April 5, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli will be the final speaker in this year’s Grand Rapids Community College Diversity Lecture Series, appearing virtually at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. The Diversity Lecture Series provides students, employees, and community members access to scholars, thought-leaders, activists, and artists and is presented by GRCC’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Kweli, a New York native, is a rapper, activist, and entrepreneur and is recognized as one of the most accomplished hip-hop artists.  He is known for partnering with Mos Def for the duo Black Star, teaming up with producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal, releasing landmark solo material, and collaborating with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, and Madlib. “ODEI has never shied away from inviting speakers whose influence ranges from academics at the pinnacle of their scholarship to grassroots activists making an impact in their part of the world,” said Dr. B. Afeni McNeely Cobham, GRCC’s Chief Equity and Inclusion officer. “Talib’s family roots, love of hip- hop, socio-political awareness, immeasurable talent, and infectious work ethic have positioned him as an iconoclast of popular culture. How he got there will unfold as part of the moderated discussion.”  In 2021, Kweli released his memoir, Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story . A reviewer for the Washington Post wrote, “the push-pull between commercial hip-hop, with its frequent emphasis on empty materialism, and Kweli’s message-driven, popular conscious rap is one of the main topics at the heart of the [book].” The book discussion will be moderated by Bakari Kitwana, author, journalist, and executive director of Rap Sessions, which has hosted over 100 town hall meetings around the nation on difficult dialogues facing the hip-hop and millennial generations. A live DJ set featuring Monk Matthaeus of GR Hip Hop.org will begin at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP at www.tinyurl.com/GRCCequity

April 4, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is offering commencement in two sessions to provide students with a safe, in-person celebration. The college plans to hold ceremonies on Friday, April 29. Students in the School of Arts and Sciences will attend a 4:30 p.m. commencement, and students in the School of Workforce Development will be at a 7:30 p.m. service, all at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse, 111 Lyon St. NE. Students can have up to five tickets for the event. “Holding two ceremonies will allow everyone to spread out safely as we continue recovering from the pandemic,” said Registrar Valerie Butterfield, who is overseeing commencement. “This is a special moment in the lives of our students, and we want them to be able to share it with their friends, families and other supporters.” Birgit M. Klohs, recently retired as president and CEO of The Right Place, will provide the keynote address at each ceremony. Klohs has spent more than four decades working to enhance economic development in West Michigan. Under her leadership, The Right Place Inc. created or retained more than 50,000 jobs and stimulated more than $5 billion in new investment. Among the projects she worked on were the opening of Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and the creation of the Manufacturers Council. Since stepping down from The Right Place in 2021, Klohs has served as a director for the New Community Transformation Fund, a venture fund she co-founded for entrepreneurs of color. Last year, GRCC hosted four ceremonies over two days and did not allow guests because of the pandemic. The 2020 commencement was provided virtually. Additional details on this year’s event will be posted at grcc.edu/commencement

April 4, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Alicia Sanchez-Harmon wants every child who enters her All Saints Academy classroom to feel welcomed and loved. She learned how to make that happen from the Child Development faculty at GRCC. “I always loved children but never thought I would make a career out of it,” Sanchez-Harmon said. “I took a few Child Development classes to help fill up some requirements, and I never looked back! They really helped me discover what I was put on this earth to do.” 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. Sanchez-Harmon  valued the real-life experiences she had with the program and her work in the state-of-the-art Phyllis Fratzke Early Childhood Learning Laboratory. She especially appreciated the honest classroom conversations about challenges she and her fellow students faced. “All of my professors created a safe place to vent and come up with ways to combat our issues,” she said. After earning an associate degree in 2019, Sanchez-Harmon was hired by Head Start for Kent County. She worked there while finishing her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education at Ferris State University’s Grand Rapids campus. Through the “3+1” agreement between the two schools, she was able to transfer to Ferris State University as a senior after receiving her associate degree. “The flexibility of GRCC and FSU‘s 3+1 program allowed me to obtain two degrees while working full time and gaining meaningful experience,” she said. Last summer, Sanchez-Harmon became a pre-K teacher at All Saints Academy – the school she attended! Her GRCC experience prepared her for the role. “My experience at GRCC was valuable because as I entered into my bachelor’s-level classes, I felt prepared,” she said. “I had a strong understanding of how young children learn and was ready to build on that knowledge. I had many projects, notes and lesson plans from my time at GRCC that I was able to refer back to when I felt stuck. I also felt the support of my GRCC professors and lab instructors as they would always check in with me. “I am forever grateful to the amazing teachers at the ECLL who steered me toward my passion!” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .    

April 3, 2022 - STEVENSVILLE, Mich. – After dropping the opener 14-6, the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team bounced back to shutout Lake Michigan College 4-0, with starting pitcher Jerad Berkenpas tossing six scoreless innings. In game one, GRCC's Dylan Chargo hit a two-out grand slam -- his third home run of the year -- in the top of the third inning to give GRCC an early 4-0 lead. But the Red Hawks scored 14 runs in the next three innings to win convincingly. LMC out-hit the Raiders 14-10, four of which went for extra bases. GRCC's Jacob Gumieny and Xander Reisbig each had two hits, including a double and an RBI. Berkenpas’ dominating performance in the nightcap included six scoreless innings, eight strikeouts and just two walks. The win improved his record to 3-1. Two of GRCC’s runs came off an error and an RBI single by Zacarias Salinas in the fourth inning.  In the top of the seventh, Gumieny hit an RBI triple which he also scored on after an LMC error. GRCC's defense was stellar all game long, committing no errors while LMC totaled four in the game. The split brings GRCC’s season record to 4-16. The team is set to play Cornerstone University's junior varsity squad on April 5 in a double header at home starting at 2 p.m.  The team takes on LMC again at home on April 7.  

March 31, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Amanda Glaza enjoys wearing a few different hats at GRCC. Her primary role is to help student-athletes maintain eligibility. She helps them register for classes that meet NJCAA eligibility requirements, answers their questions about GRCC eligibility, helps them through any course schedules issues, and connects them with other departments on campus that can support them. Amanda also mentors student-athletes and helps them navigate their academics. "I created a mentorship program in which student-athletes are paired up to help each other succeed both academically and athletically," she said. "The mentor program also provides students who are new, or may be struggling academically, with peer support." Amanda can relate to student-athletes in a way not all GRCC employees can because she was a student athlete at GRCC not too long ago. "As a former student athlete at GRCC and GVSU I had to balance a full-time academic load on top of a practice and competition schedule," she said. Amanda cites affordability and quality for the reasons she chose to attend GRCC after high school. "I also received a volleyball scholarship to compete at GRCC and always wanted to play collegiate volleyball," she said. "GRCC gave me the opportunity to work towards earning credits for my bachelor’s degree, while improving my volleyball skills to transfer to GVSU to play on its volleyball team after graduating from GRCC!" Amanda was able to maintain her connection with GRCC while working towards her bachelor's degree. "While at GVSU, I was required to complete an internship for my Sport Management Degree," she said. "I had reached out to the GRCC Athletic Department to see if there was an opportunity for me to complete an internship there." Amanda became an important member of the GRCC Athletic Department as an intern, and was hired as an employee after she earned her bachelor's degree. "I am also currently pursuing my Master's Degree from GVSU in Adult and Higher Education to learn how to better serve our students!" she said. Amanda is proud to know she helps students achieve both their academic and athletic goals while at GRCC. "I enjoy working with each student-athlete who stops into my office knowing I can help support them on their journey," she said. "Every student who comes to GRCC has a story, and I love hearing why they chose GRCC to continue their academic and athletic career. I also love to hear about their goals for what they would like to do after GRCC. If students are unsure about what they would like to do after GRCC, I enjoy having conversations to help steer them in the direction of thinking about their futures as well."

March 31, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jonah Walters is a Grand Rapids Community College Music student and plans to continue his studies – and possibly even teach the subject someday. Walters is among the GRCC Music students who are demonstrating their talent and skill during three Sophomore Recitals next month. Walters and fellow pianist Madilyne Barbrick will share pieces at 7 p.m. Friday, April 1 at the Linn Maxwell Recital Hall in GRCC’s Albert P. Smith Music Center, 142 Ransom Ave. NE. It’s the first of three recitals featuring five students. Baritone Matthew Hillen’s recital is planned for 7 p.m. on April 8. He studied with professor Scott Bosscher and will be supported by collaborative pianist Emily Grabinski Conklin. Brandon Klein, who plays the bassoon, and Matthew Orsillo, who plays the tuba, will be performing at 7 p.m. on April 9. Grabinski Conklin also will be performing in support. Klein studied with professor Anthony Walker, and Orsillo with professor Kathleen Gomez. All performances are open to the public, and admission is free. Music Department Program Director Kevin Dobreff said the recitals are an opportunity for students to show what they’ve learned during their time at GRCC, and highlight the department and its faculty. “The students and instructors work so hard to get to this point,” he said. “We’re celebrating their musical journey, and also showing our greater community the quality of our programs and our people.” Walters, from Dorr, will continue his education at Grand Valley State University. He plans to study music education with a goal of teaching middle or high school band or choir. He studied at GRCC with Dr. Debora DeWitt. “I’ve really enjoyed the warm learning environment that GRCC has and the friendliness that radiates from the music building, especially,” Walters said. “The piano faculty especially are amazing people and pillars of leadership. They have made it easy to practice the piano and put in the many hours a week that practice requires.” Barbick, from Byron Center, said music has been her passion since childhood. “I've played piano for 13 years now, and my dream is to be a music educator myself one day,” she said. Her plans after graduating from GRCC are to transfer to a four-year university to complete my bachelor's degree in Music Education. "We’ve been planning on a sophomore recital for them for the past year. I’m thrilled with their progress. Both are playing difficult repertoire and both are playing with great musicality," DeWitt said.  "Not every student is able to do a sophomore recital. Preparing for a recital takes a great deal of dedicated practice, and mental and physical stamina. I couldn’t be prouder of what Madilyne and Jonah have achieved."