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.

Nov. 8, 2022, LANSING, Mich. – Danyel Bibbs' 28 points and nine assists propelled the Grand Rapids Community College men's basketball team to a hard fought 103-90 victory Tuesday against the Great Lakes Christian College junior varsity team. The win kept the Raiders unbeaten, improving to 3-0 on the season. GRCC led by as many as 16 points and didn't trail after the opening minutes of the game. Brockton Kohler scored 19 points and added five rebounds, while Rico Wade chipped in 14 points, shooting six-of-nine from the field.  The two of them combined to go five-of-11 from three-point territory. Bashir Neely scored 10 points and Herman Brown led the defense with six steals and a game-high nine rebounds. 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. 8, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Audrey Torres and Eliza Thelen headline the list of eight Grand Rapids Community College volleyball players who received honors from the Michigan Community College Athletic Association on Tuesday. Torres and Thelen were named to the All-MCCAA, All-Region, and First Team All-Conference teams, while six additional GRCC student-athletes were named to the All-Conference Team. GRCC, currently ranked No. 13 in the nation, enjoyed its 11th conference title, finishing 9-1 in the MCCAA’s new Northern Conference. The team earned the MCCAA Championship – its sixth in the last seven years -- and on Saturday celebrated its 11th Region XII-District championship to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament. “GRCC is recognized as one of the top programs in the nation, a reflection of the excellent coaching staff and hard work from student-athletes,” Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “It’s nice to see players recognized for their accomplishments. We’re looking forward to seeing the team compete in the national tournament.” Torres, a sophomore from Caledonia, was also named Most Valuable Player at the NJCAA Region XII Great Lakes A Tournament. She ranks first on the team in kills with 328, second in aces with 35 and fourth in digs with 176. Thelen, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, was second on the team with 269 kills while hitting an impressive .327, ranking her top-10 in the MCCAA. She also totaled 61 blocks and averaged 3.46 points per set. Kara Hecht, a third-year player from Zeeland, was named First Team All-Conference and was a member on the All-Tournament team at the regional tournament.  She started all 27 matches, averaging 2.89 points per set. She was second on the team with 210 digs and thirds with 211 kills. Karissa Ferry and Shannon Russell were named Second Team All-Conference as well as members on the All-Tournament team at the regional tournament.  Ferry, a sophomore right-side hitter from Chesaning, was fourth on the team with 192 kills and second with 64 blocks. Russell, a sophomore setter from Grand Rapids, led the team in assists with 872, was third in service aces with 33 and third on the team in digs with 206. Earning All-Conference honorable mention honors was Audrey Gower of Dimondale, Alena Visnovsky of Sparta and Vienna Koenigsknecht of Portage. Gower led the team in digs with 359 and Koenigsknecht added 161.  Visnovsky totaled 120 blocks, averaging 1.28 per set, ranking her number one among all MCCAA players and one of the best in the NJCAA Division II. Head coach Chip Will was named Conference Coach of the Year for the ninth time and MCCAA Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his 16 years at the helm.   GRCC awaits its first-round opponent at the NJCAA Division II tournament, taking place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Nov. 17 to the 19.

Nov. 8, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The GRCC Library and Learning Commons is equipped with everything students need to be academically successful: computers, printers, study space, textbook reserves and numerous book, journal and video collections.  It also has a hard-working third-shift custodian who doubles as an in-house artist, although Mark Fortuna laughs when he’s described that way. Still, in any given week, visitors to the building that he’s cleaned for a decade-plus now are likely to be greeted by a large whiteboard adorned with his latest artistic work, even as they walk on his carefully cleaned carpets and work in his lovingly cared-for building. And any conversation with Fortuna makes it clear that he takes painstaking pride in what he does as a custodian and an artist. A graduate of Union High School, Fortuna had a chance to attend Kendall College of Art and Design after graduation, but, as he says, life got in the way, and he went straight into the workforce instead. After a spell stocking shelves on the overnight shift at a local grocery store, he landed a job at GRCC. It took some doing, he said, despite the fact that both his mom, Lorraine, and his dad, Dave, were legendary GRCC employees, also working on the custodial side of things. “I think the college didn’t want to be accused of showing favoritism by hiring me,” he recalled with a smile of that interview process two decades ago now. “It took a little bit, and I really had to jump through some hoops. But I landed my first job here, and it’s been great to be part of the GRCC family.” Although his dad passed away soon after retiring from GRCC after a battle with pancreatic cancer, Fortuna said the lessons learned from him, and from his mom, have stuck with him and guide him daily in his work on campus. “From him and from my mom I got a real strong work ethic,” he said. “I saw them just do their jobs, go to work and do your job. Really, my dad worked two jobs for most of my life. My mom worked and was president of our union. I’ve always felt a responsibility to live up to the examples they set.” He approaches his art with a similar resolve. “I take it seriously,” he said. “The whiteboard drawings I do at GRCC mean a lot to me, and I love it when people enjoy them. It's also very relaxing to me. Almost therapeutic. If I have a day off, that's what I'm pretty much going to be doing. I'll just sit there and draw for hours. And it makes me happy to draw stuff and when people really get enjoyment out of it, that’s great, right?” Although Fortuna prefers to work with pencils and pens, he said he has enjoyed the challenge of having to use markers for his whiteboard drawings. His work on campus also has a lighter feel to it than some of his other work he said, most of which he posts on social media. “It's only been in the last few years that I've really shown my work,” he said. “I've been content to just do drawings for friends and family. You have to be ready when you put yourself out there.” Fortuna credits his colleagues in the Library and Learning Commons for encouraging him to put himself out there via the whiteboard exhibitions. “The people that work at the library are so great,” he said. “It’s just a great community of people that work there and make my job very enjoyable. When they gave me the opportunity to do some drawing on the whiteboard, I wasn’t sure, but they encouraged me, and I’m grateful they did.” The trust that his colleagues have in him is not something he takes lightly, and daily he does his best to make his colleagues’ workspace the best it can be. “In some ways, my custodial work is a bit like my art,” he said. “There’s details to it; you work hard at it, and when it’s done, you can look at it with satisfaction. I wouldn't trade it, that's for sure.” When he’s not cleaning and not making art, Fortuna stays busy with his family; his wife, Tonya, and children Mason, Shea and Brooklyn. His pride in his family is evident as he speaks about them. “Mason will be graduating from Grand Valley in business and finance; Shea is in her second year at Calvin for computer science, and Brooklyn is a sophomore at Byron Center High School,” he noted. “And Tonya works at Railside Assisted Living Center as a resident caregiver.” He also is proud of his brother Ben, the youngest in the family, who works in management in manufacturing, and his brother Dave, who is a custodian for GRCC at the Leslie Tassell MTEC. He laughs when asked about the fact that four of the five members of his Fortuna family found themselves working at GRCC. “It is a bit unusual I guess,” he said. “But GRCC is a great place to be, and, hopefully, we’ve all played a little part in making it even better.” This story was reported by Phil de Haan.    

