Aug. 29, 2025 We are proud to share that Grand Rapids Community College has been recognized as one of Michigan’s Best Employers by Forbes, ranking #20 in the state on the 2025 list. GRCC is one of five higher education institutions and is the only community college in Michigan to earn a place on this list. This recognition is more than just a number — it’s a reflection of the people who make GRCC such a remarkable place to work and learn. A Culture of Care and Collaboration Every day, GRCC employees bring energy, creativity and commitment to their roles, whether in classrooms, labs, offices or community spaces. Our faculty and staff work tirelessly to support student success, and just as importantly, to support one another. The recognition from Forbes highlights what we’ve long known internally: GRCC is powered by a culture that values belonging, growth and collaboration. This award affirms the small and large ways our employees make a difference — mentoring students, developing innovative programs, ensuring services run smoothly, and building an environment where people feel they belong. These efforts collectively make GRCC not only a strong educational institution, but also a great place to build a career. An Employer of Choice   Externally, this recognition positions GRCC among Michigan’s leading employers, alongside organizations known for strong workplace practices. It strengthens our reputation as an employer of choice, demonstrating that GRCC is not only committed to providing access to affordable, high-quality education, but also to supporting the employees who make that mission possible. Attracting and retaining talented employees is critical to our continued success. Being included on this list helps us share with the broader community that GRCC is a place where professionals can thrive, contribute to meaningful work and grow in their careers. A Shared Achievement   This milestone belongs to all of us. GRCC would not be on this list without the dedication, passion and care of every faculty and staff member who works to make our college stronger each day. We invite everyone to take a moment to celebrate this achievement and reflect on the role you play in GRCC’s success. Together, we are building not only a stronger college, but also a workplace recognized as one of the best in Michigan. Read the Forbes Article  

Aug. 28, 2025 Kids’ Food Basket, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating food insecurity in West Michigan, believes nutritious food is a right, not a privilege. The organization distributes about 11,000 meals every day through its Sack Supper Program and provides educational resources to raise awareness about food insecurity.  Each year, Kids’ Food Basket hosts a Farm to Table Dinner on their farm in Muskegon, MI to help support the mission. This year, five Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) Secchia Institute for Culinary Education chefs prepared a five-course meal using seasonal produce grown on the farm.  Senior farm manager Jason Lundberg worked with chefs Jennifer Struik, Bob Schultz, Katy Waltz, Wilfredo Barajas and Sean Marr to create an upscale cookout menu. Struik began collaborating with Kids’ Food Basket for the dinner event in 2021, and after joining GRCC in 2023, she knew this could become a beautiful collaboration with her colleagues.    “Many of us being in education and the food industry know how important it is for everyone to have access to healthy food,” said Struik. “We got a chance to showcase how wonderful fresh, seasonal food can be. We put up 500 plates of food that evening and knew how much planning and hours of volunteer time went into that. It more clearly provides perspective on how incredible this organization is putting together 11,000 meals a day. It’s so great to see people investing in this opportunity to sponsor the farm to table dinner and make the sack meals a continued possibility.” The menu for the evening’s dinner showcased mostly plant-based courses, elevating familiar dishes with fresh ingredients from the Kids’ Food Basket Farm. The menu included: Melon and pepper gelée with marigolds Tomato toast with fresh herbs, tomatoes, garlic and microgreens Sweet corn gazpacho GRCC beer brat and polenta cake with blackberries, honey, summer squash, herbs and microgreens Cucumber and basil popsicle with blackberries.   “This is my fourth year doing this event now, but my first year bringing all my colleagues,” said Struik. “It was wonderful making this a GRCC event in the kitchen. For us as instructors, we really try to stay innovative, current and creative. This event was a big highlight for us to put our creative energy forward. Being able to do this while supporting a cause that is actively working to fight food insecurity in West Michigan is amazing. On top of that, getting positive feedback from guests and the community was another bonus.” After the fifth course was served, guests sought out the chefs to thank them for an incredible culinary experience.  “A guest brought her mother to the event,” stated Struik. “After dinner she took the time to seek us out in the barn, where we were staged to plate dinner, to tell us it was the greatest thing she’s ever been to. It brought tears to my eyes. It shows the level of the chefs we have at GRCC.”  With no on-site kitchen, the team relied on careful prep work and creativity to serve each course seamlessly. Later, in a letter to her colleagues, Struik wrote, “I want to thank you all for the time and effort that went into planning and executing this event. From our first meeting in May, to putting it all on a plate… it was one of the best collaborations I have been a part of.”    Struik said the event highlighted both the mission of Kids’ Food Basket and the strong collaboration among GRCC’s chefs.  “I love this event,” Struik said. “It shows me there’s always hope for the future. I think, for our industry in particular, it’s been hard since COVID. This shows me there’s still a space for that creativity for great food, for partnership, and hope for the community when it comes to eliminating food insecurity. What Kids’ Food Basket has accomplished, and continues to work toward, is nothing short of amazing.”  The Farm to Table Dinner continues to serve as a powerful connection between Kids’ Food Basket and the community, bringing people together to help ensure West Michigan children have access to healthy meals.  Learn more about Kids’ Food Basket Learn more about GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education This story reported by Anjula Caldwell 

