June 16, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Grand Rapids Community College’s Phyllis Fratzke Early Childhood Learning Laboratory a “phenomenal place” during an event Wednesday to promote proposals to expand access to childcare.  Whitmer discussed her proposals to expand opportunities and services using $1.4 billion in federal funding from the American Recovery Act at an event coordinated by the Early Neighborhood Learning Collaborative and hosted by GRCC. The governor toured several classrooms, joined by several state and community leaders who discussed the impact childcare has on the economy and how families struggled during the pandemic. “This is really a phenomenal place where lives are being changed every single day, where paths are being created not just for the children who attend here, but for the students who are learning how to be great educators of the future,” Whitmer said. “Quality early childhood experiences create the foundation for children and for families to thrive. Every family in Michigan should have access to a place like this.” GRCC’s Fratzke Learning Laboratory opened in January 2017 and is designed to serve preschoolers ages six weeks to six years and students in Early Childhood and Education programs. President Bill Pink said the college was a “natural place” for the governor to discuss early childhood education. “This Phyllis Fratzke Early Childhood Learning Laboratory, in my opinion, is one of the state-of-the-art facilities not only here in West Michigan or only in Michigan, but in the country,” Pink said. “I would challenge you to find a better facility that is more serving to students – the little ones, and the ones learning the art of truly caring for our little ones.” Whitmer also was joined by K’Sandra Earle, ENLC associate director; Brian Calley, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan; Sean Welsh, PNC Bank regional president and a member of Talent 2025’s Early Childhood Development Working Group; and Praveen Thadani, president of Priority Health. Speaking in the Frances Taliaferro Frey Early Childhood Community Learning Hub, the governor said the pandemic was a reminder of the importance of quality childcare in the state’s economy. Whitmer said the federal government provided the state with $1.4 billion for childcare in wake of the pandemic – about six times more than the funding the state typically receives to support childcare programs. She said access to quality childcare programs will help parents rejoin the workforce. There were not enough quality, affordable programs to meet the need of state residents even before the pandemic.   “Working families have long relied on childcare to support their child’s early development, and to make their lives work,” she said. “COVID has been a reminder that childcare is absolutely essential for the health of our economy. Decades of studies and data proves that where and how children spend their time matters.” The governor has proposed making 150,000 more children eligible for free or low-cost childcare by extending innovative pilot programs and expanding opportunities by supporting existing providers, including helping them expand their programs and open new sites. Whitmer also called for supporting college students in childcare education programs, offering premium pay and signing bonuses to professions and tuition-free training for people looking to enter the profession. Whitmer also proposed providing low or no-cost childcare for students attending GRCC and other community colleges tuition-free through Futures for Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect. The Fratzke Early Childhood Center enrolls about 90 children, and works with community partners including the ELNC and the Kent Intermediate School District’s Great Start Readiness program.  GRCC’s early childhood program was founded in 1974 and recently received recognition as one of the top programs in the nation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. A video of the event is here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0vqKl4C8TA    

