March 12, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team dominated Ancilla College for its sixth consecutive win on Friday, but the men’s team struggled against a Charger team that is one of the best in the country. The volleyball team beat Lake Michigan College in four sets, improving to 4-3 on the season. The women’s basketball team dropped the opener and hasn’t lost since, with the 80-46 victory bringing the season record to 6-1. Coach Dave Glazier said the team is playing well, with room to get better each day. Sophomore Danielle Lamancusa had another outstanding game, posting 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Sophomore Shonyah Hawkins and Freshman Trayana Starr-Thurman both had a dozen points, and sophomore Abigale Rouwhorst had eight points and 11 rebounds. Alaya Chapman was the bright spot for Ancilla, topping all scorers with 24 points. The men’s team faced an uphill battle, with Ancilla ranked No. 3 in the nation, and fell 96-73. The Chargers are undefeated, with nine wins. The basketball teams are headed to St. Clair Community College in Port Huron on Tuesday.    Playing on the road in Benton Harbor, the volleyball team beat Lake Michigan college. After dropping the first set 25-22, the Raiders handily won the next three, 26-16, 25-17 and 25-20. Annie Holesinger led the team in kills with 17, and blocks with eight. Kailey Carmean was tops with 23 assists, Kylie Oberlin had four kills and Savannah Stoepker had 12 digs. The Raiders next face Glen Oaks Community College on Tuesday at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse.

March 11, 2021 LANSING, Mich. – The pandemic changed the way Grand Rapids Community College offered classes and support services – and many of the changes are likely to remain to help students overcome obstacles, Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Pink told lawmakers Thursday. Pink was one of four college presidents to testify before the state House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges. The subcommittee is chaired by state Rep. Mark Huizenga, and includes state Reps. Tommy Brann and Bradley Slagh from West Michigan. Lawmakers preparing the 2021-2022 state budget wanted to know how COVID-19 forced colleges to make changes and what their roles might be in the state’s recovery. “Our community colleges are the answer to helping get our communities back up and running, back up to work, get our companies back up to speed,” Pink said. He said community colleges provide students with a pathway to earn credits for degrees or to transfer to a four-year institution, but also partner with employers to adapt to the changing needs of the workplace and provide students with in-demand career skills. “I believe in the work we do,” he said. “That’s the value and the power of the community college. And that is why I believe our institution, along with the 27 others community colleges in the state, will be a vital part in getting our state back up and running." After initially transitioning all classes remotely, GRCC adopted four educational formats, with online, hybrid, virtual real-time and in person classes. About 80 percent of fall 2020 classes had online components. While the percentage is planned to change this fall, with a significant increase in in-person instruction, the online offerings proved to provide increased accessibility. “One thing this pandemic has done is that it has taught us several lessons,” he said. “The thing about being taught lessons in a crisis is that you make all your adjustments and then you look at what worked and what you need to keep. I like to look at what our normal will look like going forward. We won’t look the same as we did before.” While many students indicated they prefer in-person classes, Pink said the virtual offerings helped students schedule around home and work responsibilities. The college also became aware of the size of the technology gap. GRCC purchased more than 500 laptops and about 350 mobile Wi-Fi hotspots to loan students, and strengthened the Wi-Fi signal in a campus parking lot. The college also partnered with the Kent Public Library to provide students with Wi-Fi access in branch parking lots, and created a Wi-Fi zone in the new Lakeshore Campus under construction in Holland Township. Pink told lawmakers the college worked with community partners to provide students and their families with more than 2,400 packages of groceries from the campus food pantry since March 2020. Donations also included hygiene products, cleaning supplies, baby supplies and pet food. Organizations providing food or resources include Heart of West Michigan United Way; Kent County, Michigan government; GRCC Student Alliance; GRCC Campus Dining; the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education; Feeding America West Michigan; Plainsong Farm; the Grand Rapids Children's Museum; I Support the Girls; and others. Pink also thanked senators for their support for the Futures for Frontliners program, which provides free community college tuition to people who served in essential roles during the spring shutdown, and Michigan Reconnect, which covers tuition for students 25 and older who don’t have a degree. Pink was joined in Lansing by Saginaw Valley State University President Donald Bachand and Washtenaw Community College President Rose Bellanca. Grand Valley State University President Philomena V. Mantella participated via Zoom.     Grand Rapids Community College 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.

