner Norcross & Judd, where he specialized in employment law. He later was a partner at Tolley VandenBosch Walton Korolewicz & Brengle before joining FSU in 2000 as deputy general counsel. He also served on the Rockford Public Schools Board of Education for 17 years.  “It turned out that the combination of public higher education and law was a very good fit for me, and then even more so when I was appointed to the Rockford Public Schools Board of Education,” Postema said. “I have always believed in the transformative power of public higher education, particularly for first-generation college students, and working in a legal role at Ferris seems to be the best of both worlds for me.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply