Dec. 29, 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! GRCC has been a part of Terri Handlin-Mulligan’s life since she became a Grand Rapids Junior College student in the 1970s. “It took a lot of confidence building to return to school and complete my associate (degree),” she said. “I credit the college’s teaching staff in helping me to realize that I was good at this ‘studying’ thing, and so I just never stopped with my education.” She majored in general business and received her associate degree in 1974. She then earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a teaching certificate from Western Michigan University and then master’s degrees in career and technical education from the University of Michigan and in educational administration from Michigan State University. Handlin-Mulligan went on to spend 30 years in classrooms, as a teacher and administrator in Forest Hills Public Schools. She taught business classes, developed mentorships and created volunteer programs for high school students. She also served as director of Adult and Community Education, assistant principal at Forest Hills Central High School and director of Career and Technical Education. In 1991, she stepped into a major role during a key moment in the college’s history: After 77 years of existence, Grand Rapids Junior College separated from the Grand Rapids school district and became Grand Rapids Community College. Handlin-Mulligan was part of the first group of 25 Kent County residents to run for seven positions on the newly formed board of trustees. She won that first election and remained on the board until 2013. She was also active in GRCC’s Alumni Association, serving as its president for many years. “It has been a life-changing experience to see this college grow over the years,” she said. “It became the center of our city -- the place to begin your college education.”’ Handlin-Mulligan, now a career consultant, was GRCC’s 2015 Distinguished Alumna and among the first Salute to Women recipients in 1999.  “I would not have had all the opportunities that I had if GRJC had not helped me get my educational start,” she said. 

Dec. 23, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS,Mich.  -- Students in Professor Mursalata Muhammad’s creative writing class were studying author Thomas Lynch’s essay collection “The Undertaking” and had some questions. Who better to ask than Lynch himself? The  award-winning poet, author – and undertaker --  joined a class discussion via Zoom and answered questions about his life and his craft. Lynch grew up in the Detroit suburbs and took over his father's funeral home in Milford in 1974. He still works there, when not visiting his ancestral cottage in Ireland. He’s the author of five collections of poems and four books of essays. His collection of essays, “The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade,” won the Heartland Prize for nonfiction, the American Book Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Award. His work has been the subject of two documentaries. Muhammad, also an accomplished poet, said a student reached out to Lynch, and she followed up and invited him to be a virtual class guest. For nearly an hour and 20 minutes, Lynch shared his perspective on the process of writing and finding inspiration, then listened as students read their own work to him, providing feedback and encouragement – often with humor.  You can watch the session here.   “It’s nice to be among people who are beginning to sense they may want to share a voice if their own,” he told students. “I’m told by Mursalata that each of you is working on something in your own voice – poetry, a story or essay. Because I’ve committed all three of those cardinal sins, and been paid to do it, which is strange, I thought I would avail the opportunity to answer any questions you may have.” Among his advice for beginning authors: Take a walk, alone and without headphones, every day. “The words will come to you.” Muhammad has taught at GRCC for nearly 20 years. She’s long used innovative approaches to distance learning, making effective use of the college’s lightboard, which allows professors to record lessons while writing on a clear screen. Muhammad served on the state Education Department’s  K-12 Social Studies Standards Bias Review Committee,  one of several panels that the department created in the wake of concerns raised over proposed curriculum changes. Her poetry appeared in places including The Rapid buses, part of the  Poetry on the Rapid  program celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as National Poetry Month. She established The Why We Can’t Wait fund in 2009 with Kent County Sheriff’s Deputy Will Smith and Sabrina Sewell-Bragg, an administrative assistant in Greenville County, N.C., to honor family members in public service, awarding scholarships to GRCC students pursuing careers in criminal justice, education and healthcare. Her honors include the Leadership Skills Champion Award from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Community Leadership in 2013.