  June 16, 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. After 18 years as a corrections officer, Martin Maloley needed a change. This February, Maloley took a risk that changed the direction of his life. He came to the GRCC Tassell M-TEC and enrolled in the Construction Electrical Job Training program. Maloley had always shied away from being an electrician, mainly because of the training involved and thinking that he had to stay in his job. “When you have a family and responsibilities, you think you have to stay. It took me a long time to realize that no one has to stay.” Maloley first became interested in electrical construction many years ago. “I had finished the basement in my first house and did the electrical and really enjoyed that part of the construction process. Over the years, I have been recruited to help family and friends with electrical projects and that interest just continued to grow.” Now Maloley has these words of advice to his younger classmates: “Time isn’t replaceable. Money is replaceable.” The GRCC Construction Electrical Job Training program provides the basic knowledge and skills required to become an electrician and be placed in an Electrical Apprenticeship program in just 18 weeks of training. Students participate in job site, lab area, field trip and classroom settings. Learning is hands-on in all areas of electrical installation including employability skills, construction and electrical safety, hand and power tool safety, electrical math, electrical history, electrical theory, the National Electrical Code, electrical material identification, blueprint reading, underground installations and residential/commercial wiring. “This experience is bliss,” he said. “I love the lab structure. I didn’t expect such a huge area to learn in. I thought there would be more classroom and code work but the hands-on part of the program is great. Now I’m doing it and I’m happier than I have been in 20 years!" Maloley completes the program next week and it actively seeking work. “What’s great about this field is that there are so many pathways to go now that I have this training.  I am being a little bit selective but I am confident the right job is waiting for me.” Once graduates of this program are hired, they may register as an Apprentice Electrician, and request to have their Certificate articulated into credit that applies to their state required four years of training. According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, there will be 16% job growth annually in this field from 2012 to 2022. Average wage per hour is $23.78. 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. Additional information is at grcc.edu/programs/job-workforce-training .

June 15, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – More than 1,000 seats are available in classes during Grand Rapids Community College’s second summer semester, providing opportunities for students to start earning credits for a new credential or to stay on track for graduation. The second seven-week summer semester starts on June 29, with opportunities in classes in both the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Workforce Development. “Summer classes are ideal for incoming freshmen getting a head start on college or people restarting their education after time away,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC associate provost. “We’re offering classes in a variety of formats that make it easier for people to schedule around summer jobs and other activities.” Summer enrollment at GRCC has increased about 9% from 2020, and nearly 4% from 2019’s pre-pandemic level. Potential students can start the enrollment process at grcc.edu/apply and can contact the Enrollment Center by phone at (616) 234-3300 and by email at enroll@grcc.edu and be connected to their personal enrollment specialist. Classes are available in a variety of programs, including computer information systems, business administration, math, biology and psychology. GRCC continues to waive online course fees for classes this summer. Parking fees in the Bostwick, Lyon and Senden ramps also will be waived through Aug. 16 Summer classes are popular with students who attend four-year colleges and universities because they can transfer credits from GRCC’s more affordable courses back to their home school. Additional information is at grcc.edu/guest . Eligible students attending other colleges are able to use Grand Rapids Promise Zone scholarships to attend GRCC as guest students. Additional information is at grcc.edu/promisezone . The window is also closing for students who hope to take advantage of the state’s Futures for Frontliners program. People accepted by the state for the program must start classes this summer or during the Fall 2021 semester to use the benefit. More than 5,800 students were accepted by the state to attend GRCC through the frontliners program, aimed at helping people who worked during the state’s COVID shutdown. More than 1,000 frontliners are enrolled in GRCC summer classes. The state application period for the scholarship has closed, and students accepted by the state must start taking classes by fall semester to use the scholarship. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/futuresforfrontliners . Classes also are available for students using the state’s Michigan Reconnect scholarships.  

June 14, 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. Julie Schaefer-Space understands how much the students in her GRCC Psychology courses are juggling -- she was once on their side of the classroom. “I’ve known I wanted to be a psychologist since I was 5 years old,” she said. “I went to Caledonia High School and took all the classes I could and told my advisor I wanted to start my college: Why couldn’t I go to Grand Rapids Junior College? Early college programs did not really exist, but we made it happen. My first class was PY 201 with an awesome faculty member!” Schaefer-Space continued at GRJC while working more than 40 hours a week at a group home for developmentally disabled adults. After graduating with her associate degree in 1982, she attended the University of Michigan with a full-ride scholarship. “I lived on my own, worked hard and did not lose focus of my goal to be a psychologist,” she said. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1984 and received a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University in 1990.  Schaefer-Space has worked as a psychologist ever since, including with the YWCA and Psychology Associates of Grand Rapids. In addition to her work as an adjunct instructor at GRCC and Kendall College of Art and Design, she treats clients at Shared Steps Counseling and Life Journey Psychological Services.  “I have come full circle, as I have now been a psychologist for over 30 years, treated over 6,000 clients, testified in court over 600 times, and been named on the state of Michigan Court of Appeals for decisions related to grandparents rights. “It has been my privilege to teach and learn. Thank you, GRCC, for being pivotal in my life to helping me accomplish my goals and continue to pass it on.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .  

