Aug. 19, 2021, HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College and Ottawa County leaders are celebrating the opening of the new Lakeshore Campus and the transformation of a shuttered department store into a vibrant learning hub for students of all ages. Starting with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Thursday, GRCC plans three days of events intended to introduce the community to the opportunities created by the new campus, located in the former JCPenney in The Shops at Westshore mall. “The GRCC Lakeshore Campus reflects a vision of a community college education being accessible to everyone,” President Bill Pink said. “As we walk through this magnificent facility, you will be surprised that it was once a department store. But you will be amazed at how this revitalized space will help people change their lives and make this entire community stronger. We are taking higher education on the Lakeshore to a new level.” GRCC has offered classes on the Lakeshore, spread out in four locations, for more than 20 years. The new Lakeshore Campus consolidates resources and programs in the heart of Holland Township with access to public transportation, employers and services. The 52,000-square-foot facility has nine classrooms, four computer labs and five unique labs for biology, chemistry, electronics, automation, welding and machine tooling, housing programs for students working toward an associate degree or a career-focused certificate. The $12 million project also has spaces for advising and counseling and other student support services and a satellite library, as well as areas for use by community groups. GMB Architecture + Engineering designed the project, and construction was directed by The Christman Co. The building will be LEED certified, part of GRCC’s sustainability goals.  Donors to the project include the Brooks family, the Community Foundation for the Holland/Zeeland Area, Gentex Corp., GMB Architecture + Engineering, Haworth, Herman Miller, Hudsonville Ice Cream and the Patrick A. Thompson and Family. “The generous support for this project reflects Lakeshore residents recognizing the value of a community college and GRCC’s ability to help students of all ages fulfill their dreams,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Mullins, GRCC’s vice president of Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. “We embrace this community partnership, and know it will grow even stronger in the years to come.” Current class offerings can lead to an Associate of Arts, Associate of General Studies, and Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences-Industrial Maintenance Technology, as well as certificates in Industrial Maintenance, Industrial Technology, Tooling and Manufacturing, and Welding. Workforce Training programs include Welding Bootcamp, Certified Production Technician, Pharmacy Technician and other offerings. Continuing education and professional development will be available for a variety of sectors, as well as customized training and assessments.  The expanded space will increase GRCC’s partnerships with area employers, and plans call for additional programs, possibly in health care, early childhood education, and teaching. A community open house is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, with opportunities for residents to come as visitors and leave as students, with experts from the Enrollment, Financial Aid, the Academic Advising, Student Records, Veterans Benefits, Student Life, Honors, TRiO, and the College Success Center all on site to help. Specialists at the open house also can help with admissions and registration, and help potential students learn if they are eligible for the Michigan Reconnect program or federal Pell grants, which could substantially reduce costs.

Sept. 1, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – GRCC Workforce Training programs provide in-demand skills leading to rewarding careers. Each Wednesday we’ll meet students who are heading down an educational pathway and changing their lives by earning occupational certificates. Jose Villanueva wasn’t sure what Computer Numeric Control Machine Tooling was when he first saw it was offered by GRCC’s Job Training Program. “I had no clue what it was! I follow a YouTuber from Australia who is an engineer. As I was watching him, I realized that he was working with CNC. Then I saw what he was doing and I said, that’s it, that is what I want to do!” A machinist or CNC technician shapes metal and various materials to precise dimensions for parts by using machine tools. MT/CNC technicians plan and set up the sequence of machine operations in accordance with blueprints, layouts or other instructions to write both manual and computer-generated machine programs. “It doesn’t feel like school at all. It feels like I am coming to work,” said Villanueva, a 2016 Grandville High School graduate. The GRCC Job Training CNC Machine Tool program meets for 18 weeks for 34 hours per week. The program offers small class sizes, hands-on learning and job placement assistance. The Machine Tool/CNC program has recently been updated to better meet the industry needs. Skills taught in the program include blueprint reading, basic shop math, read measurement tools and communicate effectively with others using today's Machine Tool/CNC terminology. Villanueva is new to the program, but really likes it and appreciates instructor Andy Beach. “Andy does a really great job of explaining things,” he said. “He breaks everything down in completely different ways. I’ve been learning so much already. I never thought I would be doing something like this. If anyone is interested I would tell them to try it out! It’s worth the shot!” Villanueva qualified for federal financial aid, but also was eligible for the GRCC M-TEC Champions program. He’s also one of the first recipient of a new program, One Workforce. He has no out of pocket cost.  “I was pretty happy when I heard the news! I just didn’t believe it! I feel pretty lucky!” Villanueva likes working with his hands and plans to continue building his skills. “Once I receive my certificate I’d like to take the welding program as well so that I have a really well-rounded skillset.” The next section of Job Training programs begins October 18, 2021. Anyone interested in gaining career skills through GRCC Workforce Training can connect via email at workforcetraining@grcc.edu, and by phone at (616) 234-3800.