Dec. 22, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – Grand Rapids Community College is expanding service hours next week to help students enroll in winter semester classes – with no money down. College specialists will be available virtually from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 28, 29 and 30. They can be reached by calling (616) 234-3300 or emailing  here4you@grcc.edu . By enrolling before Jan. 1, students can also take advantage of a payment plan that requires no money down. Instead, their tuition and fees will be divided into two installments, due in February and March. Those enrolling after Jan. 1 must pay 25% of tuition and fees by Jan. 15, with the rest paid in installments due in February and March.  The first day of Winter 2021 classes is Jan. 11. “GRCC is a strong option for students of all ages, especially those who delayed their education or who want to gain additional skills to advance in their careers,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost and dean of Students Affairs. “This is such a busy time of year. We are making it more convenient for students to continue their education affordably at GRCC.” The college is waiving online class fees for the upcoming semester, a move that 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. These just-in-time assistance opportunities are intended to help students during the pandemic. Many university students, especially those looking to gain general education credits, can benefit from taking classes at GRCC and staying close to home. GRCC specialists also will be able to assist with questions about the state’s Futures for Frontliners program. They can be reached at a special hotline, (616) 234-3344, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 28, 29 and 30. The Futures for Frontliners program allows people who worked in essential jobs during the state’s spring COVID-19 shutdown to pursue a tuition-free education at their local community college. State applications to enroll in the program are due Dec. 31,  and are available here . Accepted students can enroll in Winter 2021 classes, or they can choose to start during the summer or fall 2021 semesters. GRCC is offering winter classes in four formats: in-person, online, hybrid, and virtual real-time. The college is also offering loaner laptops and a limited number of Wi-Fi access hotspots to help students access online classes.  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.

Dec. 21, 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! After graduating from high school, Dirk Hoffius headed to Brown University. Then he got a notice from the school that he couldn’t come back. “I had to rethink my life,” Hoffius said. He enrolled at Grand Rapids Junior College in 1962 and decided that this time, it was going to be different. “One of the first classes I took was political science with a teacher named Miss Geraldine Masters,” he said. “I vowed that day that she was never, ever going to catch me unprepared. And I applied that to every other class -- and I did well in all the other classes.” Hoffius earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He joined Varnum LLP, where he still works. He served as a trustee for the Grand Rapids Bar Association and on the State Bar of Michigan’s Crossroads Task Force on Judicial Reform. He is also a past chairman of the State Bar’s Probate and Estate Planning Council. But Hoffius has always made space in his busy law career to serve the community he loves. His passion for improving Grand Rapids and serving the people who call it home can be seen in the Downtown Market, the Salvation Army Kroc Center and many other much-loved institutions. His community service includes memberships on the boards for the Downtown Market, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Frederik Meijer Gardens, the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. He worked on the capital campaigns for the UICA and Kroc Center and was a member of the Kendall College of Art and Design’s board of trustees from 1982 to 1991, serving as chairman from 1987 to 1989. The Council of Michigan Foundations recognized his service with the 2013 Community Foundation Philanthropy Award. Hoffius, GRCC’s 2016 Distinguished alumnus, is listed among The Best Lawyers in America for trusts and estates and served as a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He said he’s amazed at where his education has taken him: “Grand Rapids Community College is a great place to start, and it’s a great place to start over, and it will give you a core foundation and a balance.”

Dec. 18, 2020 GRAPIDS, Mich. —  Applications are available for young adults looking to gain job skills, educational opportunities and employment counseling through the new Grand Rapids Community College M-TEC Champions program. The first classes begin Feb. 8, 2021 in the program, which is supported through a $1.18 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. GRCC is one of 20 colleges in the nation and one of two in Michigan selected for the new program, which will serve people between the ages of 18 and 24. Students will participate in six weeks of programming to build foundational skills related to career fields, such as math, reading, and writing as well as developing employability skills and exploring potential careers. Students will then get a closer look at careers in five different sectors: Construction, energy, manufacturing, healthcare and public works.  “This program is intended to help students build in-demand skills to help them immediately, but also long into the future,” said Julie Parks, executive director of GRCC’s Workforce Training program. “This will undoubtedly change lives, and we appreciate the support from our community partners and the U.S. Labor Department to make it happen.” The program will include two sessions of 40 students, with an eye on boosting those who have faced numerous obstacles to success, including homelessness.  Staff members will plan an intensive, holistic approach to providing comprehensive services, building on each student’s unique strengths and experiences. GRCC M-TEC Champions part of the Labor Department’s Jobs Corps Scholars Program and is aimed at strengthening the connection between workforce development and education. This demonstration project will also provide the Labor Department with insight into ways to improve the effectiveness of the Job Corps program. People interested in the program must attend a virtual information meeting. Sessions are planned for 10 a.m. on Mondays starting on Jan. 11, 2021. Registration information is available at the M-TEC Champions Program . The program is free for qualifying students. 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.