June 11, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is hosting four members of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission for a virtual event on Monday, June 14. The commission is made up of four Republicans, four Democrats, and five independent citizens and is the first group of its kind to be drawing state district lines. The first half of the free event will be a 45-minute presentation and question and answer period about the commission and its work. The second half will be a hands-on workshop on how to use the tool Districtr to draw maps to be submitted as public comment for consideration in the map-drawing process. The link to attend the event is here . The event is being coordinated by the professors Meghan VanderMale of the Math Department and Heather Richards of the Social Sciences Department. The redistricting commission was created by an amendment to the state constitution changing the way the state determines state House and Senate and U.S. House of Representatives districts.   The Commission also is planning a public hearing in Grand Rapids at 5 p.m. on July 1 at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW. People can attend remotely or in person. Sign-up information is here . The Zoom link, as well as a live steam can also be found on the Facebook event page . 

June 10, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The finalists in Consumers Energy’s SmartArt contest get to experience the excitement of participating in a nationally known art competition. But they also get something else: valuable feedback from art instructors at Grand Rapids Community College and other area institutions. This year’s 10 SmartArt finalists were recently announced by Grand Rapids Public Schools, Consumers Energy and ArtPrize. Nick Antonakis, head of GRCC’s Visual Arts Department, is one of three art educators volunteering to assist with the program, which considers energy-themed work. The finalists, selected from 40 entries, will be displayed this fall during the international ArtPrize competition. The winner, who will be announced Sept. 19, receives a $1,000 college scholarship. “In the past eight years, SmartArt has provided hundreds of GRPS students the experience of being part of a nationally recognized art competition,” GRPS Superintendent Leadriane Roby said. Antonakis, along with Patricia Constantine, illustration professor at Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design, and Virginia Jenkins, a professor in Grand Valley State University’s Department of Visual and Media Arts, serves as a judge in SmartArt, which stands for Students Making Art with a Renewable Theme. The judges said each of the artworks selected for the top 10 entries reflected unique, individual solutions toward embracing sustainable, renewable energy and materials. “All demonstrated excellent creativity and application of the elements and principles of art and design,” they wrote in a jurors statement. “All also revealed compelling conceptualization in their artwork and statements about potential solutions to move us to a sustainable future.” Antonakis taught at Kendall before joining GRCC’s faculty in 1990, primarily leading drawing and painting classes. “I enjoy teaching because it affords me the opportunity to work with aspiring artists from all types of backgrounds,” he said. “I find it very enriching to see these individuals achieve high levels and to find success in the art field.” His work as department head allows him to connect with students and help guide them as they work through GRCC’s programs.  “Together, we try to tailor their education to apply toward their goals and aspirations,” he said. “I made a very similar journey when I was a student, and I remember the mentors I had along the way.  I find it extremely rewarding when I hear from our students that my colleagues and I have contributed to their success.” GRCC’s Visual Arts Department, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, offers associate degrees in Fine Arts, Interior Design, and Photography and Video, and transfer programs for Pre-Art and Pre-Photography. The department runs the Collins Art Gallery and helps organize Display Magazine.