Nov. 7, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grace Lodes scored a team-high 19 points, but the Grand Rapids Community College women's basketball team fell short is its season opener 57-45 against the Aquinas College junior varsity team. Lodes, a sophomore from Comstock Park, sank two free throws with 4:36 remaining in the game, bringing GRCC within two points. But Aquinas scored 12 of the final 14 points of the game to secure the victory. "We played well in spurts and I thought we did some nice things defensively and offensively to get back in the game," coach Dave Glazier said. "But overall we have to play like that consistently to be successful."  GRCC was just 15 of 57 from the field, including 2 of 18 from behind the arc.  Aquinas shot an impressive 41.2% from beyond the three-point line. Lodes also had a team-high nine rebounds and four steals. Marlene Bussler was the only other GRCC player scoring in double digits, finishing with 11 points including the team’s only three-point baskets. The team’s next game is 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse against former western conference foe Lansing Community College. 

Nov. 7, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College volleyball head coach Chip Will earned NJCAA Great Lakes A District Coach of the Year honors after leading the team to its 11 th district championship on Saturday. GRCC won all four of its matches in the tournament, including victories in three of four sets in the championship match against St. Clair County Community College. “GRCC’s volleyball program is known across the nation, with a long track record of success,” GRCC Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “Chip is dedicated to making sure his student-athletes are successful on and off off the court. He’s preparing excellent volleyball players, but also outstanding students and community members.” It’s the 11 th time Will has won the District Coach of the Year Award. He has coached the GRCC team for 16 seasons and has won more than 400 matches. Earlier in the year, Will's team won its 11th conference championship and later its ninth Michigan Community College Athletic Association championship. Will has earned MCCAA and conference Coach of the Year eight times and the national Coach of the Year in 2012 when his team won the national championship. The title remains the only women's national championship at GRCC, and alumni were saluted at homecoming last month. The 2022 team is heading to the NJCAA national tournament, played Nov. 17 to 19 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Nov. 7, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Students in Grand Rapids Community College’s TRIO program will share their summer research experiences during a Nov. 9 open house. The federally funded TRIO program provides academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, financial guidance, counseling and other supports to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds. As part of TRIO, students have opportunities to participate in summer research through these programs: Michigan Technological University’s Michigan College and University Partnership. The University of Michigan’s Community College Summer Institute. U of M’s Great Lakes Arts, Cultures and Environments program. A study abroad trip to the Netherlands sponsored by the Council for Opportunity and Education. Stacie Aguirre-Jaimes was in Michigan Tech’s MiCUP program this summer. “It really opened my eyes to what type of opportunities are out there for me and other students like me,” she said. “It’s a great experience to have, especially as a first-generation student, who may or may not know what their path is.” Professor Anna Maria Clark, TRIO advisor, said summer research opportunities are transformative experiences for students. “Participating in summer research has impacted their academic journeys in immeasurable ways,” she said, “from goal and career clarification, academic confidence, personal confidence, understanding the transition to four-year schools, hands-on lab experiences, understanding of research and lab experiences, developing relationships with faculty and grad assistants, creating a broader network of friends from other schools also participating in summer research, and more.” The open house runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 on the third floor of the Student Center, 122 Lyon St. NE. Snacks will be provided.

Nov. 7, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is saluting students, employees and community members who served in the Armed Forces during an annual Veterans Day commemoration on Friday, Nov. 11, including remarks from veteran and entrepreneur Michael Hyacinthe. The commemoration is planned for 10 a.m. on the Dr. Juan R. Olivarez Student Plaza near the college’s veteran’s memorial and iconic lion fountain. Hyacinthe, a Navy veteran, was recognized as one of Inc Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs in 2010. He founded Has Heart, a project aimed at connecting with wounded veterans and helping them experience restoration through art. The Grand Rapids Business Journal named Hyacinthe a Top 40 Under Forty Entrepreneur in 2020 because of his work with wounded veterans and his children’s media and Wimage, a tech company he founded.  This work led to the creation of an iPhone app and the start of the popular children's show called “Wimee’s Words” on PBS. He earned a Top Veteran Owned Business award by Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce in 2021. Hyacinthe also will be part of a panel discussion for GRCC students and employees starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Veterans Center, located on Level G2 of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall on the Main Campus. Topics include the transition from the military to higher education, challenges faced by veterans, and how to connect with GRCC resources supporting veterans.