APRIL 11, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team rallied late to win the first game of a doubleheader against Muskegon Community College on Sunday, but was beaten in the nightcap when MCC celebrated a walk-off, extra-inning win. The softball team continued to struggle this weekend, dropping two games to Lansing Community College on Saturday. The baseball team snagged a late lead for a 6-3 win in the first game on Sunday at Muskegon.  The game was tied at two with the Raiders batting in the top of the sixth when Ryan Dykstra singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run – the first of four the team would score in the frame, including one from a Jake Paganelli homer. Drew Murphy earned the complete-game victory on the mound, allowing six hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out seven. GRCC tallied seven hits. Paganelli, Dykstra, and Aaron West all had multiple hits for Grand Rapids Community College.  Muskegon celebrated last in the second game. The game was tied at 13 with MCC batting in the bottom of the tenth when Noah Reed hit a grand slam, giving the Jayhawks a 17-13 victory in 10 innings. The Raiders had 17 hits in the high-scoring affair The teams traded homers early, with Fernando Rivera-Calderon belting a solo homer for the Raiders, and Nolan Perrin responded for MCC. GRCC tallied five runs in the fifth inning, led by Camden Keatley, Jake Ryan, West, and Ryan Dykstra, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning. But MCC followed with six runs. Sam Schmitt took the loss for GRCC. The southpaw lasted two and a third innings, allowing one hit and four runs while striking out three. Caleb Englesman started for GRCC, going four and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits, striking out two and walking none. Schmitt, Rivera-Calderon, West, Ryan, and Keatley each collected multiple hits for Grand Rapids Community College.  Schmitt went 4-for-7 at the plate to lead Grand Rapids Community College in hits. The split brings the Raiders season record to 12-7, with the team back in action on Wednesday, April 14 on the road against Aquinas College’s JV team. The Raiders are gearing up for Friday’s game against nationally ranked Kellogg Community College at LMCU Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps. The softball team’s record fell to 2-11 after a pair of defeats at the hands of Lansing Community College on Saturday on the road. The team scored eight runs in the first game, but fell 11-8. The team lost 9-2 in the night cap. The softball team plays next on Tuesday, April13 at home at Belknap Park.

April 10, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s women’s basketball team is headed to the National Tournament for the first time since 1978. The Raiders beat Bryant & Stratton 72-51 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII Great Lakes West Tournament, played in Pepper Pink, Ohio at Ursuline College. The victory allows the Raiders to advance to 2021 NJCAA DII Women's Basketball Championship at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C. which starts on April 20. After a close first quarter, the Raiders dominated in the second, scoring 27 points to Bryant & Stratton’s eight. Eurasia Green-Boyd led the Raiders with 18 points, including four three-pointers. Jayla Bibbs added another double-double 16 points 19 rebounds and four steals. Shonyah Hawkins had 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Raiders out-rebounded the opponents, 61 to 39, including 29 on offensive. The team had just 11 turnovers. GRCC is now 12-3 on the season.

April 9, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 10-2 victory in the nightcap of a Friday doubleheader against Muskegon Community College. GRCC dropped a heartbreaker in the first game, with Muskegon rallying late for a 6-5 win. MCC trailed 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning when Matt Corrado doubled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring two runs. GRCC went out in front in the second inning when Sam Schmitt grounded out, scoring one run. Grant Martin earned the win for Muskegon, surrendered no runs on two hits over four innings, striking out two and walking one.  Jacob White threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Collin Bradley took the loss for the Raiders, allowing five hits and five runs over six innings, striking out four. Schmitt went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead GRCC in hits. In the second game, GRCC exploded for six runs in the sixth inning to seal a 10-2 win. Caleb Englesman, Keaton Peck, Fernando Calderon, and Schmitt each had RBIs in the frame. Garrett Cheslek earned the win, allowing three hits and two runs over five innings, striking out two and walking one.  Schmitt threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen, recording the last six outs to earn the save. The Raiders collected eight hits on the day.  Calderon and Schmitt all managed multiple hits. GRCC was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit an error. Peck had the most chances in the field with six.

