A School News Network feature:  Calvin University student JonJon Conflitti enjoys his classes but has a hard time focusing on assignments. As a person with autism, he struggles with slowing down and keeping his work organized.  He’s getting help from Mandy Enos, a second-year student in Grand Rapids Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program. She recently met with Conflitti to discuss his needs and use her knowledge and background to help come up with solutions to his focusing issues.  “I created a homework checklist with Calvin’s Knight logo on it and put them in clear sleeves so he could write on them and then erase,” Enos said. “He was so excited while working with me and was happy to have someone helping him better complete his assignments.” Conflitti currently takes a mix of courses through Calvin and the   Ready For Life Academy  with the goal of graduating, getting a full-time job and living independently. With a presence at Hope College, Calvin University and Ferris State University, Ready for Life helps provide post-secondary educational experiences for college-aged individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. “I worked with Mandy, so I could learn to slow down the process of doing my work and going back to check and proofread my work,” Conflitti said. “It was so good and now I have a homework checklist that I can write on and erase and I’m focusing a lot better.”  A Creative Solution The new partnership between the Occupational Therapy Assistant program and Ready for Life students formed during the pandemic as a way to help students who fell behind on their requirements. In March, GRCC pulled second-year students from their fieldwork, which is required for completing the program and becoming a certified occupational therapy assistant, said GRCC Professor Robin Pegg, the program’s academic fieldwork coordinator. “By the time hospitals and our other partners began taking students back in the fall, everyone was trying to finish their second year,” Pegg said. “I went to my boss and said, ‘Houston, we have a problem.’” “We got creative this semester with a great partnership,” she said. “My students pair up with a real person and real problem to analyze and come up with a solution for each person.” Pegg connected with longtime colleague Emily Perton, executive director of the Ready for Life Academy. The two put their heads together and came up with a plan to benefit both GRCC and RFL students.  “Robin’s students brought something new to the table we didn’t think about before,” Perton said. “The Ready for Life Academy students love interacting with college students, collaborating on their projects and building friendships.” ‘Students Learn, Community Benefits’ For Pegg, key pieces to the partnership are the emphasis on collaboration and the dual benefits received by both organizations.  “The college came up with the saying, ‘students learn, community benefits,’” Pegg said. “Working alongside RFL has been an all around win for everyone.” She divided her class of 24 students into groups of eight and paired them with RFL students.  To prepare, GRCC students watched videos of their clients doing a task they struggled with and met with them one-on-one to gain a better understanding of their needs.  “My students have one month to communicate and meet with their student, make a plan, run it by their student’s caregiver and myself, make any adjustments to their proposed solution and then present it to their client,” Pegg explained.  GRCC student Abigail Cummings was excited to work with her client and apply the skills she learned in the classroom to real life.  “My client’s goal is to professionally clean homes, but she experiences difficulties with sequencing and remembering the steps of cleaning things,” Cummings said. “I created stickers and visuals to put on her toilet to help her remember all the sections to clean and in what order.”  She gave the plan to her client’s caregiver, helped make adjustments, Cummings said. “Open communication is a big thing; you have to make sure you’re looking at all aspects of the person and their abilities.”  Pegg is impressed with the creative accommodations the students came up with. “From vacuuming to organization skills to carrying a bowl of soup, the problems the students have dealt with have been simple to complex,” Pegg said. “It’s been fascinating for the students to understand that something as simple as getting something out of the oven can literally inhibit someone’s independence.”  Perton is excited about how much the students are learning from their experiences working with real clients. “This isn’t just a career; it’s life-changing for people,” Perton said. “It’s easy for students to get caught up just learning the material. This partnership shows them they’re going to make a real difference in someone’s life.” Keeping Connections Going Pegg is optimistic about the long-term benefits of the partnership. “The gains are huge and it helps reduce the workload on our community partners,” she said. “We now have some structure and control around ensuring the students share a similar experience and gain the same sense of accomplishment.” Due to the pandemic, both GRCC and the RFL programs are facing limitations and students are feeling isolated. “This partnership opened a door of new opportunities to get excited about,” Perton said. “Our students and clients are used to someone being with them at all times, but this experience provides an opportunity to communicate and advocate for themselves without parents or guardians.” Real-world problems allow the GRCC students to get creative with their solutions and learn lifelong problem-solving skills.  “Some students have just blossomed and it’s been amazing getting them to use their creativity on their own projects,” Pegg said. “The growth zone is the icky, unsettling place and students all have to learn to grow through it. This partnership encourages them to learn and grow, while benefiting another human being.” This story was reported and photographed by  Alexis Stark of the School News Network .

