Nov. 9, 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! As chair of the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation board, Dr. Jim Buzzitta works to make sure current and future students get the support they need to achieve their dreams. As an alumnus, he knows how important a good start at GRCC can be to success in life. He’s one of the many grads who started their story at the college and stayed right here, helping West Michigan grow stronger. “Grand Rapids Community College means a lot to me,” he said. “It deeply impacted my life and allowed for a great education and set a solid foundation for me to succeed in life.” After graduating from what was then Grand Rapids Junior College in 1974, Buzzitta completed undergraduate work at the University of Michigan and graduated from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. He went on to practice internal medicine and founded Michigan Medical PC, which grew to be the largest private medical group in the state. He retired from Michigan Medical in 2007 and became president of real estate development and investment company, The Hughes Management Group.  Buzzitta, named GRCC’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2011, recently served as a co-chair of the recent A Broader Vision capital campaign, which raised almost $23 million to improve campus facilities and provide scholarships to more students.

Nov. 5, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – Students and potential students who put their education on hold this fall can get back on track during Grand Rapids Community College’s winter 2021 semester, with college experts able to answer questions at a Saturday virtual open house. The event is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7. GRCC staff and faculty can help navigate through admissions and financial aid processes and discuss eligibility for cost-saving programs such as  Futures for Frontliners  and the  Grand Rapids Promise Zone . “There are many people who delayed their education because of uncertainty caused by the pandemic, and the upcoming winter 2021 semester is a great opportunity to get back on track,” said Tina Hoxie, associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “Opportunities such as Futures for Frontliners and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone scholarships can remove cost as an obstacle, and GRCC offers classes in a variety of formats and schedules. A virtual open house is a great way to find out what might work best for you.”  This is GRCC’s first large-scale virtual open house, conducted online because of the coronavirus crisis. Virtual open house topics include: How to explore GRCC’s 10 Academic Pathways and more than 150 degrees. Options to pay for college. How to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. The steps to apply to GRCC. The benefits of earning an associate degree at GRCC and seamlessly transferring to a four-year college or university. What academic programs and student services are offered in Holland at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus. About eligibility for the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship and Futures for Frontliners. Attendees will be entered to win a $500 GRCC scholarship.  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.

A School News Network feature  -- In the Maker Lab inside the GRCC's Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, a laser worked its way across a sheet of plexiglass, cutting lines and curlicues to form the pieces of a violin mold. In the near future, culinary students will fill the molds with liquid chocolate, which will harden into edible instrument parts. They will decorate the pieces with sugary whimsy and finesse, assemble them and put them on display near their classroom. The community college’s  Mechanical and Architectural Design  and  Secchia Institute for Culinary Arts  are partnering to use (literally) cutting-edge laser technology to create the intricate molds for use in the course, Cake Decorating Basics. Marciana Gutierrez, who is pursuing her mechanical design degree through  Kent ISD’s Launch U early college program , lent a hand by preparing the mold design templates using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Mariciana, whose home district is Caledonia Public Schools, recently gathered with Mechanical and Architectural Design Assistant Professor Michael Merchant and Chef and Professor Gilles Renusson to cut the final molds. “It’s really cool that I was able to help them become more efficient in making these violins,” said Marciana, who created the mold templates as an independent project. She is in the final year of the Launch U program and will graduate with an associate’s of arts and science degree in mechanical design. She plans to attend a four-year university next year and pursue a career in design.  “It was a great application of the knowledge that she learned in the program,” Merchant said. “She could see a project come to life.” Pretty and High-Tech Pastries Five years ago Renusson started the decorating class to teach GRCC culinary students how to decorate wedding cakes. He was looking to incorporate centerpieces created from molding, cutting and forming. They created chocolate violins using cardboard molds, but found the pieces weren’t precise enough.  Renusson approached Merchant about creating laser-cut molds and Merchant inquired whether a Launch U student was interested in designing the templates.  Marciana, who he taught in previous classes, eagerly signed on. “Making the chocolate violin templates gave me real-world experience,” she said. After completing one violin using the CAD molds, the trio returned to fine tune the templates and print final pieces with the lab’s laser system. The new molds will also allow for less chocolate waste. “This is a craft, a skill,” said Merchant. “With the new technologies we have, we can bring in that technology into the pastry world.”  The project also gave Marciana experience working with a client. Renusson had a vision for what he wanted the molds to look like and she and Merchant worked to meet his expectations,  “We had to really nail down the exact ideas that Chef had,” Merchant said. Merchant and Renusson have also partnered on other projects, including using lasers to etch and burn sugar to make it look like frosted glass. They used this technique in a display for the State Capitol in Lansing. They also worked together on a display using molds for Broadway Grand Rapids’ production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” This story was reported by Erin Albanese of the School News Network.