April 9, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A week ago, it seemed the Grand Rapids Community College volleyball season was over after the team fell to undefeated Muskegon Community College in the finals of the regional tournament. But today, the Raiders are reassembling and planning to compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association D2 National Tournament. Illness has forced Muskegon to withdraw, and GRCC will instead head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for an opening round game on Tuesday. GRCC Interim Athletic Director David Selmon said he understands the Muskegon student-athletes must be devastated by the news. “Muskegon had a tremendous year, and we’re sorry for those student-athletes,” Selmon said. “Our players also worked very hard and put together a solid season. The Raiders will proudly represent their rivals and the rest of the state as it competes in the tournament.” The Raiders posted an 8-5 record this season, with four of the five losses coming against Muskegon. GRCC played Jayhawks in the District XII finals after opponents in two opening rounds withdrew due to illness. Volleyball is typically a fall sport, but the NJCAA delayed and shortened the season due to the pandemic. The college is closely following safety guidelines from the NJCAA and Michigan Community College Athletic Association, including requiring face coverings, social distancing where possible and limiting spectators in the arena during games. GRCC has a partnership with Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy to test students, coaches and training staff for COVID three times a week. Coach Chip Will is bringing players back together for practices during the weekend before the team heads to Iowa.  Will is in his 15th year as GRCC volleyball coach, and has brought a team to the national tournament 11 times. The team finished fifth in the nation in last year’s tournament.

April 9, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s golf team won it’s opening match of the year after missing the spring and fall 2020 seasons due to the pandemic. The Raiders had the best individual score, and finished 10 strokes ahead of Muskegon Community College for the best team score in the Ancilla College Invitational at the Swan Lake Golf Resort in Plymouth, Ind. GRCC student athletes posted four of the top five scores at the event. Freshman Ari Jackman of Caledonia won the Ancilla Invitational, shooting a 74. Freshman Tyler Hausserman of Ionia and Dominic Luciani of East grand Rapids finished with 77 strokes. Freshman Logan Templeton of Portage and freshman David Courtright of Zeeland both shot 82, with teammate Matthew Denhartigh of Grandville just behind with 86 strokes. Coach John Forton said the windy conditions made the course challenging. “This wasn’t our best performance, but it was a good start and we’ll do better,” he said. “We were ready to go, and picked up right where we left off more than a year ago.”

April 9, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It’s 1:45 a.m.: For Ryan Langrick, that used to be time to start his virtual class at GRCC -- 8,457 miles away. “A couple years ago, I started my travels to explore the world and ended up here in New Zealand,” said Langrick, who is originally from Fremont. “While here, I met my loving fiancée, who I'll be marrying in the next month or so, and I've stuck around with her while she finishes the last steps of her Ph.D. and she should actually be done in about 10 days.” GRCC has for years offered online classes, but dramatically increased hybrid, and virtual real-time classes this year because of the pandemic. The formats have been helpful for students scheduling classes around their home and work responsibilities – or those completing their degrees from the other side of the world. New Zealand is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean about 1,200 miles southeast of Australia. All but one of Langrick’s GRCC classes are traditional online courses, which means they have no set meeting times. His Honors Program capstone course is the exception: a hybrid class that does require attendance at a set class time. For a while, that put Langrick in the virtual classroom at 1:45 a.m. New Zealand Standard Time. “The professor for that class, Leigh Kleinert, has been beyond helpful in making it work for me through recording classes and letting me attend only the ones that my attendance was absolutely required at,” he said. “Also, the group I’m working with has been great and scheduled our group meetings on the weekends at a time that it doesn’t kill me to show up.” But the extra-early morning class still called for commitment from Langrick, especially when he had to work the next day. “Now with daylight savings time having happened both here and there, it’ll be at 11:45 p.m., which is much more manageable,” he said. Langrick said New Zealand time fluctuates between a 16- and 18-hour difference depending on daylight savings time, which occurs on different dates. “Our clocks just changed actually so we are at a 16-hour difference,” he said. “Basically, take the time you have there, minus 8 hours and add a day to get the time it is here.” Kleinert says she’s been impressed with how well Langrick has done with her class. “He contacted me about a month before the semester began to see if completing the course with me was even feasible,” she said. “He explained his situation and wondered if I was willing to work with him and what we could work out. I was impressed by that right away.” Kleinert said she went through the schedule and identified the 10 most important classes for Langrick to attend in person – so he could engage in discussions -- and agreed to record other course sessions and post them on Blackboard. “This has worked wonderfully and he has kept up his side of the work,” she said. “In addition, this course requires that students form an interdisciplinary team and solve a community problem. I have been most impressed that Ryan has been meeting weekly with his team members on Saturdays.” Langrick said he also appreciates the support of professors Andrew Rozema, Jonnathan Resendiz, and Scott Gerrard. Langrick is scheduled to earn his associate degree in computer science this spring – and tie the knot with fiancé Ellie Torbati.  “My focus is on software engineering, and my plans for the future are to keep going for a bachelor’s in software engineering,” he said. “I’ve been accepted to both Penn State and Arizona State University for their online software engineering programs, and I’m still not 100% on which of the two I’m going to go with yet -- both have so many benefits.”    