Aug. 31, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . – Ola Nowak has been named MCCAA Western Conference Player of the Week, the second week in a row a Grand Rapids Community College volleyball player earned the honor. Nowak, a freshman setter/libero from Grandville, was selected after superb performances at the Owens Express Invitational Tournament in Perrysburg, Ohio on Aug. 27 and 28. Nowak totaled a team-high 94 assists and 52 digs, while chipping in five kills and four aces. Nowak racked up a career-high 19 digs and three blocks while helping her team to victory in the opening match. "The Raiders faced some of the best teams in the nation during the first tournaments of the season," GRCC Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. "Back-to-back Western Conference players of the week awards reflect the hard work from our student-athletes and coaches and outstanding performances against top competition. This is going to be an exciting season."    The Raiders defeated No. 12 Catawba Valley Community College and Waubonsee Community College on the first day of the tournament. The team lost to No. 2 Parkland College and concluded tournament play with a four-set loss to Terra State Community College, which placed ninth at the NJCAA D2 National Tournament last year. Nowak follows Annie Holesinger in earning Player of the Week honors. Holesinger, a sophomore from Rockford, was saluted for her performance in the season-opening tournament where she totaled 45 kills, averaged 3.46 kills per set, and had five blocks across the four matches on Aug. 20 and 21. Holesinger tied her career high of 17 kills against No. 3 Iowa Central Community College while hitting .500. After two tournaments on the road, the Raiders return to GRCC for the team’s first home match of the year at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse. The team is facing Glen Oaks Community College. General admission is $3 per person, and season passes for all games will be available for $50 at the admissions table.  Students and staff are admitted free with their RaiderCard.

Aug. 30, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  While standing inside the newly renovated Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, Grand Rapids Community College student Angelique Nyarwaka said it’s nice to have a new one-stop enrollment experience on campus. “I think it’s very helpful for new students,” the second-year student said about several student services now being housed under one roof. “I have a sister coming from New York and she is going to be coming here. It will be very nice for her to have all of the services in one space.” Financial aid, enrollment, admissions and student records have new offices on the first floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE.GRCC recently completed extensive renovations to the 210,000 square-foot building, formerly called the Main Building. Rather than heading to a variety of offices to seek services, students now are greeted at one reception desk, and specialists from the various offices are brought to them – a student-centered, one-door approach. As well as serving as a hub for student services, the space now features modernized and reconfigured lab space, gathering areas, dining spots and welcoming entrances. The iconic, nearly 100-year-old building was renamed in 2019 in honor of businessman Raleigh J. Finkelstein, a lead donor for the project. Finkelstein and his brothers operated MC Sports, which developed from their parents’ company, Michigan Clothiers. Improved access to student services Kristi Welling, associate director of Enrollment Center services, said the project has been years in the making. “We have developed a one-stop shop,” she said. “It used to be that students would go to different places on campus to get these services. Now it’s all in one place. We’ve really invested in students.” It’s a way of removing barriers along with meeting students’ needs, she said. “When I was younger I was the first in my family to get a degree, and I didn’t know where to go on campus and what to do. We find a lot of the students much like myself who are first in their family to go to college and aren’t really sure of the services available – what they need to do, how they need to do it to get to the part where they are actually getting their degree.” GRCC and community leaders, including Finkelstein, gathered at Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall last week for one of four ribbon-cutting ceremonies on the same day. Other completed projects include A two-story, 18,416 square-foot expansion with a machine tool lab and data center, renovated computer lab and student gathering and study spaces at Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St. NE A historic renovation, preserving wood interior features while creating modern spaces for students, staff and faculty at Steven C. Ender Hall, 455 E. Fulton St. Historic renovations including a kitchen, meeting space and areas for receptions and other gatherings at Custer Alumni House, 473 E. Fulton St. “We are preserving what made these buildings special, but making sure they are able to meet the needs of the students of today and tomorrow,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. This story was reported by Erin Albanese of the School News Network.