June 9, 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. Andrea Ziebarth is a 2020 graduate of Coopersville High School. She did well, but just couldn’t figure out what she wanted to do after graduation -- until her guidance counselor sent her an email about the GRCC Welding Job Training program. “I saw that the Job Training program is only 18 weeks and I was like, ‘That sounds great!’ Looked into it more and found out that that the industry is looking for women welders. It kind of surprised my parents but they think it’s cool now!” Now that Ziebarth is halfway through the program, she knows that she made the right choice. “I really love how it’s all at your own pace. I’m pretty far ahead and that feels good. Nate Haney, our instructor, is great and gives us lots of pointers.” The GRCC Job Training Welding program meets for 18 weeks for 34 hours per week. The program offers small class sizes, hands-on learning and job placement assistance. This program is highly regarded by employers as a top trainer in welding and fabrication. Job developers are ready to help you with the job search process. Graduates are ready to begin a career as a welder, cutter or brazer – with the skills to meet the needs of local companies. Get trained from the best! Instructor Haney holds a Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology from Ferris State University and is an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator. Students learn: shielded metal arc welding (arc/stick welding), gas metal arc welding (metal inert gas/wire welding), gas tungsten arc welding (heli-arc/tungsten inert gas welding), oxy-fuel welding (gas welding), cutting, brazing, blueprint reading, mathematics, metallurgy, problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, there will be 34.7% job growth from 2012 to 2022. Ziebarth’s future is already moving forward. “My goal right now is the get a good paying job and move out on my own. That would be great! Eventually, if my employer wants me to get more training, I would totally be up for that.” 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. Additional information is at grcc.edu/programs/job-workforce-training .

June 8, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – More than 1,100 people have so far been accepted to attend Grand Rapids Community College tuition-free through the Michigan Reconnect program, aimed at helping residents 25 and older gain new skills as the state emerges from the pandemic. More than 70,000 Michiganders have been accepted into the program statewide, exceeding the government’s goal of 60,000 by Memorial Day, according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Students can work toward an associate degree or a career skills certificate. About a third of GRCC’s Reconnect students are already taking classes this summer. Of these, about 40% have restarted their education after time away – and about 10% are picking up where they left off 10 or more years ago.  “Michigan Reconnect gives residents an opportunity to return to the classroom and advance in their career or gain new skills in emerging fields,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost. “Take that step forward. No one needs to walk this journey on their own. We want students to be successful so our community as a whole is successful, and we will help them along the way.” Reconnect covers resident rate tuition and mandatory fees after other state and federal scholarships and grants have been applied. GRCC students living outside of the Kent Intermediate School District will pay the difference between the resident and non-resident tuition rates not covered by Reconnect or other financial aid.  People hoping to attend through Reconnect are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. GRCC financial aid specialists are able to help with applications. Additional information is at grcc.edu/pay-college , by phone at (616) 234-4030 and by email at financialaid@grcc.edu. Reconnect is one of several programs available to students to reduce costs and potentially attend tuition-free. More than 3,200 students were accepted by the state to attend GRCC through Futures for Frontliners, a program providing a tuition-free education for people who worked during the COVID-19 shutdown. Eligible frontliners must begin enrollment in college no later than Fall 2021.  Eligible students also can attend GRCC through the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship or with assistance from the federal Pell Grant program. GRCC has online and hybrid class options, allowing students to schedule around home and work responsibilities. The bipartisan, $30 million Michigan Reconnect program is part of Gov. Whitmer’s plan to have 60% of the state’s residents earning a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2030. “A talented and skilled workforce helps build a strong economy and puts Michigan on the map as a place for opportunity,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Businesses need skilled talent so they can thrive in our vibrant communities. I’m proud of the hardworking men and women who have taken the leap to continue their education and I look forward to ongoing bipartisan work with lawmakers to connect millions of Michiganders to the resources they need to succeed in a good-paying career.” Additional information is available at grcc.edu/reconnect , by calling the Reconnect hotline at (616) 234-3366 and by emailing reconnect@grcc.edu.