March 11, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Walking across the stage in a cap and gown is a celebration of years of work for Grand Rapids Community College students. The college this year is preserving that tradition by making changes to keep graduates and their families safe during the pandemic. GRCC plans indoor, in-person ceremonies to celebrate the Class of 2021, spreading them out over two days and limiting the number of guests at each event to adhere to pandemic safety protocols. Plans call for hosting four commencements, with students graduating from the School of Arts and Sciences during two ceremonies April 30, and graduates from the School of Workforce Development honored during two ceremonies May 1. Students also have the option of participating virtually, and all four ceremonies will be live-streamed. “Every commencement is a celebration, and this one even more so, as students have faced the challenges of a pandemic and emerged stronger,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “We want to pay tribute to their determination, rejoice in their success, and recognize the faculty, staff, family and friends who supported our graduates and encouraged them to move forward.” Spreading commencement out over four ceremonies and two days will allow graduates and a limited number of guests to attend the event in the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse while socially distancing and following additional health and safety protocols. GRCC continues to work with county health authorities and to monitor state and federal recommendations. School of Arts and Sciences ceremonies are planned for 4 and 7 p.m. on Friday, April 30. School of Workforce Development ceremonies are planned for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 1. Ceremony dates and times will be assigned by the college, but staff members will do their best to honor preferences. Additional details will be posted at grcc.edu/commencement as they become available. “This is a special moment in the lives of our students and their families -- one they’ll remember always,” said Tina Hoxie, associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “It is the best day ever, celebration of the incredible accomplishments of the students, as well as the faculty and staff who guided and assisted them and the friends and family who supported them. I’m thrilled we can provide an in-person experience for everyone to enjoy.” GRADfest 2021, an opportunity for students to pick up caps and gowns and take care of other matters related to commencement, is planned as a drive-through event from 3-6 p.m. March 30 in the DeVos Campus parking lot. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/gradfest . Last year, GRCC delayed commencement until Aug. 1, celebrating with a virtual, real-time celebration.    

March 10, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team continues to roll, posting a fifth-straight win in a dominating performance over Delta College on Wednesday. The men’s team also topped Delta for it’s second win in a row. Two of the nation's best rebounders in Jayla Bibbs and Isaac Anderson dominated the glass once again helping their teams to victories. Bibbs had 25 rebounds to go with her game high 16 points while Anderson had 19 rebounds and 15 points.  Women’s team Coach David Glazier the 77-53 win over the Pioneers was a true team effort, with all five starters scoring in double figures. He said every player got into the game and focused on a solid defensive performance. The Raider women are now on a five game win streak after losing their first game of the season. The men snapped 20th ranked Delta's win streak that included two wins last week against Mott Community College and Schoolcraft College. The entire Raider women's starting lineup all ended up scoring in double figures. Danielle Lamancusa was one rebound short of a double-double and finished with 16 points. Point guard Shonyah Hawkins had 11 points and six assists, Olivia Koetje had 12 points and 4 assists, and Eurasia Green-Boyd totaled 10 points. The Raiders had season highs in blocked shots with nine and also three pointers made with nine.  They shot 47% from behind the arc and five different women hit at least one three. Malik Clincy led all scorers in the men's game with 31 points, including five three pointers, all in the second half.  The Pioneers trailed by just one at the half and just about every time Delta would try to make a run in the second half, the Raiders would respond right back. Both teams will host Ancilla College on Friday at Hunsberger Arena. The Chargers men's team is unbeaten and ranked No. 3 in the nation.         