April 8, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s women’s basketball team is headed to the NJCAA DII District C Championship after a comfortable win over a strong Oakland Community College team on Thursday. The softball team, however, struggled, losing the first game of a doubleheader. The nightcap was postponed because of the late afternoon storm. The women’s hoops team is headed to Ursuline College in Ohio on Saturday for the district finals after topping Oakland 71-52. The Raiders are expected to play Bryant and Stratton College. GRCC jumped out in front after the first quarter and never looked back. The team dominated in the third, outscoring Oakland 24 points to eight. Jayla Bibbs led the team in scoring with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Shonyah Hawkins had 20 points and five boards. Olivia Koetje posted 11 points. The win puts GRCC’s season record to 11-3. Oakland’s season ends with an impressive 12-3 record. The softball team lost 9-2 to Muskegon Community College at home in Grand Rapids. The Raiders were limited to five hits, two from Brooklynne Siewertsen, two from Taylor Cross and one from Alexis Nguyen.   GRCC was trailing 2-0 when the storms arrived in the top of the second inning. The team is 2-7 on the season and is back in action Friday at home against Lake Michigan College.

April 8, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Rakim may be “God MC” and widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled artists in hip-hop, but it wasn’t easy to get his voice heard as the art form developed in New York. “New York was hip-hop; the city was the core of hip-hop,” he told an audience in-person and online during this week’s Grand Rapids Community College Diversity Lecture Series. “On Long Island, I was on the outside looking in…I had to be rough enough to break New York from Long Island.” One half of the golden era of hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he spoke about his influences, artistry, and determination during a wide-ranging discussion moderated by Bakari Kitwana, a 2020 Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. The discussion is now available for viewing here. The evening included guest performances by PJ DA DJ and the Collec7ive, a Grand Rapids hip-hop group powered by community partner, MuseGR. Rakim discussed his book, “Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius,” which he co-authored with Kitwana. Part memoir, part writing guide, the book offers insight into how Rakim thinks about words, music, writing, and rhyming as it teaches writers of all levels how to hone their craft. It is also a glimpse into Rakim’s private life, with personal stories that celebrate the influences that shaped his development. Eric B. and Rakim’s 1987 release “Paid in Full” was listed in Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 Albums of All Time The Diversity Lecture Series provides GRCC stakeholders and community members with access to society’s most prolific scholars, thought-leaders, activists, and innovative artists. Overseen by ODEI, the series aims to connect members of the community with people that hold a compelling interest in shaping a culture of inclusion and social justice. “A core principle of culturally competent services or curriculum is to amplify the life experiences of the students we serve and support,” McNeely Cobham said. “Focusing on art and artistic expression as a framework for navigating the beautiful struggle of life was timely, impactful, and important.” GRCC offers learners of all ages opportunities to gain credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills leading to rewarding careers. GRCC was established in 1914 – Michigan’s first community college -- and offers affordable classes on weekdays, evenings, Saturdays and online at locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties.