Dec. 16, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS  -- It’s a pretty sweet way to say “thank you” to partners working on the frontlines. Professors in Grand Rapids Community College's Secchia Institute for Culinary Education transitioned classes online late this semester as local COVID-19 cases spiked, prompting them to come up with innovative ways to help students finish strong. Chefs Audrey Heckwolf, Sasha Ahmed, Gilles Renusson, and Wilfredo Barajas work with about 35 students in bakery and retail bakery classes, where they learn to prepare cookies, bars, brownies, muffins and other treats. Professors conducted lessons by preparing pastries in campus labs while students followed along via Zoom. The Secchia team accumulated about 400 items by the time they were done, and wanted to find a way to share the snacks and their expertise with people in our community. The program has longstanding partnerships with Spectrum Health's nearby Butterworth Hospital, and the chefs wanted frontline workers to now how much they appreciated their hard work, especially as the number of COVID cases increased in recent weeks.  The team loaded bags of treats and brought them up the hill to say "thank you," and recognize the sacrifices frontline workers and others in essential jobs are making to keep West Michiganders safe and recovering. Spectrum Health is a neighbor, and partners with the college on a variety of programs. The Secchia Institute is a partner in Spectrum’s Culinary Medicine program, and the hospital works closely with other parts of the campus, including supporting scholarships for students interested in health sciences and health careers. GRCC in the spring and summer assisted Spectrum by donating personal protection equipment and parking spaces to help workers be closer to the hospital. 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.

Dec. 14, 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! “Always a Raider!” Kent County District Court Judge Sara Smolenski says this frequently, and, in her case, it’s even truer than it is for most GRCC alumni. Smolenski’s parents met as students at Grand Rapids Junior College in 1936: “If it wasn’t for Grand Rapids Community College, I literally wouldn’t be in this world!” she says. During her two years at GRJC, Smolenski played for both the basketball and softball teams. She was a member of the basketball team that placed fourth in the national junior college tournament in 1975. While many of her fondest memories are from her athletic career at GRJC, she also appreciated what she learned in the classrooms, especially when she transferred to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor to pursue the law career she’d dreamed of since fourth grade.  “I had a great academic experience that prepared me for the University of Michigan -- I had every credit transfer in good standing,” Smolenski said, noting that that wasn’t the case for her roommate, who transferred from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Smolenski earned her GRJC associate degree in 1977 and a bachelor’s degree from U of M in 1979. She received a Juris Doctorate from Cooley Law School in 1982. Recently re-elected, she is serving her 30th year as a judge.  Smolenski, GRCC’s 2003 Distinguished Alumna, looks to help, if possible, the people she encounters in the courtroom. She is also well-known for her willingness to help good causes in the community. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kent County, Kids’ Food Basket, the Dominican Sisters, the Grand Rapids Bar Association are among the many organizations she has supported. And GRCC, of course: “Always a Raider!” “I do think my experience at CC definitely helped shape the journey for me being a leader,” said Smolenski, who received GRCC’s Salute to Women and Distinguished Alumna awards in 2003.

Dec. 14, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  Grand Rapids Community College is waiving online class fees for the upcoming winter 2021 semester, part of an effort to keep college as affordable as possible as the region continues to recover from the pandemic. 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. GRCC will ensure students have the technology for the semester, providing loaner laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots. The college also will continue to help students with its food pantry and other support services. Winter classes start on Jan. 11, and there is still time to register. Classes will be offered in four formats -- including some delivered on campus -- allowing students to learn in a flexible environment. “GRCC continues focusing on delivering a robust schedule of classes delivered in a responsible manner while providing students with the support they need to be successful,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “Our students and employees have demonstrated they are resilient and are moving forward. We’ve been innovative in finding ways to remove obstacles, because we are in this together.” Class formats are: Online classes are entirely online with no set meeting times, and are ideal for people who work well independently or who need a flexible schedule. Hybrid classes have students working mostly online, with limited meetings on campus. Virtual classes meet online at specific times using programs such as Zoom, allowing students to interact with faculty and classmates in real time. On-campus classes meet on campus at specific times, with proper social distancing and safety protocols. “These class formats allow for a safe environment, and also flexibility for students,” Provost Brian Knetl said. “Many students are working around home and job responsibilities, and others are attending as guest students to stay close to home and are planning to transfer credits back to their four-year college or university.” GRCC’s enrollment team is ready to assist students with the admission process and getting signed up for classes. Questions for the Enrollment Center can be sent to  admissions@grcc.edu , or students can call (616) 234-3300. GRCC has financial aid staff members available through a hotline – (616) 234-4030 – or via email at  financialaid@grcc.edu  to assist with questions about financial aid, payment plans, and whether students might be eligible for tuition-free programs such as Futures for Frontliners and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone. Campus services, including tutoring and support at the GRCC Library and Learning Commons, will continue to be offered remotely. The college continues to work with state and local health authorities to determine when some services can be offered in-person by appointment. GRCC’s Information Technology Department is helping students access technology needed for online learning. Students can reserve a laptop or Wi-Fi hotspot through an online form available here. Students also can continue to connect to college Wi-Fi in the parking lot behind the Administration Building on the DeVos Campus, and in the parking lots of Kent District Library branches. 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.

