Aug. 31, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Cody Kasper worked in a variety of industries after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was working with the Ionia County Road Commission when a friend talked to him about becoming an electrical line worker. After hearing about the work, he was determined to give it a go. “I tried to get into the program at Lansing Community College and another program in Alpena,” he said. “Space is always very limited. But I kept trying. Then I saw that Grand Rapids Community College was developing a program that was nine months shorter than the others. It was perfect timing!” Kasper was one of the 12 participants in the pilot program that was offered in May 2021. “The training was great. It hit all the basics -- OSHA, and electrical industry stuff,” he said. “But it’s the fitness portion. That is what kicks everyone’s butt!” GRCC, in partnership with the Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium, began offering a Pre-Lineworker Training program in 2021. The Program includes: OSHA10 certification/safety, Linework Physical Fitness, Basic Electricity, and Energy Industry Fundamentals, followed by climbing clinics, orientation and an 11-week climb school in Marshall, Mich.. “Of the 12 who started the program, only eight went on to do the practice climbs,” he said. “The first time you have to climb up a pole to 40 feet, you find out quickly if you are afraid of heights.” The process to become a Line worker has many levels of training. GRCC’s program is the first level. Additionally, there are four climbing clinics and a written test. Kasper is now working for Consumers Energy making more than $40 per hour. As he progresses through the five steps of the apprenticeship program, he will earn even more. “This training is serious. I felt like being in the Marines really helped me. I had the mentality to stick to it. I’m so glad I did!” Additional information about the next Pre-Lineworker session is available at grcc.edu/lineworker .  

Aug. 30, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Where some people saw a blind woman, Grand Rapids Community College saw a burgeoning musician. “This is the polar opposite of how I was treated in the rest of my school life,” said Hailey Cone, a 25-year-old GRCC voice major. “GRCC is an environment where they see me past my blindness and see me for my love of music.” Along with singing, Cone has developed a keen interest in musicology, or the study of music. She recently joined the writing staff for “Inside the Score,” a YouTube channel with 272,000 subscribers that produces content to deepen the appreciation of classical, film and art music. Cone’s first script about Maurice Ravel’s “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand”  debuted Aug. 22 on YouTube and had nearly 86,000 views in its first week. In the video, Oscar Osicki, creator of “Inside the Score,” included Cone’s personal reflection on how the Ravel composition inspires her as a person with a disability — and motivates her music studies. “As a music student with my own disabilities and hardships to navigate, I come back to the left-hand concerto when I am consumed by self-doubt or fear,” Cone said. “Hearing that triumphant ending reminds me that adversity can be overcome – and even celebrated.” But her musical path has had its challenges. Cone’s vision impairment stems from complications from her extremely premature birth in 1996 at just 5 months gestation. She has no sight in her right eye and minimal vision in her left eye, even with glasses. “I’m considered legally blind,” she said. “But I can cook, clean and I live life independently; the only real issue is I can’t drive.” Cone enrolled at GRCC in 2016 after graduating from East Kentwood High School. Uncertain about a career, she considered English or social work degrees. But while taking an elective choir class at GRCC in 2018, her professor encouraged her to pursue a music degree . “Music called to me a little louder,” Cone said. “I had this massive spark for music for so long, but it was extinguished over and over and over until I got to college, where it was finally ignited and taken seriously. “From the start, all my GRCC professors have been extremely accommodating, encouraging and really generous with their time -- I’m just sort of blown away by that,” she said. Unable to read paper sheet music, Cone relies on her tablet to enlarge the music enough so that she can read it. She’s already enjoyed several semesters performing in GRCC’s Music Department’s College Choir, Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers. Her love of singing, musicology and creative writing made her a perfect fit for “Inside the Score.” She chose “Piano Concert for the Left Hand” as her first script because Ravel is her favorite composer. He was commissioned a century ago to write the concerto for Paul Wittgenstein, a concert pianist who lost his right arm in World War I. This semester, Cone is attending school, working on her second script and debating the next step on her musical career path. “Hailey is one of our very best,” said Caleb Wenzel, GRCC’s director of choral and vocal activities. This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

Aug. 29, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Phong Nguyen’s training at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education has allowed him to share the dishes from his native Vietnam with West Michigan. Nguyen opened Monsoon Vietnamese Cuisine at Monroe Center this summer – “a dream come true for me.” But he began working on that dream as a GRCC culinary student. “I appreciated how hands-on the program was,” he said. “I was able to practice my knife skills and my cooking skills every day. All the teachers and instructors were super friendly and helpful!” 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. Nguyen, who arrived in the United States in 2013, earned an associate degree in culinary arts in 2017 and then transferred to Ferris State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration and management. “It was a good deal since all of my courses from the culinary arts were transferable,” he said. “I was able to get my bachelor’s degree in two years!” Nguyen’s experience includes work in many kitchens in Grand Rapids and Indiana. He has prepared meals for a senior living community, a catering company and in private homes. He continued to plan for his own restaurant someday. He, Tai Nguyen, Kevin Nguyen and Thuan Truong formed Vietbrothers Restaurant LLC and celebrated the launch of Monsoon this summer. “The many years of hard work, dedication and finding funds to open my restaurant paid off!” Phong Nguyen said. “The GRCC Culinary Arts program helped me significantly for who I have become and equipped me with the skills I needed to succeed.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply  