Nov. 3, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – Grand Rapids Community College cross country student-athletes swept top individual honors after celebrating regional and conference championships with teammates. Joshua Kipkoech and Audrey Meyering earned All-MCCAA Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards from the Michigan Community College Athletic Conference. Matt Sicilia was named Coach of the Year by both the MCCAA and the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 12. “We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes,” Interim Athletic Director David Selmon said. “They’ve worked hard to be successful, and that’s reflected in the championships and the individual honors. The students, the coaches and the staff have all been wonderful ambassadors for GRCC, and it’s great to see them gain this recognition.” 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 Carolanne Merlington, Kate De Leeuw, and Allison Hoop on the 17-member All-Region Team, selected by the NJCAA. Kipkoech and Jourdan were joined by Gabe Sanchez and Noah Peterson on the men’s All-Region Team. The Raiders on Saturday earned both the men’s and woman’s conference and regional championships, with Kipkoech winning his fourth race of the season and Audrey Meyering winning her second. It’s the first championships since the rebirth of GRCC’s cross country program in 2014. Sicilia is in his seventh season coaching the GRCC men’s and women’s teams. Prior to this season he guided two NJCAA DI All-Americans, six individual National qualifiers, and three top-25 teams. “The coaches are so happy that all the physical and mental preparation that our runners have invested, and they were rewarded with the Conference and Regional titles,” Sicilia said. “We were kind of expecting this success, as we have seen these teams three or four times already this season, but we never wanted to take it for granted. Even though we’ve beat these teams before, they still have to go out and do something extremely hard -- run a 5k or 8k race. The previous results didn’t matter on Championship Saturday. We focused on each runner giving their absolute best on that given day, just like every other race of the year and the teams got the job done.” Sicilia said the women’s team ran their best team performance of the year in Saturday’s regional championship races, and executed the race plan to near perfection. The men’s team had to overcome the loss of a key team member and an off race by a top 5 runner, but held on to win. We look forward to the last two weeks of training and preparation and trust that the runners will be ready to perform their best and represent GRCC well at Nationals in Iowa. Both teams are headed to the NJCAA Division II National Championships on Nov. 14 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Nov. 2, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.   – Several key Grand Rapids Community College buildings are undergoing a transformation this year and next, with renovations and additions creating state-of-the-art spaces for teaching and learning. Projects are underway or completed at both downtown campuses, while a new, consolidated Lakeshore Campus is taking shape in Holland Township. Funding for the work comes from the college, the state government and generous support from donors through the GRCC Foundation. “When we emerge from this pandemic, our students and community will see significant upgrades aimed at providing an even better GRCC experience,” President Bill Pink said. “These investments in our buildings look wonderful. But more importantly, they will help this college be flexible, ready to adapt to the changing needs of our community so we will always be able to provide a quality education, whether students are seeking degrees or career skills.” The Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center The Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center is gaining a two-story, 18,416-square-foot expansion in addition to extensive renovations. The work will allow GRCC to leverage existing labs and spaces and expand programs.  The project is expected to be completed in December and be ready for winter 2021 classes. The $12.7 million 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. Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall  GRCC’s historic Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall is being renovated over two years, transforming the nearly 100-year-old building into a 21 st -century learning center. The $15 million project includes major upgrades to all five floors. The fifth-floor work was completed this summer and includes classrooms, a large student collaboration area, minor upgrades to the board room – and spectacular views of downtown. Other work includes: Fourth-floor renovations to update studio and lab space for Visual Arts classes, improved classrooms and administrative offices, and a large student collaboration area.   