Nov. 24, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – Grand Rapids Community College’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its newest construction project through a 10,000-square-foot green roof on the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center expansion. The recently completed green roof sits atop the two-story, 18,416-square-foot expansion of the ATC, which was part of the project that included extensive renovations in other parts of the building. “Infrastructure and sustainability are strategic goals for our campus, and we always are looking for opportunities to be better stewards of our environment,” said Jim VanDokkumburg, GRCC’s executive director of facilities. “Green roofs help with sustainability in many ways, including stormwater management, extending roof life cycle, improving acoustics and thermal insulation, creating habitat, and decreasing urban heat island effect.” Sedum was planted on the roof. It is a hearty species that does well in all West Michigan’s weather conditions, and can thrive in relatively shallow soil, such as on green roofs.  The new roof is near the ATC’s existing 35,000-square green roof, which was added in 2008 with support from the Steelcase Foundation. That roof is accessible from the ATC’s second floor study area, with an outdoor deck for students to get a closer view. Buildings typically have black or light-colored roofs. Black roofs absorb heat while white roofs reflect the sun. Green roofs are designed to soak up ultraviolet light without the heat, allowing for more temperature control. The $12.7 million ATC project is designed to provide a teaching and learning environment supporting learning and experiential problem-solving while providing greater visibility for workforce training and information technology programs. The ATC project includes: Improving the flexibility and use of existing classrooms and labs. Creating an open and inviting front entry. Adding a Data Center Lab suite. Expanding and updating the Machine Tool Lab. Increasing student study and meeting spaces. Providing small project rooms where students can work together. Adding interaction areas where faculty, students, and researchers can gather informally. Renovating the open computer lab. The project is expected to be completed in December and be ready for winter 2021 classes. GRCC has a Sustainability Team, and other campus efforts include “zero waste” events, where all materials used - such as utensils, plates, napkins, cups and food – are completely recyclable, reusable or compostable. GRCC staff make it easier for participants to compost or recycle the materials, with plentiful and clearly marked bins and staff available to remind users how to dispose of materials. Several buildings on campus have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, which is a national standard established by the U.S. Green Building Council. 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.

Nov. 23, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  Start at Grand Rapids Community College 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! George Lessens has been a fixture on West Michigan televisions for 40 years, a trusted voice telling us how to prepare for the day and keeping us safe as dangerous storms approach. Lessens is WZZM 13 On Your Side’s chief meteorologist and became the region’s longest-tenured meteorologist in 2007. His story started at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College. Lessens graduated from GRJC in 1977, majoring in Chemistry, before transferring to Penn State University and earning a degree in meteorology. "GRJC was my logical choice for a quality and economical education,” he said. “All my credits transferred, and I saved thousands of dollars on out-of-state tuition at Penn State University.  Lessens said several professors had a huge influence on his life, Harold DeVries in physics, Sigurd Nelson in organic chemistry and Richard Chesnutt in mathematics. “I look back at my career and know it had a good foundation because of Grand Rapids Junior College." Lessens began his career at WZZM in 1980 as weekend meteorologist. He anchored weekday morning weathercasts from 1985 to 1991 before returning to the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekend newscasts. The Lowell native has been passionate about weather ever since the 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes hit West Michigan. He formed a weather club as a youth to scan the skies for storms and tornadoes. Although he has never been an eyewitness to a tornado, Lessens has been inside the damage paths of many of these storms. Early on his 21st birthday, a small tornado touched down in Lowell. Lessens heard the storm coming and alerted his family members. This storm destroyed the Lowell Showboat, toppled a church steeple, and caused considerable damage to the surrounding community. Lessens has been recognized and honored with many awards, including being named a GRCC Distinguished Alumnus in 2008. The following year he was saluted with a Silver Circle Award given by the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences for 25-years or more of service. He is also a nine-time winner of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ Best Weathercast Award and a four-time recipient of the organization’s Merit Weathercast Award.   Lessens also has two Michigan Emmy Awards for Weather, winning in 2005 and 2009.

