Dec. 28, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . — After 30 years working as a pet groomer, Jennifer Lotterman needed a beer. Well … sort of. “Grooming dogs is hands-on and quite demanding on your body,” said Lotterman, 47. “ Michigan Reconnect was a godsend because it gave me the freedom to leave my business behind, earn my craft brewing certification at GRCC and, hopefully, fulfill my dream to open a small brewery with my husband.” Michigan Reconnect is a state scholarship program that provides free in-district tuition for those 25 and older who don’t already have a college degree. This fall, 998 students enrolled at GRCC through Reconnect. The scholarships are changing the lives of people like Lotterman all over the state. “I’ve owned and operated a couple of pet grooming salons over the last 30 years and it’s been a good life. But I always wished I’d gotten a college degree,” said Lotterman, who lives in Tallmadge Township with her husband, Geoff. For years, the couple has brewed beer in their garage as a hobby. When Lotterman heard last spring about the Reconnect scholarship, she decided to combine her love of beer-making with her longing for an associate degree. West Michigan has more breweries per square foot than almost anywhere in America. So GRCC in 2016 debuted its Craft Brewing, Packaging and Service Operations certificate program — and became the first U.S. college to be licensed to own a campus brewery and pub. The popular Secchia Institute for Culinary Education program has successfully trained students ever since to understand brewing, business and service essentials. Lotterman just wrapped up her first semester in the program – and earned straight As. “It’s a great program filled with a variety of people all at different stages of their lives,” she said. “We all went out for a beer after class recently and got talking about how we ended up in the program. “I guess it’s not what any of us really imagined we’d be doing back when we graduated high school. But we all agreed we’re so glad we’re here.” If all goes according to plan, Lotterman hopes to complete her certification in six months and, perhaps, earn an associate degree at GRCC one day. For now, she’s happy taking brewing classes, learning more about the industry by bartending part-time at Trail Point Brewing Company in Allendale, and making beer in the garage with her husband. “For so many years, I did the same job and never saw a way to do something different with my life,” she said. “Without Reconnect, I never could have taken this leap.” Additional information about the Michigan Reconnect program is available at  grcc.edu/reconnect,  by emailing  reconnect@grcc.edu  or by calling (616) 234-3366. This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

Dec. 27, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- 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. Jessica Meldrum believes in sharing her experience. As an adjunct instructor at Grand Valley State University, she shared what she’s learned as a public relations specialist and former local news associate producer. Now as marketing director for the Grand Rapids Ballet, she shares the passion and enthusiasm that fueled a 17-year career with dance companies across the United States. Meldrum also shares her time, volunteering with the Humane Society of West Michigan, and serving on the board of the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America, where last year she oversaw the organization’s PRoof Awards. She received an associate degree in journalism in 2011 and then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from GVSU. Her career has included working as an associate producer with FOX 17, a public relations associate with Lambert Edwards & Associates, and National Heritage Academies, where she helped with communications for 45 charter schools across nine states. Her newest job is a dream combination. She leads all marketing and public relations for the organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the 2021-22 Season. The ballet this week concludes its annual performances of "The Nutcracker," a Grand Rapids holiday season tradition for many families. It’s also a bit of a homecoming. Meldrum studied classical ballet for 17 years, beginning at the Grand Rapids Ballet and then learning with Lakeshore Ballet Arts, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Anaheim Ballet, Orlando Ballet and Ballet Austin. “I am honored to join a passionate group of talented dancers and dedicated professionals at Grand Rapids Ballet, combining my lifelong love of ballet with my professional career,” she told the Grand Rapids Business Journal last spring. Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .

Dec. 23, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Always remember, at GRCC, you are surrounded by people who want you to be successful and are ready to walk with you on your educational pathway. We are here to help! Meet Dr. Eric Mullen. Eric is GRCC’s dean of Student Success and Retention, leading efforts to inspire and empower students to be lifelong learners and provide transformative opportunities for all learners to attain their personal, academic and career goals. "We are here for their success," he said. "Our unit is solely focused on how to help students develop and cultivate skills that will bring them success in the classroom and in their professional goals." A self-proclaimed “tech nerd,” Eric looks for innovative ways to leverage technology to connect with students, keep them informed and help them navigate their college experience. "We help students figure out where they want to go, and who they have the potential to be, and surround them with the support to get there," he said. Eric's career at GRCC demonstrates his love for helping others and his deep commitment to the transformational power of education. "At GRCC we have the privilege and opportunity to transform lives, break cycles of inequity, and add to the vitality and health of West Michigan,” he said. Eric has worked in higher education for more than 20 years in roles aimed at helping students thrive. At GRCC, he has worked in Student Life, Auxiliary Services, Admissions, Enrollment Management, and Financial Aid. He also served as Student Life director at Aquinas College. Eric earned his doctorate in higher education leadership at Western Michigan University. He holds a master's degree from Grand Valley State University and a bachelor's degree from Aquinas. He is recognized as a leader in the community, serving numerous roles in the American College Personnel Association’s Michigan Chapter, including as president. He also serves as a member of the College Board’s Community College Advisory Board, and was recognized by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” Business Leader in 2013.