Third-floor work, planned for the winter 2021 semester, to add a faculty hub, offices, and classrooms. The Center for Teaching Excellence and offices for Distance Learning and Instructional Technologies, deans, and The Collegiate will also be renovated. Second-floor work, planned for summer 2021, to update classrooms. First-floor work, also during summer 2021, to reimagine the student experience, including orientation, admissions, the Enrollment Center, the Student Financial Services office (formerly Cashier's) and financial aid space. The project is proceeding under budget, and the reach of the work may extend to include level G2 improvements, a new canopy over the stair tower between Finkelstein and Cook halls, and work to the fourth-floor skywalk to the Bostwick parking ramp. GRCC Lakeshore Campus The Lakeshore Campus, on the former JCPenney site in The Shops at Westshore in Holland Township, will consolidate GRCC Lakeshore offerings in one place for the first time. GRCC and the GRCC Foundation are working with Lakeshore donors to support the project, which is expected to be completed in time for the fall 2021 semester. The 50,000-square-foot building is being renovated to include classrooms and labs for the schools of Workforce Development and Arts and Sciences. It also will include student services such as testing, counseling, placement, and a satellite library. Steven C. Ender Hall and Custer Alumni House The college completed renovations to two buildings on the DeVos Campus this summer. Steven C. Ender Hall, formerly the Mable Engle House, will be used for student-focused groups, including Experiential Learning and the Honors Program, Student Employment Services and space for Student Life clubs and organizations. The college previously used the building for temporary office space.  Renovations cost $3.4 million. The Custer Alumni House is the new name for the Lettinga House, reflecting its role as the home of the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation and alumni activities. The $1.8 million in renovations includes a kitchen, meeting space and areas for receptions and other gatherings – a welcoming place for former students and community members. The building was previously used as temporary office space and housed the Institutional Research Department and General Counsel. “We are incredibly fortunate to be part of a community that invests in GRCC,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Mullins, vice president of College Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. “Many of the people donating to support these projects are alumni who know firsthand how a GRCC education can change lives. Others see the impact a strong community college has had on West Michigan. We deeply appreciate their investment in our students, and know these improvements will help them for years to come.” 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.

Victoria Uy  came to Grand Rapids to work but soon learned that she could afford to make a Grand Rapids Community College degree part of her plans. “When I found out how low the tuition rates are for residents -- especially compared to where I previously lived, I decided to enroll at GRCC,” she said. “I wanted to accomplish a college degree, and, with the guidance of the faculty at GRCC, it was a smooth transition into enrollment. I began my enrollment a few weeks before the semester started!” The smooth transition continued as Uy’s classes got under way at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. “All of the faculty show that they care about the students and that they genuinely enjoy their job,” she said. “I have always noticed the passion all of my instructors have for the content they are teaching, and it keeps me enthusiastic about learning.” Uy has been making the most of her time at GRCC. She worked as a server and a culinary assistant at the Nations Cup competition in October 2019 and became a culinary assistant in Spectrum Health’s Culinary Medicine program. She and fellow student Thomas Brown competed in the NASA HUNCH Astronaut Culinary Challenge  this past spring. Students from 52 culinary schools across the nation competed to create a new dish for astronauts on the International Space Station. The GRCC team came in second place. Uy also taught a class on fine dining at Baxter Community Center as a service learning project. “I have been able to accomplish many things as a student of GRCC because I have formed a great network through the program I am enrolled in,” she said.  Uy plans to graduate in spring 2021 with an Associate of Arts in Pre-Hospitality Management. “Ideally, I would take on any part of the hospitality industry, but I do love planning events to bring others together,” she said of her possible future plans.