Nov. 20, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  Alec Falicki, a second-time college student, is willing to wait for his career goal to become reality. “I had gone to college right out of high school, and I had quickly learned that I was not ready,” Falicki said. “When I decided to pull the trigger again, GRCC was waiting for me with open arms.” Falicki, who works as a nursing assistant at Emmanuel Hospice, plans to pursue a career as a registered nurse. GRCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program has a waiting list, but Falicki is undeterred. “I had thought about switching to another community college that had a shorter wait-time for their nursing program,” Falicki said. “It quickly dawned on me that the other college’s admission and support were no match to GRCC’s. “Despite the longer wait-time to join GRCC’s program, I knew that because of the support I had gotten that GRCC is the smartest route for me. I am willing to wait longer if that means I will have everything I need and I will get an outstanding nursing education.”

Nov. 19, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – A product developed by a Grand Rapids Community College alum and tested on campus this week was today named one of the top  100 inventions of 2020 by Time magazine . FEND is a drug-free salt- and calcium-based nasal mist that strengthens the mucus lining, helping it trap and flush out tiny pathogens. Aerosol scientist David Edwards said the product could potentially be a tool in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Edwards graduated from what was then Grand Rapids Junior College and taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University before founding Sensory Cloud, the company behind FEND. Time selected 100 groundbreaking inventions “that are changing the way we live, work, play and think about what’s possible.” FEND is one of three products featured in the list’s  “Home Health”  category. Edwards this week conducted a ground-breaking study on FEND at GRCC on Monday and Tuesday, measuring air particles breathed in and out by students, employees and community members. Edwards taught in Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences before becoming CEO of Sensory Cloud, a Boston-based technology startup company designing solutions to problems of wellbeing and healthcare focusing on respiratory biology. Edwards believes the FEND can be effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19, especially when used in conjunction with face coverings, social distancing and other precautions. The son of former GRCC organic and nuclear chemistry professor Ronald Edwards, David Edwards said GRCC is special to him, and he asked if the college could be the Midwest location for a groundbreaking study on the product. Edwards started working on the product several years ago in response to threats from anthrax, but now believes it can be effective in thwarting COVID-19 infection. After graduating from what was then GRJC in 1981, Edwards earned a Bachelor of Science from Michigan Technological University and a doctorate from Illinois Institute of Technology, both in chemical engineering. He taught at MIT and Penn State University before joining the Harvard faculty for 16 years, starting in 2002. 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.

Nov. 17, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – Grand Rapids Community College will move additional in-person classes to remote learning and significantly reduce employee presence on campus starting Wednesday, Nov. 18, to comply with state directives to slow the spread of COVID-19. GRCC will ensure students have the technology to complete the semester, providing loaner laptops and WiFi hotspots. The college also will continue to help students facing food insecurity by keeping its food pantry open one day a week and will continue to provide other support services remotely. “The health and welfare of our students, employees and community members is our top priority, but we also know how important it is for our students to finish the semester strong,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “Students need to know we stand ready to help. When the pandemic first struck in March, our faculty and staff found innovative ways to continue serving students in the safest possible environment. That will continue as we work through these latest developments.” The order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is in effect for three weeks, and will be reevaluated at that point. GRCC classes will move to remote learning, although the state order allows for some exceptions. Classes in health career programs such as Nursing, Dental, Medical Assistant, Radiologic Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant and first responder classes, such as the Police and Sheriff’s academies, will continue as scheduled, following strict safety protocols. Students already taking classes in online and virtual real time formats will not be affected. Many additional campus services, including tutoring and support at the GRCC Library and Learning Commons, will be offered remotely starting Wednesday. GRCC’s Information Technology Department is helping students access technology needed for online learning. Students can reserve a laptop or WiFi hotspot through an  online form available here . Students also can continue to connect to college WiFi in the parking lot behind the Administration Building on the DeVos Campus, and in the parking lots of Kent District Library branches. GRCC’s food pantry, located on the first floor of the Student Community Center, will remain open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays. The Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse will remain open by appointment. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Fridays. The pool is open 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The college bookstore will be open, but with limited hours and reduced customer capacity.