March 10, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is preparing for a fall 2021 semester with more in-person classes and student services, a continued focus on safety -- and a reflection of lessons learned for increased opportunities to serve all students and West Michigan. “Our community is emerging from the pandemic, and the community's college will play a key role in helping people continue their education and West Michigan getting back to work,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “I hesitate to say we’ll be back to normal, because this virus and the racial and social issues we’ve faced as a nation highlighted the inequities in the previous normal. We’re coming back with a new normal, with a greater on-campus presence but also more classes and support services offered in ways that make them more accessible to more students. We will be a better institution because of what we have learned from navigating this pandemic.” About 80% of GRCC classes were partly or entirely offered virtually during the 2020-2021 academic year. A significant number of fall 2021 classes will be on campus or through a hybrid format, conducted in a way that provides safety for students and employees. Classes will also continue to be offered online and virtual real-time settings. Virtual classes were popular with many students, especially those scheduling around home and work responsibilities. That is especially helpful for older students attending GRCC through the state’s Futures for Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect programs. The number of student services and activities offered on campus is also planned to increase, also with remote components and accommodations to connect with students and community members. The pandemic cast light on the technology gap that exists for many students, and the college offered hundreds of loaner laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots and other equipment. Those programs are planned to continue into the fall to ensure all students can access classes. GRCC also plans to continue waiving online course fees through the fall. The move will save students $16 per contact hour, or about $50 for a three-credit class offered online. Students would still be responsible for tuition and other universal fees. The college will continue working with local, state and federal health authorities to monitor the pandemic and recommendations for health and safety protocols, including face coverings and social distancing. Pink said it is assuring to see the number of COVID cases dropping and the number of people getting the vaccine rising. But the fight against the virus continues, and the college can and will respond quickly if directed by health authorities. Grand Rapids Community College 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.  

March 10, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --   GRCC Workforce Training offers programs providing 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. Thousands of area employees working in the restaurant and service industry were laid off due to the pandemic. Many of those took this time to reflect and retool their career path. Meet Francisco Sainz, a 2019 graduate of Lee High School. After taking a few credit courses at GRCC and working in the restaurant industry, he decided to change his direction. Francisco has always had an interest in working on cars and in August 2020, he enrolled in the GRCC Automotive Technician Job Training program. “I was tired of working in the restaurant industry and the break really persuaded me to look at what my passions are and move in a new direction,” he said. “This last year has been incredibly challenging. My whole family had COVID-19 and my dad had it really bad. It was hard to stay focused especially when we had to go virtual learning. But my parents are proud of me and I just had to keep pushing through. It was helpful that I had made new friends in class and we worked through the challenges together. Once we got back to learning hands-on, I was more inspired.” Grand Rapids Community College Automotive Technician Job Training classes run 34 hours per week and approximately 20 weeks in length. The hands-on training operates as much like private industry with a 10-bay automotive lab that works with real customers. A new cohort of students begins every other month, which means that individuals don't have to wait until next semester to begin working toward a better future. Like in all Job Training programs, Automotive Tech students are paired with a career coach as well as a job developer to insure success during and after completion of the training. Additionally, graduates can articulate 10 credits toward an associate degree in Automotive. Automotive Tech students develop skills in shop safety, electrical systems, front end and steering systems, brake systems, ABS, heating and air conditioning; recovering and recycling, and teamwork and communication skills. An automotive technician is required to be certified and licensed in the state of Michigan. Licensed technicians use precision diagnostic equipment, service manuals and hands-on power tools to provide high tech, timely and quality service. In 2016, GRCC became the only location in Michigan to partner with Chrysler Fiat to provide MOPAR CAP Level One Certification - giving students the opportunity to acquire the value credential which includes 37 certifications. To be most effective in the auto-mechanic industry today, technicians need to be able to read service manual schematics, perform basic shop math, read measurement tools and communicate effectively with others using automotive 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 .  