Aug. 27, 2022, PERRYSBURG, Ohio – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team has four matches in a row, on Saturday defeating two nationally ranked opponents at the Owens Express Invitational.    GRCC, ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll, opened against the defending region champions, Terra State Community College, which is ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll.  With the exception of one set, the Raiders dominated the match, taking down the Titans 25-12, 25-27, 25-12, 25-13. Sophomore outside hitter Audrey Torres, who had a team-high 58 kills in last weekend’s tournament, led the team again with 15 kills against just three errors, hitting a solid .364. She also led the team in digs with 11.  Karissa Ferry added eight kills while sophomore setter Shannon Russell totaled 31 assists, seven digs and four of the teams 15 total aces. GRCC was tested in its final match of the day against the defending Division III champions Owens Community College. GRCC came out on top in five, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 16-25, 15-11. Sophomore middle hitter Eliza Thelen was nearly unstoppable in the match, going for a career-high 16 kills and a career-best .538 hitting percentage. Thelen compiled 22 kills versus just three hitting errors on the day. "We did a great job winning today's games, not only physically, but mentally," Thelen said. "Going to five sets in a game is very draining. But we were able to come together as a team and execute a victory." Kara Hecht was the team’s leading point scorer with 15 kills, five blocks and an ace.  Audrey Gower and Vienna Koenigsknecht finished with 15 and 13 digs, with Hecht and Torres each tallied 12 digs. Alena Visnovsky, a sophomore middle, led the team with 12 blocks, making her season total 29. GRCC is now 4-2 on the season. GRCC will have the next 20 days off to prepare for a big northern trip where it will play five matches in five days, including matches against three new opponents: North Central Michigan College, Bay College and Delta College.

Aug. 26, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is gaining new equipment to help students learn in-demand career skills through a partnership with Lakeshore Advantage and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation The GRCC Lakeshore Campus is one of three programs in Ottawa and Allegan counties to be supported through the Michigan Workforce Training Center Equipment grant program, intended to improve or expand area training programs for health care and automation. “Our training providers are educational catalysts for the ongoing development of our local workforce,” Lakeshore Advantage President Jennifer Owens said. “As lakeshore companies continue to grow and expand, the need for a trained workforce becomes more pressing. The Michigan Workforce TEC grant program helps ensure our training providers have the appropriate equipment to help workers and students achieve the credentials and skills needed to be successful in today’s marketplace.” The GRCC Lakeshore Campus in Holland Township was awarded $49,875 which will be used to purchase equipment that will allow for advanced automation training for the local workforce. These funds will also provide certification opportunities under Smart Automation Certificate Alliance and FANUC certifications. "GRCC values our collaboration with Lakeshore Advantage, Holland area employers and the MEDC to give local residents the ability to gain skills they need for today and for the future,” said Julie Parks, Grand Rapids Community College’s dean of Workforce Training. “Industry 4.0 adoption is strong in this region, and this additional equipment is another piece that allows GRCC to make sure the workforce is ready to produce products that make Michigan a manufacturing leader.” This funding awarded was part of a $3 million statewide funding program for the Michigan Workforce TEC Grant Program to support the needs of qualified training providers that provide workforce training for qualified employers and individuals in Michigan.  Lakeshore Advantage was one of several area economic development organizations that administered the program on behalf of the state. Thompson M-TEC/Ottawa Area Intermediate School District SD was also awarded $49,875 which will be used to purchase equipment to train on a FANUC/Miller ARC Robotic Weld Cell and offer FANUC specific certifications in robotic welding processes.  This equipment will be housed at the M-TEC center located in West Olive. Allegan County Area Technical Education Center which offers 19 technical training programs as well as vocational training opportunities for students with special needs. ACATEC, located in Allegan, was awarded $30,400 by Lakeshore Advantage to be used to cover the cost of training equipment for students working to earn Patient Care Tech and EKG certifications. Lakeshore Advantage is a non-profit local economic development organization started in 2003 by business and community leaders to ensure current and future generations want to live and work in the region’s vibrant economy. Lakeshore Advantage assists primary employers, from startups to large world-class corporations, in West Michigan’s Allegan and Ottawa counties. More information on the Michigan Workforce Training Center Equipment Grant Program can be found here .