Nov. 16, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  Start at Grand Rapids Community College 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! Teresa Weatherall Neal helped thousands of Grand Rapids children during her career in education, and said her time at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College “lit a fire in me.”  As Grand Rapids Public Schools superintendent, Neal set in place a GRPS Transformation Plan credited with increasing graduation rates and reducing chronic absenteeism. Since retiring from the district in 2019, Neal has served as chairperson of the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, which removes cost as a barrier to higher education for city students. Neal was named a GRCC Distinguished Alumna at commencement in 2019, and told graduates how she earned a Creston High diploma in 1977, married and got a job – and was encouraged by her sister to continue her education at GRJC. She credits the faculty and staff for supporting her. “I had so many fears that paralyzed me and stopped me from moving forward,” she said. “But I realized I could do it. It lit a fire in me. And I was now on the journey and the road to change. It was ignited right here at Grand Rapids Community College. I was inspired. What I thought was impossible became my reality.” She earned an Associate of Arts at GRJC before earning a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University, a master’s in educational leadership from Western Michigan University, and an honorary doctorate from GVSU. She is also a graduate of the Michigan Leadership Institute’s Superintendent Leadership Academy. Neal had been with GRPS since she was 4 years old, first as a K-12 student and then as a student worker, administrative assistant, coordinator of compliance, and assistant superintendent before rising to the role of superintendent in 2012. Neal and the district gained state and national attention for efforts that included comprehensive professional development focused on equity and inclusion, innovative new school choices, and building community partnerships. Under her leadership, GRPS enrollment increased for the first time in 20 years. “Teresa Weatherall Neal’s journey to becoming the inspiring leader she is today started with GRPS and Grand Rapids Junior College,” President Bill Pink said when he presented her with the Distinguished Alumna Award. “She is a role model for everyone graduating today and into the future. She is the perfect example of the impact a person can have on a community, and how a community college degree can provide the foundation for doing tremendous things.”

Nov. 15, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – Grand Rapids Community College’s cross country teams made history Saturday, with both teams finishing in the top 10 at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships. Head Coach Matt Sicilia shares what happened on the course in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Both Men’s and Women’s Raiders squads earned their way to this year’s National Championships by winning the Great Lakes Regional. Here is his report: The teams arrived in Iowa on Thursday, giving two days to mentally prepare to run to their true potential in the 2020 season’s grand finale. All the physical “hay was in the barn,” so the team got to enjoy an area park, some great pizza, and the world’s largest grotto sculpture. On Championship Day, the women’s 5K race was first. The fourth-ranked Raiders looked to run in two separate packs to increase their comfort level in unfamiliar grounds and competition. As the cannon blasted, the ladies were off! Within the first half mile, Kiah Becker and Audrey Meyering positioned themselves in the top 20, exactly according to the pre-race plan. About 20 seconds back, Carolanne Merlington, Kate DeLeeuw and Liz Meyering were out a little more conservatively, positioned about 50th. Allison Hoop was close behind, with Alexa Webster was a few more seconds back. By the mile mark, the women were starting to slowly move up the field and were in sixth position in the team results, one spot behind Michigan Community College Athletic Association rival St. Clair Community College and 70 points out of third place, the last trophy position. The women continued to move up the field in the middle mile, as Audrey Meyering moved into 10 th   position with Becker in the pack behind, still inside the top 20 runners. The Raiders next group was starting to split up, with Liz Meyering doing “Liz things” by picking off her competitors  one at a time and propelling herself into the top 40. Merlington and De Leeuw were about a second apart about 10 seconds in back of Liz Meyering. Hoop and Webster were also maintaining their positions. The team had moved into fourth position in the team results and was 40 points out of third. The pre-race plan called for the women to make one final push at the 4K mark and they executed with heart and pure guts. Down the final stretch, the women sprinted for home with every fiber of their muscles. Audrey Meyering closed extremely well, moving up to 8th place and earning NJCAA second-team All American honors in a new personal best time of 19:51. Less than 20 seconds behind, Becker finished in 16th position in a collegiate-best time of 20:09. Becker’s performance garnered her USTFCCCA Coaches Association All-American status. Just over 30 seconds back, Liz Meyering flew down the home stretch, passing runners all the way to finish in a collegiate best time of 20:53, good for 32nd place, only seven spots off of the final All-American spot. Merlington and De Leeuw ground down the finishing stretch to both finish inside the top-50 runners. Finally, Hoop and Webster ran down the stretch on oxygen deprived legs to finish in 65th and 77th positions, respectively. The women Raiders final score of 125 points