April 8, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College baseball players will be taking the field at Lake Michigan Credit Union Ballpark – home of the West Michigan Whitecaps – for a special game celebrating the college and its impact on the region. The team is planning a doubleheader against a top opponent, Kellogg Community College, on Friday, April 16, with games at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. “We are partners with Kellogg CC in education, but friendly rivals on the diamond,” said Dr. Bill Pink, GRCC president. “We’re proud to highlight our student-athletes and community college sports in a fun, safe environment – and to cheer on the Raiders!” The health and safety of spectators and participants is a top priority. GRCC is strictly following safety state and local health authority protocols at LMCU Ballpark, formerly known as Fifth Third Ballpark.  Attendance will be limited to 2,500 spectators – far below the ballpark’s 9,000-person capacity. All attendees will be required to have their temperature checked, wear a face covering, and respect social distancing guidelines. The games also will be live streamed on the Internet by Michigan Sports Radio at MichiganSportsRadio.com . “KCC and GRCC are aligned when it comes to our commitment to students, and we are grateful for the opportunity to play our Raider friends in Grand Rapids, but the competitor in me can’t help but say, ‘Go Bruins!’” said Dr. Adrien Bennings, president of Kellogg Community College. GRCC’s baseball team has a storied tradition, with five national championships, 19 regional championships and 30 conference championships, and is off to a strong start in 2021, with a 10-5 record. Legendary GRCC Coach Tom Hofmann, who passed away last year, led his team to nearly 700 wins, served as an assistant coach on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and was inducted into the Community College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988 and into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. KCC is ranked No. 8 in the nation in Division 2 by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The team finished seventh in the 2019 NJCAA D2 World Series, and won the Michigan Community College Athletic Association state and conference championships. “We’re thrilled to provide this experience for baseball players, who couldn’t play last season because of the pandemic,” GRCC Interim Athletic Director David Selmon said. “This is also a chance for high school students to see high quality of community college athletics.” Selmon said he appreciates the partnership with the West Michigan Whitecaps, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, playing in the new High-A Central League.  

April 7, 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. Do you have what it takes to really make a life change? Sam Thomet does! Thomet is a GRCC alum and earned a degree in exercise science from Grand Valley State University. But he took an incredible chance and changed the trajectory of his career. He was working at Hope Network as a rehab technician helping patients become more self-sufficient when he felt he needed a change. His started thinking maybe healthcare was not the career path for him. As Thomet started thinking about what he wanted for his future, he remembered his grandfather and father welding on the family farm. He had a talk with his dad and went for it! He enrolled in the GRCC Job Training Welding program in February and hasn’t looked back. “There were a couple of things that just made welding seem like a good fit for me,” he said. “I really like the instant gratification of making a good weld. I also have discovered my personal strengths and weaknesses and even though, I like people, I’m happier working more independently.” Thomet said GRCC’s 18-week program was attractive because he was able to quickly get the skills he needed.   “I am looking forward to getting to work and finding out what type of career will develop,” he said. “It’s likely that I will come back to GRCC for additional education once I know specifically the direction I want to take my new welding career. I’m looking forward to my future!” The GRCC Job Training Welding program has a reputation for graduates succeeding. The accelerated program focuses on entry level skills such as cutting, brazing and welding of various metal components to more advanced tasks such as MiG and TIG welding using aluminum and stainless steel. This training provides students with an understanding of metallurgy, welding equipment maintenance and American Welding Society standards. Additionally, training focuses on important competencies in print reading, basic shop math, measurement tools and effective communication with others using today's welding terminology. 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.