Oct. 31, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Grand Rapids Community College’s cross country teams are headed to the national championships after both teams won state and regional titles Saturday in Lansing. The Raiders earned Michigan Community College Athletic Association and National Junior College Athletic Association DII, Region XII titles, the first since the rebirth of the program in 2014. GRCC student-athletes earned individual honors as well, with Josh Kipkoech winning his fourth race of the season and Audrey Meyering winning her second. The women’s team stepped to the line first. After finishing with top honors among MCCAA competition during the regular season, the ladies looked to hold off NJCAA DII top-10 ranked Jackson College (ninth) and St. Clair Community College (fifth). As the starting gun smoke cleared, it was obvious the Raiders came to race. Six GRCC runners were positioned in the top 22 at the mile mark. Meyering led the race, running side-by-side with Jackson’s top runner. A few seconds back, Kiah Becker positioned herself in the chase pack, with Carolanne Merlington close behind. The three-headed monster of Kate De Leeuw, Liz Merlington and Allison Hoop were about five seconds back. At the halfway point, Meyering made her move, putting a 10-second gap on the second runner in just over a half mile. Becker was uncharacteristically struggling to breathe, but still held onto a top-five spot. Liz Merlington and De Leeuw Kate also made a strong push into the top-12, catching Carolanne Merlington as all three girls strained toward the finish. Meyering pulled away for a dominating Conference and Regional championship performance in 20:21, a 22-second gap over the runner-up from Jackson. Becker held on for a sixth-place finish, Liz Merlington kicked home to finish ninth, with Carolanne Merlington 11th and De Leeuw 12th. Hoop faded just a little, bit still held on for 21st and 17th among DII schools. The women's team score of 39 outpaced runner-up St. Clair by 23 points, earning the MCCAA and Region XII titles The men got off the line a little conservatively, but settled into a nice rhythm by the mile mark. As he has all season, Kipkoech got off to a strong start, co-leading the race alongside St. Clair’s top runner. Twenty seconds back, Lance Jourdan and Gabe Sanchez ran within a second in the mid-teens.. Jack Kehoe, then Noah Peterson and Ashton Brennan followed behind in about 20-25th place. The team race was neck-and-neck as the Jackson team got out very quick and the Raiders may have been slightly behind. At the 5k mark, Kipkoech surged ahead on his own, gapping the St. Clair runner. Kehoe looked a little out of it, struggling with breathing issues while falling out of the top 20. The other Raiders must have sensed their teammate’s struggles and picked up the pace. Sanchez led Jourdan, as both moved up into 12th position, while Peterson made a strong move, surging into the top 20. The Jackson runners were slightly fading, vaulting the Raiders into a narrow lead. Kipkoech pulled away to win convincingly in a strong time of 26:10, a full minute ahead of the runner up from St. Clair. Jourdan bravely shifted gears with a little over a quarter mile left, passing Jackson’s number two runner in process and finishing in eighth place. Sanchez sprinted across the line 12 seconds later in 13th place. Peterson was closing on Jackson’s number four runner, but ran out of race course to finish in 18th. Despite the breathing issues, Kehoe held onto the all-important 5th runner position to finish 30th. The Raiders team score of 67 was 6 points better than an inspired Jackson squad to take home the titles. Both squads look ahead to two more weeks of training and look to peak for the NJCAA DII National Championships on Nov. 14 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The race is hosted by Iowa Central Community

Oct. 29, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Josh Kipkoech and Kiah Becker are among the best cross country runners in the nation. But they say their success as teammates is more important than individual accomplishments. The two members of Grand Rapids Community College’s nationally ranked cross country teams talked about their motivation and the support they receive from coaches, family and teammates on the  “My GRCC Story” podcast . The teams are competing Saturday in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Region XII Championship at Grand Woods Park in Lansing, starting at noon. A strong showing could propel them to the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships in Iowa on Nov. 14. The GRCC women’s team was ranked fourth in the nation in the latest coaches’ poll, while the men’s team is ranked eighth. Both have been ranked in the national top 10 all season. Kipkoech and Becker took different paths to GRCC, but both said they have found success in the classroom as well as the race course. Becker was attending a four-year school, but it wasn’t working out as she had hoped. “I came home and started working for a bit when I realized I actually still wanted to run,” she said. “The community college was a really good way for me to do that while also taking classes that I enjoyed. I ended up fitting in a lot better with the team, and things worked out well with classes.” Kipkoech is a native of Kenya and moved to Grand Rapids when he was 17. He started running when he was young. “We grew up where so many professional athletes live,” he said. “Usually, they would run past where we would live. I would follow them until I got tired and went back home. One day my mother told me, ‘Why don’t you just run like these guys and buy me this piece of land?’ And I was like, ‘OK.’” He enrolled in Automotive Technology classes at GRCC’s Tassell M-TEC this year, gaining in-demand skills. But he also decided to start running again when he learned about the cross country team. “GRCC is where I can start my career and maybe transfer,” he said. The student-athletes praised coaches Matt Sicilia, Sharon Becker and Garrett Lacey for their leadership and direction, and setting in place protocols that keep the team safe during the pandemic. Students wear face coverings when not competing or training. They also follow social distancing guidelines and take a health screening, including a temperature check, every day. “It does take up a little more time, but it’s not really difficult, especially in the perspective of what’s going on,” Becker said. “It’s what we can do to keep each other safe.” Becker and Kipkoech have each won three races this year, and noted that other team members are having strong seasons. Both GRCC teams won three meets, and posted the highest scores among community colleges in a meet featuring runners from both two- and four-year programs. "Success as a group actually makes the accomplishments more enjoyable," Becker said. “Running is such a difficult sport that it’s almost harder to do by yourself. You need the motivation from everyone else on the team. It really helps, and it’s how we get there.” Added Kipkoech:  "If you want to go fast, run by yourself. But if you want to go far, go as a team. Being with this young team, we have something in common. We have different people from different backgrounds and different ideas, so we can come together and have one common thing. That’s not just running. We have something else in common – dedication.” The "My GRCC Story" podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify and  other podcast-sharing platforms .  

Oct. 26, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, MI —  Families of students interested in attending Grand Rapids Community College without cost through a Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship can attend one of four information sessions and prepare for classes during the upcoming winter 2021 semester. GRCC already has welcomed 251 students through the Promise Zone Scholarship this fall, and is creating personalized support services to help them succeed. The scholarship, a partnership overseen by the independent Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, covers eligible students’ costs of attending GRCC for up to 60 credit hours. The Promise Zone Scholarship ensures all eligible students who live within the city of Grand Rapids and graduate from one of the 24 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city limits will have free access to GRCC’s associate degree programs or to the job training and certification programs.  “GRCC is ready to help families learn more about the Promise Zone Scholarships, and how a quality GRCC education can change lives,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “The scholarship removes cost as an obstacle. GRCC is providing support, including success coaches, to remove other obstacles. Together, we will help families take advantage of this remarkable opportunity.” Virtual information sessions are planned for Oct. 29, Nov. 12, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17, with all sessions planned for 6-7 p.m. Registration is available at the  Promise Zone web page  or by emailing  promisezone@grcc.edu  or calling (616) 234-4321. GRCC created student care teams for all students who enrolled through the Promise Zone, and partnered with the Michigan College Action Network to bring two college completion coaches to support them. Each Promise Zone student will be assigned an academic advisor and a student success coach. Advisors will make sure the student has an academic and post-GRCC plan, whether that includes transferring to their next institution or entering a career. Career exploration opportunities can be provided for students deciding on a major. The success coach will make sure students have an individualized plan, and will also work with them to develop time management and test-taking skills. The success coaches also will help students to explore and identify their strengths. Eligible students have five years to access these funds from the time they graduate high school. Once enrolled, they must take at least six credits a semester. Students who opt to attend a different college or university can still use the Promise Zone scholarship as a GRCC guest student during the summer semesters. GRCC has more than 150 degrees divided into 10 Academic Pathways. Students can explore pre-major degrees that will transfer seamlessly to a four-year university, or train for a career in the skilled trades. Students eligible for the Promise Zone Scholarship meet the following criteria: Live in the City of Grand Rapids. Enrolled at an eligible Grand Rapids high school. Graduated, or planning to graduate, from an eligible Grand Rapids high school. 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.