June 7, 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. Le Tran decided to pursue a dream -- and was willing to juggle her studies with her family obligations to do it. She found the flexibility she needed at Grand Rapids Community College, and her degree laid the foundation for a career that blends her passions for art and teaching. “I was a young mom with three children, and I wanted to return to school to earn my teaching degree,” Tran said. “GRCC’s schedule, tuition and location made it possible for me to complete the courses I needed to advance to a four-year college. “Earning my Associate of Arts at GRCC gave me the confidence to take the next step.” For Tran, that meant a Bachelor of Arts from Aquinas College in 2001 and a master’s degree in art education from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2015.  She then stepped to the front of the classroom as an art teacher at East Kentwood High School. There, she continues to multi-task: In addition to her teaching duties, she serves as advisor to the school’s National Art Honor Society chapter and the Asian Student Union. She also serves on the Michigan Art Education Association’s council.  Tran herself hasn’t stopped learning. She has received two Fulbright-Hayes Group Projects Abroad Program grants, traveling in 2004 to Vietnam, where she lived until age 10, to study the culture and traditional art of silk painting and to Bulgaria in 2008 to learn about icon painting. “Both of these experiences enriched my teaching practices, and I was able to share my learning with my colleagues and students,” she said. Tran has also led students on trips to France, Spain, China and Italy. Her work has not gone unnoticed by her peers. In 2021, she was named the Michigan Art Education Association’s Secondary Art Educator of the Year as well as the National Secondary Art Educator of the Year. “What I have learned from my experience at GRCC is that it’s never too late to go back to college and definitely never too late to earn an advanced degree,” Tran said. “Taking that first step with GRCC opened up a whole new world for me, and I am where I am today because I said ‘yes’ to my community college. I am where I am today because I love what I do: teaching art to high school students and exposing my students to the world through travel -- and learning along with them.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at  grcc.edu/apply .  

June 4, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Athletic Trainer Mike Roche has earned national honors for his focus on athletic training, pandemic wellness protocols and keeping Grand Rapids Community College student-athletes safe and physically prepared during a season both historically challenging and successful. Roche this week was named National Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Junior College Athletic Association, which goes to an athletic trainer “who best exemplifies the overall purpose of leading an institution, athletic department, and student-athletes through athletic training.” The honor comes in a year where five of GRCC’s eight teams participated in national tournaments while following strict protocols aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “This past year has been a rough one for everyone, but especially our student-athletes,” Interim Athletic Director David Selmon said. “Mike has taken the time and effort to make sure our athletes have been as safe as possible in order to participate in their sports. He has been the lead of our COVID team within the department and has done an excellent job keeping everyone as safe as possible. Without him, none of our athletes would have been able to even step foot on the court or field.” Roche has served as GRCC’s athletic trainer for 26 years, supporting about 150 athletes each year in partnership with physicians and medical specialists. He also oversees student trainer interns, NJCAA compliance requirements, equipment and uniforms for all of the college’s teams. This year he was in charge of leading the Athletic Department’s COVID protocols, which included daily screenings, social distancing and face coverings, with testing added mid-year through a partnership with Ferris State University.  “Mike took on the responsibility and far exceeded even the best of expectations given the initial unknowns of the pandemic,” Women’s basketball Coach David Glazier said. “His determination and clear plan to keep athletes and coaches safe so the 2020-2021 season could happen cannot be overlooked. The plans and policies he recommended for GRCC became a benchmark for the MCCAA and Region 12. On top of his steadfast leadership to stay the course, Mike was also a leader when the moment called for us to take additional steps to provide the safest possible environment possible, which included the midseason addition of testing protocols. There is no doubt in my mind that the historic 2020-2021 season for the GRCC Athletics Program would not have been as historic without the guidance and leadership of Mike Roche,” Glazier said. Roche is a 1986 University of Nevada Las Vegas graduate and worked through Spectrum-Butterworth Hospital, NovaCare, and Professional Physical Therapy Services as an athletic trainer assisting eight to 10 local high schools with sports medicine needs. Roche teaches first aid and Introduction to Athletic Training classes in GRCC’s Exercise Science Department in addition to his athletic trainer and equipment manager roles.