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.

April 6, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College men’s basketball team continues to come so close to victory, only to see an elusive win slip away on the final shot. The GRCC Raiders lost 68-66 to the Oakland Community College Raiders in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Great Lakes District A Quarterfinal game. The defeat ends GRCC's season. Oakland gained possession with the game tied and just three seconds on the clock, with a layup slipping through the net and sending OCC to the next round of the competition. Darien Banks led GRCC in scoring, with 27 points. Isaac Anderson had 13 points, four assists, and 10 rebounds. Richard Major had seven points. GRCC is now 5-9 on the season after dropping two games, and 4-4 in conference competition.

April 6, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – One game was a pitchers’ duel and one was a slugfest, but both were losses for the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team. After reeling off 10 straight wins, the Raiders are in a bit of a slump, dropping back-to-back doubleheaders. GRCC fell behind early in the first game of Tuesday’s twin bill against Lansing Community College and couldn’t come back, suffering a 3-2 loss. Lansing, playing at home, took the lead on a home run by catcher Robert Cavin in the second inning. The pitching was strong on both sides. LCC pitchers struck out 11, while GRCC sat down seven. Kolby Dewhirst pitched Lansing to victory, surrendering two runs on seven hits over six and a third innings, striking out eight and walking none. Keegan Spomer took the loss for GRCC. The righty allowed one hit and three runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out five. The Raiders mounted a comeback in the seventh inning, with Ryan Dykstra and Jake Paganelli each launching the ball over the fence, but could not get on top. GRCC racked up eight hits in the game. Fernando Calderon and Caleb Englesman each collected two hits. Dykstra continued power the offense in the night cap, driving in half of the team’s eight runs in the 12-8 defeat. Dykstra drove in runs on a double in the first and a single in the fourth and a home run in the sixth. GRCC lost despite out-hitting Lansing 13 to 11. LCC took the lead in the second inning when Shane Juday homered on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring two runs. The team took the lead for good with three runs in the third inning when Ethan Collick homered on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs and Maxwell Hecht hit a solo homer. The Raiders put up three runs in the sixth inning. Payton Tamm was the winning pitcher for Lansing, going two and a third innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three.  Caden Van De Burg took the loss for GRCC, lasting two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on two hits. Grand Rapids Community College socked one home run on the day. Dykstra had a long ball in the sixth inning. Grand Rapids Community College totaled 13 hits.  Dykstra, Aaron West, and Paganelli each collected multiple hits for the Raiders. GRCC’s record drops to 10-5 after the doubleheader defeats. The team is back at home on Friday with a doubleheader at home against Muskegon Community College. Powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

April 6, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Five Grand Rapids Community College volleyball players were honored Tuesday by the Michigan Community College Athletic Association for success in a challenging, shortened season, delayed months by the pandemic. The Raiders finished the season with an 8-5 overall record, a second-place conference finish and a runner-up finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association DII District Tournament. In honors determined by conference coaches, Kylie Oberlin and Gabi Kitley earned First Team All-Conference honors as well as All-MCCAA/Region. Annie Holesinger was named Second Team All-Conference, as well as All-MCCAA/Region. Kailey Carmean and Kara Hecht were named Honorable Mention All-Conference and Hecht was named to the All-Freshman team. Oberlin put together an impressive sophomore campaign as a middle blocker. After being named Honorable Mention All-Conference as a freshman, the Fruitport native played in all 13 matches and led the team in kills with 124, paired with a team-high hitting percentage of .293. Oberlin also led the team in total blocks with 29 and points per set, 3.5. Kitley, of Grand Ledge, played in 12 matches and finished second on the team in hitting efficiency with .261, third on the team in kills with 113, and third in blocks with 21. Holesinger, a Rockford native, played in all 13 matches and finished second in kills with 118, second in blocks with 27, and third in hitting efficiency, with .180. Carmean, also from Fruitport, was one of just three Raiders to play in all 45 sets. She led the team in assists with 348, was second in service aces with 17, and third in digs, with 88. Hecht, a freshman from Zeeland, also played in all 45 sets and was second in digs with 114, second in digs per set with 2.53, fourth in service aces with 12, and fourth in kills with 89.