Dec. 22, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Cheryl Brown Henderson will talk about the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case and its impact as the keynote speaker for the 36th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration. Henderson is one of the three daughters of the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, who, in 1950 along with 12 other parents and attorneys for the NAACP, filed suit on behalf of their children against the local Board of Education. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was the 1954 Supreme Court case in which the justices ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. Brown v. Board of Education was one of the cornerstones of the civil rights movement. Grand Rapids Community College, Davenport University, and Grand Valley State University collaborate annually on events for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration Day. The 2022 keynote is planned for 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE in Grand Rapids. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5 p.m. Attendees can register at davenport.edu/DEI/MLK. “Our annual celebration amplifies Dr. King’s historical reflections and philosophies of attaining a fair and just society,” said Latoya Booker, Davenport’s executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion. “Cheryl’s presentation – ‘Brown v. The Board of Education: The Legacy Continues,’ will inspire attendees to take on persistent barriers to advancing educational equity. We are proud to bring Cheryl to Grand Rapids to share her message with our greater community.” Henderson is the founding president of The Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research, and owner of Brown & Associates, an educational consulting firm. Henderson founded the Brown Foundation in 1988. It has provided scholarships to more than 100 students of color; presented awards to local, state and national leaders; established libraries for children in low-income communities; developed curriculum on Brown for educators across the country; and sponsored programs on diversity and educational issue.   The Foundation in 1990 successfully worked with Congress to establish the Brown v. Board of Education National Park in Topeka, Kan., which opened in May 2004. The Foundation in 2001 successfully worked with Congress to establish the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Presidential Commission, which served to provide a federal presence in the 2004 anniversary of the Brown decision. Henderson has an extensive background in education, business and civic leadership, having served on and chaired local, state and national boards. She also has two decades of experience in political advocacy, public policy and federal legislative affairs. Henderson has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Emporia State University in Kansas. She has an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Washburn University and an honorary doctorate of Education from the University of South Florida. To request accommodations to attend this event, please contact the Davenport Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at diversityis@davenport.edu. This event will be held in accordance with local, state and/or federal COVID-19 guidelines. For more information or to RSVP for the event visit davenport.edu/DEI/MLK.

Dec. 21, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- School was never Morgan Brink’s thing. “Honestly, I barely graduated from high school,” said Brink, now 32. “But today, I’m taking Honors classes at Grand Rapids Community College -- and I’m actually on the Dean’s List!” So, why the turnaround? Brink credits her new love of learning to three things: maturity, a strict homework schedule and Michigan Reconnect . Michigan Reconnect is a state scholarship program that provides free in-district tuition for those 25 and older who don’t already have a college degree. This fall, 998 students enrolled at GRCC through Reconnect. The scholarships are changing the lives of people all over the state. “After my husband and I lost our screen-printing business during the pandemic, I knew I had to reinvent myself,” said Brink, who lives in Wyoming with her husband, Brandon, and their two children, 5-year-old Thea and 2-year-old Beau. “As a mom, you really don’t want to take away resources from your kids. But thanks to Reconnect, I can get my degree for free, and it won’t be a financial burden on my family.” Brink is on track to graduate from GRCC in 2023 with an associate degree in marketing and plans to eventually earn a bachelor’s degree. One day, she hopes to start her own property management company. Most of her classes are online right now, which works well for a busy mom. She hits the books at night and Mondays and Wednesdays, when the kids are at kindergarten and day care. “I really try to do my homework when they’re not home so it doesn’t take away from my family time,” she said. “I’m definitely taking school a lot more seriously now that I’m older and I care about my family’s future.” Along with Honors classes, making the Dean’s List and earning a Grand Rapids Community Foundation merit scholarship to cover the cost of her books, Brink also joined  Phi Theta Kappa , an international honor society for two-year colleges. “It’s actually kind of crazy how well I’m doing in school,” she said. “I feel like Reconnect gave me the launchpad to prove to myself that I really am capable of getting a college degree.” Additional information about the Michigan Reconnect program is available at grcc.edu/reconnect, by emailing reconnect@grcc.edu or by calling (616) 234-3366. This story was written by Beth McKenna.