Dec. 11, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --  Anna Abernethy had serious doubts about this whole college thing.  She really wanted a career in law enforcement, so she knew she needed higher education. But because she had struggled in school before, she wasn’t sure she would make it through college. “I decided to pursue the Police Academy program at GRCC in order to achieve my goals with the fewest college classes possible,” she said. She started with 18 credits and joined the cross country team. Was this going to be too much? Nope. “I learned quickly that I had a team of wonderful people who were there to help me succeed,” Abernethy said. “From my teammates to my teachers, everyone was willing to assist me whenever I asked for help.” When her first semester grades came in, she was stunned to see that she had straight A’s and a 4.0 GPA. Academic Support and Tutoring Services reached out with a job offer. Abernethy realized she was good at college. She began researching bachelor’s degree programs in the area. When she met with a Ferris State University advisor, she learned that she could complete an entire criminal justice program without leaving the Grand Rapids campus. She learned a lot in her GRCC classes, but her work in the tutoring center taught her a lot, too. “I learned how to interact with people and accept them,” she said. “I learned what some of my strengths and weaknesses are. I learned what it feels like to have a great cohort of staff and student employees who care about each other and their success. “This job enabled me to help people who are struggling with school -- just like I was when I started.” Abernethy received the 2019 Student Impact Award and was named MCCAA Academic All-Conference and NJCAA All-Academic Third Team in 2018.  Last spring, she earned her bachelor’s in criminal justice from FSU. She plans to pursue a master’s degree and hopes to eventually work in a human services field, possibly helping victims of crime. “I went from a person who wanted to do the minimum and had little confidence in her ability to succeed to a woman with confidence, accomplishments and a college education,” Abernethy said. “GRCC was not only a stepping stone in my college career, but the foundation of my education.”

Dec. 9, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  — Yamiche Alcindor, award-winning journalist and White House correspondent for PBS Newshour, will give the keynote address during West Michigan's commemoration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The virtual program on Monday, January 18, will run from 6:30-8 p.m. It is free and open to the public; register online to receive a link to the Zoom webinar. More information about Alcindor is below. The event will also introduce area high school scholarship recipients and include short welcomes from college presidents and community leaders. Alcindor's address, "The Legacy of MLK: Purpose, Truth and Justice," is sponsored by Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University, with key support from Spectrum Health, Consumers Energy, and Warner Norcross and Judd LLP. “Each year we come together as a community to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. We recognize his achievements, his life and his message," GRCC President Bill Pink said. "But it is also a time for us to take a hard look at ourselves and our community. We can appreciate how far we have come while still focusing on the long road ahead. The events of 2020 show we have much to do. Our annual celebration can inspire us to do that work together.”   On the 35th anniversary of this community event, GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella said she is pleased the higher education partners teamed to bring Alcindor to the community. "Dr. King’s legacy invites all of us to commit ourselves to fighting systemic racism by supporting the Black community and elevating their voices and experiences of yesterday, today and tomorrow," Mantella said. "Together, we as a nation have work to do." Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University, said he is grateful the campus partners honor the legacy of King and are "renewed in our commitment to provide equitable and inclusive experiences across our campuses."  "Together, we are teaching and shaping tomorrow’s leaders to build each other up, show others compassion, speak out against racism and violence and rally together for what is right," Pappas said.  Alcindor joined PBS NewsHour in 2018. She began her journalism career at Newsday in New York and several years later was named a political correspondent for NBC and MSNBC. During the 2020 presidential election, Alcindor became a go-to voice in analyzing the nation's most critical issues. Alcindor has received the White House Correspondents’ Association Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage and the 2020 National Association of Black Journalists' Journalist of the Year Award. More information about Alcindor, the January 18 event and other events to commemorate King's life are online at  gvsu.edu/mlk .