Aug. 27, 2025 Grand Rapids Community College students returned this school year to find a transformed Ford Fieldhouse Recreation Center — a modern, sustainable space designed for movement, connection and collaboration. “This renovation is about more than new walls and equipment,” said GRCC Director of Ford Fieldhouse Operations Whitney Marsh. “It’s about creating a welcoming place where all of our students can study, play and recharge.” A Sustainable Transformation   The $15 million renovation reflects GRCC’s commitment to sustainability and creativity. Instead of demolishing old features, the project repurposed them into something new: Pool bleacher wood now serves as custom seating on the Learning Stairs, LED-lit design accents and a warm finish for lounge staircases. Six racquetball courts were reimagined as a bright, modern fitness center — keeping original walls and beams to preserve history and reduce waste. The former pool became a multipurpose indoor turf field with storage rooms below, filled with recyclable Geofoam instead of concrete. A white EPDM roof reflects heat to cut cooling costs and can last up to 20 years, while a custom high-efficiency HVAC system improves comfort and reduces energy use. Floor-to-ceiling windows now flood the building with natural light, creating open, inviting study lounges that blend wellness with academics. A Place for Every Raider   The Recreation Center was designed with all students in mind. Whether it’s working out in the new fitness center, studying between classes, joining friends for a game or finding a quiet spot to recharge, the Fieldhouse is a flexible and welcoming space for the campus community. Intramurals are Coming This Fall To celebrate the opening, GRCC is starting intramural sports — open to all students, no experience required. Volleyball and basketball — Mondays and Wednesday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Arena. Soccer — Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Wednesday 5-6:30 p.m. on the Rec Center Turf, Level 2. League play begins the week of Sept. 8, 2025. Students must bring their RaiderCard to participate. No guests are permitted. Check-in takes place at the arena’s south entrance on Lyon Street.  More Than a Gym The Ford Fieldhouse Rec Center is now a hub for fitness, friendship and focus, and a place where sustainability meets student life.    

Aug. 26, 2025 Carson Chambers came to Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) for two important reasons: savvy financial advice from his grandparents, and free tuition courtesy of the Michigan Community College Guarantee. “I graduated from Grandville High School in May 2024,” Chambers said. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study or what I wanted to do next. While I was looking at a couple of four-year colleges, my grandparents shared their input.” Carson comes from a close-knit family that has extensive GRCC experience. His grandparents Dick Chambers and Marji Spaulding Chambers both graduated from Grand Rapids Junior College (as it was known back then). So did his parents, Chad Chambers and Anna Knoester Chambers. But Carson really didn’t understand the value proposition of community college until his grandparents sat him down and explained it. “I hadn’t done much thinking about college while I was in high school, and I didn’t have any idea how much it really cost,” Chambers said. “My grandparents explained that I could attend GRCC for the first two years and then transfer to a four-year program. I started researching the cost difference and GRCC quickly became the obvious solution. I don’t mind living at home and the commute is pretty short. Given the huge savings, it was an easy decision.” Then Carson learned about something even more significant: the Michigan Community College Guarantee . “I was talking with my friend’s girlfriend, and she made an offhand mention of this program,” Chambers said. “I had never heard of it, so I asked some questions the next day at orientation. And wow…I qualified!” The Michigan Community College Guarantee, launched in Fall 2024 and funded through the state’s School Aid Budget, provides free in-district tuition to Michigan residents who graduate high school in 2024 or later. The financial benefit made his decision easy. Chambers enrolled at GRCC for the 2024-2025 school year. Along the way, he discovered more about himself and his career interests. “I came to GRCC planning to study chemistry,” he said. “I realized I didn’t like chemistry as much as I thought! So then I switched to Marketing, with a plan to attend Grand Valley State University.” But after more research and additional conversations, Carson changed his mind and followed the money once more. “I talked to an advisor from Davenport University,” Chambers said. “I liked their Business Management program a lot. And the best news is that I can follow the Pre-Management 3+1 program at GRCC.” The 3+1 program allows students to complete three years at GRCC before transferring for a final year at a partner university, such as Davenport or Ferris State University. GRCC offers several 3+1 options in business, criminal justice, biology and more. “I can use the Guarantee dollars to pay for three years of tuition instead of two,” Chambers said. “I’m still working part time while I go to school, so the money I’m saving will help me graduate with a four-year degree and no debt. That’s huge.” As for the future, Chambers is keeping his options open. “I would love to live in a big city for a while,” he said. “I also want to earn my online MBA at Davenport. And I have strong ties to our family business. I like marketing, and I think I would enjoy sales. So there are plenty of options open to me.” In the meantime, he’s putting his marketing and sales skills into practice by sharing his story with others. “I tell everyone I meet about GRCC and the Michigan Community College Guarantee,” Chambers said. “I know of several people who made the choice to attend GRCC because of me!” Learn about the Michigan Community College Guarantee and other financial aid resources at GRCC .