Dec. 20, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College enrollment is expected to increase nearly 5% from a year ago, and students still have time to enroll before Winter 2022 classes start on Jan. 10. As of this week, 10,186 students have enrolled for the Winter 2022 semester, up 4.8% from the 9,715 students a year ago. About 50% of GRCC’s almost 2,000 available courses are being offered in person, in Grand Rapids and at the new Lakeshore Campus in Holland Township. Two state programs covering the cost of in-district tuition continue to have an impact, helping students start -- or restart – a transformational college education. “We’re excited to see more people are coming back and enrolling in their first college semester to take advantage of opportunities for a GRCC degree or certificate program to advance in their careers,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “Students can take as few as two classes a semester to access state financial aid programs and keep moving forward, working around their busy schedules. There is still time to look at courses that are available, and take those next steps.” Enrollment in Fall 2021 semester credit-seeking classes was up 4.4%. GRCC has 903 Winter Semester students enrolled through Michigan Reconnect, which is available to residents ages 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/reconnect, by emailing reconnect@grcc.edu or by calling (616) 234-3366. So far, 1,477 students have enrolled through Futures for Frontliners, which was available to residents who worked in essential fields during the state’s 2020 COVID-19 shutdown. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone also removes cost as a barrier to enrolling. Students are eligible for this program if they have lived in Grand Rapids since grade 11, attended one of the 24 high schools in the city limits and graduated. Additional details are at grcc.edu/promisezone, emailing promisezone@grcc.edu or calling (616)234-4321. Federal programs, such as Pell Grants, can also cover or reduce costs. Students can connect with GRCC financial aid specialists at financialaid@grcc.edu and (616) 234-4030 to learn more, or to receive assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. GRCC offers courses in several formats that have proven popular, especially with students looking to start or restart their education through Michigan Reconnect. Hybrid classes are conducted partly on campus and partly online. Virtual classes meet online at set times with opportunities to engage with faculty and classmates. Traditional online classes allow students to log in and get started at any time of the day. GRCC’s enrollment and admissions specialists are able to assist with the process and answer questions. The team can be contacted at admissions@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-3300, with additional information at grcc.edu/enroll.

Dec. 20, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Beverly A. Drake is being remembered as a champion for those in need and a mentor to community leaders across West Michigan. Drake, a Grand Rapids Junior College alumna and a member of the GRCC Foundation board of directors for 27 years, passed away Saturday. She was 80. “Bev was such a phenomenal person,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Mullins, GRCC’s vice president for College Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. “She devoted her life to helping others, caring deeply about helping people overcome obstacles to success, especially through education – and GRCC. So many people in our community respected her, and sought out her friendship and wisdom. She touched the lives of many and will be missed.” Drake was the executive director of Area Community Services Employment and Training from 1985 to 2011. The organization creates opportunities for economic self-sufficiency for low-income, economically disadvantaged, elderly, disabled, unemployed and underemployed people and dislocated workers. “My life’s work reflects helping those who were not ordinarily able to access opportunities, be that education, training or jobs,” she said in a 2015 interview. “I like to think that I was able to open doors for people and to help others because I had been helped.” Prior to working with ACSET, Drake served in various positions with the Grand Rapids government and Grand Rapids Area Employment and Training Council. Drake was a graduate of Grand Rapids’ South High School, attended GRJC, and Michigan State and Grand Valley State universities. She served on the GRCC Foundation board starting in 1994. Among her many honors is being named GRCC’s Distinguished Alumna in 1995. “We will miss Bev tremendously,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “But her influence on this community will long be felt through the people she helped. She was all about helping others as seen through her work with the workforce investment board as well as her commitment to our GRCC Foundation. She created opportunities that changed lives, and inspired many others to do the same. That’s a legacy they will be with us for many years to come.”