were a mere 22 points behind third place Hawkeye Community College. In the finish area, tears of both joy and exhaustion flowed freely -- each member of the team knew they had given their all. The races capped off the most successful season in the program’s history. The women ran they best team race of the season on the biggest stage, with Audrey Meyering and Webster setting all time personal records, Becker and Liz Meyering setting collegiate personal records, and the team setting a school record for total team time. The men’s team entered the “granddaddy of them all” down three of its former top-five runners, but the remaining varsity squad was striving for a top-10 finish against the odds. With the blast of the cannon, the men’s 8k race was off! As he had all season, Josh Kipkoech surged to the front group, positioning himself in the middle of the lead pack of seven runners who went through the mile mark in a swift 5:01. Kipkoech had high hopes to earn the Raiders an individual National Championship and set himself in perfect position to give himself a chance. Behind our fearless leader, the five other Raiders were running on a mission. The goal was to get out very hard and hold on for dear life once the pain of the grueling 8k race started to set in. Jack Kehoe was positioned just outside the top 30, giving himself a chance to be finish as an All-American, or top-25 finisher. Gabe Sanchez, followed by the triad of Ashton Brennan, Noah Peterson and Devin Simon were all close in tow, as the Raiders were in sixth place at the mile mark. Between the mile and the 5K, Kipkoech stayed with the lead group that was now down to five. The rest of the squad settled into a slightly more comfortable pace in the middle miles, with the team falling back to ninth place overall by the two-mile mark. The men ran with pure grit in the race’s second half, each holding their position. Up front, Kipkoech fell off the lead pack at about the 3.5-mile mark and tried to regroup for a strong finish. He sprinted down the final stretch to finish in fifth place overall, earning him NJCAA DII first-team All-American status in a blazing time of 25:28. Just over two minutes later, Kehoe forced his exhausted body to shift a gear in the homestretch, passing one runner to finish in his second-best time of 27:54, good for 42nd place. Sanchez, then Peterson and Brennan, and finally Simon all charged down the finishing stretch. Sanchez, Brennan, and Simon all finished in personal record times, as the men finished in ninth place overall, accomplishing its goal of a top-10 finish! This was the best overall race for the team this season and it came on the biggest stage.

Nov. 14, 2020, DODGE CITY, Iowa  – Grand Rapids Community College cross country teams finished in the top 10 at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 2 National Championships, with three student-athletes earning All-American honors. The women’s team finished fourth in the nation, with Audrey Meyering earning NJCAA and Coaches Association All-American honors, and Kiah Becker earning Coaches Association honors. Meyering finished eighth in the race, with Becker coming in 16th. The men’s team claimed ninth place in the nation, with Josh Kipkoech finishing fifth in the race. Kipkoech earned First-Team All-American honors. “I’m incredibly proud of our student-athletes and coaches, who showed they are among the very best in the nation,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “Their success is inspiring, showing they can thrive even while facing the challenges of a pandemic. We have a proud history of athletics at GRCC, and the cross country team just wrote a new chapter!” Meyering was in 12th place at the one-mile mark of the race, moving up to eighth place with a quarter-mile to go, finishing the 5K competition with a time of 19 minutes, 51 seconds. Becker was close behind at 20 minutes, 9 seconds. Liz Meyering finished 32nd, with Carolanne Merlington at 46 th , Kate DeLeeuw at 48th, Allison Hoop at 65th and Alex Webster at 77th. Kipkoech was in third place after the third mile of his race, part of a six-runner cluster within a second of each other. He finished in fifth with a time of 25 minutes, 28 seconds. GRCC’s Jack Kehoe finished 42nd, Gabe Sanchez finished 53rd, Noah Peterson was 81st with Ashton Brennan right behind him and Devon Simon at 98th. The success at the National Champions caps off a season where the Raiders dominated regional and conferences competition. Both teams won the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and NJCAA DII, Region XII titles, the first since the rebirth of the program in 2014. Students also claimed individual honors. Kipkoech and Audrey Meyering earned All-MCCAA Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards. Matt Sicilia was named Coach of the Year by both the MCCAA and the NJCAA Region 12. NJCAA Region 12 includes community colleges in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. MCCAA includes college in Michigan and Ancilla College in Indiana. Three GRCC women student athletes -- Audrey Meyering, Kiah Becker, and Liz Meyering -- were named by the MCCAA to the nine-member All-Conference Team. Kipkoech and Lance Jourdan from GRCC were named to the nine-member men’s All-Conference Team. The Meyerings and Becker were joined by teammates Merlington, De Leeuw, and Hoop on the 17-member All-Region Team, selected by the NJCAA. Kipkoech and Jourdan were joined by Sanchez and Peterson on the men’s All-Region Team. “This was the largest cross country team GRCC has ever had, which reflects on the enthusiasm and determination of the coaches,” Interim Athletic Director David Selmon said. “This team worked hard, was prepared and very supportive of one another. We’re proud of how they performed, and also how they represented their community around the state and now across the nation.”