March 9, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich . – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team fell to the unbeaten Muskegon Community College Jayhawks in four sets on Tuesday, breaking a three-game winning streak. The Raiders won the first set 25-15, but then dropped three-straight to Muskegon, which is ranked No. 15 in the nation, 16-25, 18-25, and 20-25. The game was the first of the season with spectators in the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse. The Michigan Community College Athletic Association is now permitting colleges to allow up to 250 people at events with safety protocols in place, including socially distant seating, face coverings, and health screenings. Admission is limited to two people per athlete, and spectators must be registered in advance with the Athletic Department. No one is admitted without pre-registration. After dominating the first set with 7 aces, 12 kills and 2 blocks, the Raiders struggled early on in the second set, trailing 8-0 early on. The team clawed its way back to tie it a 11 after a combo block from Annie Holesinger and Gabi Kitley, and tied it up three more times, but never could pull ahead and lost 25-16. The Jayhawks scored the final 9 points of the set. The teams traded the lead throughout sets three and four, but the visitors prevailed to improve to 10-0 and 8-0 in the conference. The Raiders snap a three-match win streak to fall to 3-3 on the season. Kitley lead the Raiders with 14 kills and hit a team-best .333. Kylie Oberlin had 11 kills and 3 blocks while Holesinger finished with 8 kills, 3 aces and 4 blocks.  Haley Stewart led the defense with 12 digs and also had 3 aces. The Raiders will be back on the court on Friday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. against Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. In their first meeting the Raiders defeated the Red Hawks in straight sets. All home volleyball and basketball home games will continue to be streamed through the MichiganSportsRadio.com website, including postseason games. Games will be archived on the GRCC Athletics YouTube channel. Students, coaches and training staff participating in contact sports have been receiving weekly antigen tests, with results available in about 15 minutes, through a partnership with the Ferris College of Pharmacy. The tests are administered by Ferris faculty and students, and are planned to continue through the end of the season.  

A School News Network feature - When the coronavirus pandemic hit last March, Kate Greening found herself with time to reflect on her career.  The catering manager for corporate events was out of work as people stayed home and avoided gatherings. She began to brainstorm her options and, with a dusty 10-year-old bachelor’s degree in health information management, decided to begin building credentials in health care again. She enrolled in the new  pharmacy technician program  at GRCC. Now, with that completed, she plans to get a job in a pharmacy as a licensed technician. “I would hope to get into a hospital to advance into some kind of specialization,” said Greening, of Grand Rapids. “For the first two years, I just want to dive in and work under some people to give me the knowledge to help teach someone else this.”  She’s also looking for structured hours and less stress than she had in catering.  “I can still help people, but have a high focus on customer service as well,” she said. Demand Increasing for Pharmacy Techs GRCC recently finished its first 15-week pharmacy technician course, a hybrid of online learning and in-person labs. Twelve students were enrolled, working to earn their national certification from the  Pharmacy Technician Certification Board . Another session runs April 12 to July 30 and has room for up to 16 students. GRCC offered a similar program several years ago, but stopped it due to the industry shifting to part-time jobs and little demand, said Julie Parks, executive director of workforce training. Now, due to increased interest and demand, the program has relaunched as a hybrid of online and lab work. While coursework is online, three lab sessions focus on simple compounding, customer service and other areas of the job. Affirming that the profession comes with solid job prospects, pharmacy technician is on the  West Michigan Works 2020 Hot Jobs List , with median hourly earnings listed at $15.24 per hour (certified technicians make more money per hour than non-certified) and a projected growth of 11.8% in demand from 2016-2026, and annual openings of 170. Nationally, the job outlook is projected at a 4% growth rate, according to the  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Instructor Clint Conley said an increasing number of pharmacies have opened in the area and an aging population comes with a greater need for pharmaceuticals. Also, pharmacy technicians are much less expensive to employ than pharmacists. “The older people get the more meds they need and more people retiring out of the profession,” he said. Pharmacy technicians essentially can complete all pharmacy work except a few duties that require a pharmacist, such as giving medical advice to  customers. They take and fill prescriptions, communicate with insurance companies, stock and order medications. Certified technicians make a couple more dollars per hour than non-certified. “The primary things they need to have a passing knowledge of: the most commonly used drugs, classifications, side effects and uses of them,” Conley said. Good math and customer service skills are also crucial. More and more often, techs are performing other services such as blood pressure and insulin checks.  “There are always new medications and new techniques and we are expanding in so many directions. Pharmacies are becoming mini health care centers,” Conley said. Jontea’ Bolden, of Grand Rapids, is a certified nursing assistant who finished the course as a stepping stone toward her goal of getting a bachelor’s degree and becoming a physician’s assistant. She plans to work as a pharmacy tech while going to school.  The course gave her an in-depth look at the industry. She said Conley provided all the information she needed through effective communication platforms. “It wasn’t like we were just cramming stuff in our head and moving on,” she said. Now she’s versed on everything from identifying pills to simple compounding and handling common scenarios with customers. Mostly, she likes the idea of having a role in people’s health. “I just like helping people,” Bolden said. “This drug I am dispensing or handling right now might be the cure or help this person needs; I like that aspect of it.” This story was written by School News Network reporter Erin Albanese .