Dec. 20, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- 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. Gary Carey has two professions – and his GRCC experience has helped him with both. An Introduction to Marketing class taught by Mark Mulder helped him find one career. “Mark was a retired business executive and passionate teacher who challenged us to be inquisitive and understand the ‘why’ behind things,” Carey said. “My class experience was why I changed my career path and went into business for sales and marketing.” After getting his associate degree, he earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies with a leadership emphasis from Grand Valley State University. His 30-year business career has taken him to positions at IKON Business Solutions, Canon Business Solutions and Paycor. Currently, he is the Michigan market leader for Gibson Insurance. Public service is Carey’s other career: He has served on boards and committees in Walker since 1999. He was elected to represent the 2nd Ward on the City Commission in 2013 and became mayor in 2019. GRCC has helped Carey with that calling as well. “Just as our community has residents and businesses that come from diverse backgrounds and have different plans and goals in life, my time at GRCC was no different,” he said. “My experience in understanding that everyone has a story – and no one story is more important than another – has helped prepare me for a successful business career and serving in elected office.” Carey appreciated how his GRCC instructors helped him “connect dots” from the course materials to the real world. “This was done in smaller class sizes with instructors who are recognized in their field as subject matter experts,” he said. “Even today, I see some of those instructors out in our communities and it still surprises me they remember people and names, and still provide support for our lives outside the classroom.”  Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .

Dec. 17, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Sally Merrill scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds, but the Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team fell to Lake Land College – the defending national champs, on Friday 84-50. Lake Land, ranked No. 7 in the latest NJCCA Division II poll, jumped out to a 22-7 lead after the first quarter and would never look back, outscoring the Raiders in every quarter and improving its record to 9-4 on the season. GRCC snapped a three-game win streak and fell to 4-6 to conclude non-conference play. Lake Land coach David Johnson was presented with the game ball after he picked up his 500 th career. Johnson is in his 24th season at Lake Land, located in Mattoon, Ill. The Lakers scored 25 points off 15 Raider turnovers, compared to six points on nine turnovers for the visitors. The Lakers’ Lexi Niebrugge, five of nine from long range, led all scorers with 19 points.  Lake Land totaled 14 three-pointers in all while shooting 48.3%. The Raiders were successful in 36.4% of their shots outside the arc. Merrill, a freshman from Allegan, added three assists and a steal in 37 minutes of action. Grace Lodes, of Comstock Park, added 13 points, with three blocks and four rebounds.  Allison Kellogg, a freshman from Jenison, scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds. GRCC won't be back in action until Jan. 3 when the team begins conference play against Mid Michigan College.   

Dec. 17, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The transformation of the Mable Engle House into Grand Rapids Community College’s Steven C. Ender Hall has earned project architect Progressive AE national honors for historic preservation.  American School & University, a magazine covering operations of educational facilities, saluted the project in its 2021 Architectural Portfolio edition, highlighting it in the Outstanding Design in Historic Preservation category. “Steven C. Ender Hall looks wonderful,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “But more importantly, it helps our college meet our students’ needs. We are grateful for Progressive AE’s thoughtful collaboration on this project, making Ender Hall a place that will serve our students and community for decades to come.” The building, 455 E. Fulton St., was constructed early in the 20th Century by a lumber baron for his family. GRCC purchased it from Davenport University for use as offices. The 3,850-square-foot Steven C. Ender Hall is used for student-focused departments, including the Experiential Learning and the Honors programs, and Student Employment Services. It also provides space for Student Life clubs and organizations to meet. A ribbon-cutting was held in August. “Preserving landmark buildings like this is the right solution for maintaining a connection to the past, while making a strong commitment to the future,” Progressive practice leader Tod Stevens told the publication. “One of the best ways to be sustainable is to renovate rather than building new, so giving new life to the historic structure was a great first step.” Progressive AE worked with GRCC, local building officials, and the city’s Historic Preservation Commission on the $3.4 million renovation. “It was a good challenge for us, recovering the building’s grand interior after more than a century of renovations that had significantly changed the upper floors,” Stevens told the publication. “A space like this is what make a community college so vital today – they are critical in helping students transition from high school to the next stage of their learning journey, whether continuing education or entering the workforce. We have found that success comes when a student feels comfortable, and when they feel that they belong. To that end, the space is designed to create this sense of belonging – relaxed, low-threshold, inviting and accessible so students feel safe, welcome and included to engage their full potential.” The project earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification for Commercial Interiors, a national standard established by the U.S. Green Building Council. GRCC held a ribbon-cutting in August for the building, which was named for President Emeritus Steven C. Ender.