Nov. 13, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – David Edwards’ educational journey started at Grand Rapids Community College and eventually led to him teaching at Harvard University. Now he’s working on slowing the spread of COVID-19 and is looking to GRCC to help. Edwards is an aerosol scientist and inventor, and taught in Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He’s now the CEO of Sensory Cloud, a Boston-based technology startup company designing solutions to problems of wellbeing and healthcare focusing on respiratory biology. GRCC students have an opportunity to participate in a national study of one of Edwards’ products. FEND is an over-the-counter saline mist meant to be inhaled through the nose, slowing down or stopping various aerosol molecules from entering the nasal passage. “Dr. Edwards is another example of someone using a GRCC education as the foundation for an amazing career and making a difference in the world during a difficult time,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “We are excited to be a part of this study, because the safety and wellness of our community is paramount. But it is also inspiring to see how a GRCC graduate is playing a role in battling this pandemic.” Edwards believes the FEND can be effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19, especially when used in conjunction with face coverings, social distancing and other precautions. The son of former GRCC chemistry professor Ronald Edwards, David Edwards said GRCC is special to him, and he asked if the college could be the Midwest location for a groundbreaking study on the product. “I remember as a little kid coming to the community college and eventually studying there,” he said. “I’m really thrilled to be coming back and to lead this opportunity for this really important hygiene COVID-19 study. This is about hygiene and how we can lead the cleanest possible lives we can on campus and off. We’re learning a lot about what that means, and there are important breakthroughs all around us.” Edwards started working on the product several years ago in response to threats from anthrax, but now believes it can be effective in thwarting COVID-19 infection. His study will consider the air around us and droplets formed in our lungs, and how they can be a factor in spreading the virus. “There’s no panacea here as far as avoiding infection,” he said. “There are four elements of good hygiene. One is hand sanitizing. The second is obviously masks. The third is social distancing. And the fourth now is airway cleansing.  All four of those are important. It’s like a series of walls we’ve set up to protect ourselves.” GRCC students have the opportunity to participate in the work, which is planned for Sneden Hall on the DeVos Campus between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 16-17. Participants will earn $15 for 30 minutes of their time and will be provided with a parking voucher. The company also is offering a $10 referral bonus to anyone who brings a friend on Monday and Tuesday.  Registration is available online at  HelloFEND.com/pages/Research ; select the Grand Rapids study. Participants will be asked to select a time, then to complete consent forms and submit additional information. After graduating from what was then Grand Rapids Junior College in 1981, Edwards earned a Bachelor of Science from Michigan Technological University and a doctorate from Illinois Institute of Technology, both in chemical engineering. He taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Penn State University before joining the Harvard faculty for 16 years, starting in 2002. Through Sensory Cloud, Edwards explores ways of delivering health and wellness, often through the air, in drug, vaccine, food and scent forms, and with environmental sustainability. He has earned international recognition, including being honored as a Chevalier of Arts & Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, is a member of the National Academies of Engineering in the United States and France, and a member of the National Academy of Inventors. 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.