March 8, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Pink has been named to the board of Lakeshore Advantage, an organization fostering economic development in Ottawa and Allegan counties. The appointment comes as GRCC is consolidating its GRCC Lakeshore Campus into a new location in the Shops at Westshore in Holland Township to make a college education more accessible for Lakeshore residents. “Our presence in Ottawa County is important to me. I am honored to be a part of the Lakeshore Advantage board, as our college has had a strong relationship with the organization for quite some time. Our new GRCC Lakeshore campus is another prime example of the importance we place on the Lakeshore community," Pink said. GRCC is renovating the former JCPenney in the mall, a 50,000-square-foot building near the intersection of U.S. 31 and James Street. The campus will include classrooms for both arts and sciences and workforce classes, as well as student resources. The project is planned to be completed by the fall 2021 semester. Pink is one of three new members of the board, which also added Muskegon Community College President Dale Nesbary and fairlife plant manager Hawk Dobbins. 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 economy. Lakeshore Advantage assists primary employers, from startups to large world-class corporations, in Allegan and Ottawa counties. “Hawk, Dale, and Bill bring with them years of experience in leadership and innovation and their addition to our board will continue to bring nuance to the reach of Lakeshore Advantage,” said Jennifer Owens, Lakeshore Advantage president. “As we walk forward into 2021, we are confident our board will guide us into further levels of economic development for Ottawa and Allegan counties.” Lakeshore Advantage in 2020 supported 14 business growth projects, resulting in $152 million in private investment and 652 new jobs. The organization assisted 395 primary employers in 2020, double its typical support due to the increased need caused by the global pandemic. It supported 63 startup companies and administered two small business grant programs that injected $3.625 million into the local economy. “Dr. Pink and Dr. Nesbary bring to the board insight and alignment to increasing educational attainment and skilled workforce training in our region. Hawk Dobbins represents the primary employers Lakeshore Advantage serves, leading and innovating at fairlife’s local food manufacturing operations,” said Scott Brooks, Lakeshore Advantage Board Chair.    

March 8, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Start at GRCC and go anywhere! Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC – or Grand Rapids Junior College – gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. We’re sharing some of those stories, and want to hear yours! Ruth Straayer-Kelly has had many careers in her life: teacher, community organizer, Grand Rapids city commissioner. She credits what was then Grand Rapids Junior College with building a foundation for all those roles, by allowing her to explore different interests and introducing her to new perspectives. “At GRCC, I was exposed to fellow students from a large variety of backgrounds and perspectives,” she said. She majored in political science at GRJC in the mid-1970s, but through electives, she explored music, art and other subjects. “Electives such as music appreciation, bowling and ceramics helped me make friends and develop skills I’ve used outside of employment,” Straayer-Kelly said. “A large clay pot from an art class still resides with me and brings back pleasant memories of my time at GRCC.” Straayer-Kelly went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political and social sciences from Aquinas College, a certificate in Montessori education and a master’s in educational technology from Grand Valley State University. She taught in Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Montessori program and middle school English and social studies classes from 1987 through 2008. Work as a community organizer during the 1980s inspired her to run for a seat on the City Commission. In 2010, she was elected to represent the 2nd Ward. She stepped down from that role in 2019, but she continues to be involved in organizing efforts for political campaigns and initiatives. She has also added “mom of an alum” to her GRCC ties: One of her sons graduated from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. “Affordability goes beyond finances,” Straayer-Kelly said. “A community college like GRCC also affords the opportunity to explore options before choosing a major field of study and the ease of transferring an associate degree to a college or a university to continue your studies.” Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply . And tell us your story here: grcc.edu/communications/shareyourgrccstory