Oct. 24, 2026 Grand Rapids Community College students planning to continue their education at Aquinas College will soon have access to expanded financial support that can make completing a bachelor’s degree more affordable than ever. Starting in January 2026, Aquinas College will extend its Aquinas Assurance Program — which already provides eligible first-year students from low-income families with full tuition, including mandatory fees — to include transfer students. This expansion means GRCC students who meet eligibility criteria can complete their associate degree here, then transfer to Aquinas to finish their bachelor’s degree with their remaining tuition fully covered. What This Means for GRCC Students Aquinas’ updated policy allows students to transfer up to 90 community college credits toward a bachelor’s degree, significantly reducing time and cost to graduation. With 120 credits required to earn an Aquinas bachelor’s degree, qualified students could need as few as 30 additional credits to finish, often just one more year of study. For many GRCC students balancing work, family and other commitments, this makes a four-year degree a more realistic and attainable goal. A Strong Transfer Partnership GRCC maintains strong partnerships with many four-year institutions, and this expansion further strengthens the relationship with Aquinas College. It gives GRCC students a clear, affordable path to completing their bachelor’s degree close to home while continuing to benefit from the supportive, community-based environment they’ve experienced at GRCC. Students interested in learning more about transferring to Aquinas and exploring financial aid options can visit  grcc.edu/transfer . This article was originally published by  Aquinas College

Oct. 22, 2025 The Grand Rapids Community College Marketing and Communications team has once again been recognized for excellence in higher education marketing, earning seven Medallion awards — including four Gold — from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). NCMPR celebrates outstanding achievement in marketing and public relations among two-year community and technical colleges across the United States. GRCC competed in the District 3 Medallion Awards, which includes colleges from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. Nearly 500 entries were submitted in this year’s competition. Gold Medallion Awards 2023-24 Foundation Annual Report: Marking the fifth consecutive year GRCC has received Gold for this publication which highlights the Foundation’s impact on students, employees, alumni and the community. GRCC Instagram Page (@GrandRapidsCC):  Recognized for creative, authentic and engaging storytelling that connects students, alumni and the broader community. “Read Your Emails” Social Media Video (also known as “Stop Ignoring Ryan”):  Honored for humor and creativity in delivering an important campus communication message. GRCC Storefront in Junior Achievement’s BizTown:  Praised for creative design and strong community engagement representing the college’s brand to young learners. Spectrum Theater 2024-25 Season Poster Series:  Celebrated for outstanding visual design that captures the spirit of GRCC’s theater arts program. Silver Medallion Awards 2025 Commencement Program:  Recognized for design excellence and the ability to convey the celebration and significance of commencement in print form. Together @ GRCC Podcast:  Honored for its storytelling and authentic campus voices that build connection and community across GRCC. Rising Star Recognition GRCC’s success at the 2025 District 3 Conference also included a special individual honor: Social Media Coordinator Kailee Potgeter received the District 3 Rising Star Award, recognizing her as one of the most promising new professionals in community college marketing and communications. Since joining GRCC in 2022 as the college’s first social media coordinator, Kailee has transformed GRCC’s digital presence, leading campaigns that earned both Paragon and Medallion Gold Awards at the national level. She expanded GRCC’s footprint to platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, built a cross-campus network of trained social media contributors and developed data-informed strategies that strengthened both engagement and brand alignment. A community college graduate herself, Kailee brings empathy, creativity and a student-centered mindset to her work. Her peers and supervisors alike recognize her as a collaborative leader, innovative strategist and passionate advocate for community college students.

Oct. 20, 2025 There’s something to be said for persistence. Although it has taken him five years, Adam Yohannes has finally acquired the skills he needed to break into the computer science field. “I felt like I was stuck,” Yohannes said. “I wanted to do something with computers, so I earned an A+ certificate right out of high school. College wasn’t working for me, and I couldn’t find a full-time job.” After a six-month contract stint in Seattle, Adam came back to Grand Rapids and resigned himself to finding a different career. A friend suggested that he check out GRCC because it offered so many options. “I had decided I would go into the electrician program,” Yohannes said. “Then I found out there was a one-year wait to get in, which nixed that idea. I ran across the  Computer Support Technician job training program and thought it might jump-start the career I’ve always wanted. It was the best idea I’ve ever had.”  Adam finished his program in September 2025. He is now a certified A+ technician, having passed both his CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 exams.  “I was nervous about Core 1, which covers general knowledge, but I passed with flying colors,” Yohannes said. “I was even more uneasy about Core 2, which is more focused on trouble-shooting. That’s not my strong suit, but I still did very well.”  Adam credits Professor Moss Ingram for the incredible support he provided.  “Moss is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had,” Yohannes said. “He helped me study for the exams, giving me tips on how to think and what mindset to have. When I passed, Moss was so excited!”  Adam immediately turned his certificate into a local contract. “I’m working at Corewell Health, helping them transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11,” Yohannes said. “What’s funny is that I was nervous about my Core 2 test, which is troubleshooting…and that’s what I find myself doing! But the more I do it, the better I’m becoming. I’m still working with Moss to become even more effective.”  It would have been easy for Adam to leave his fellow students in the dust as he cruised off on his new career adventures. But that’s not how he’s wired. Each time he passed an exam, he generously gave time to his fellow students to describe his experience. He shared the method by which he prepared, issues he encountered along the way, and strategies he used to overcome them. He gave advice about do’s and don'ts, and answered any questions his fellow students had about the process. “I love to help people,” Yohannes said. “I like to give people tips and help them work more effectively. That’s my personal wiring, but it’s also a good fit with the information technology field overall. I just paid forward what I received.”  Adam got involved with  FutureTech Careers as an ambassador for much the same reason.  “As an ambassador, I represent GRCC while talking with employers about our program and our students,” Yohannes said. “I know firsthand how hard it is to find a job. I feel like being a FutureTech ambassador allows me to advocate for opportunities that will benefit other students. And I admire many of these companies, so it’s fun to talk with them.”  Going forward, Adam has big dreams for success. “I really want to become a full-time Corewell employee,” Yohannes said. “I’m currently a level one troubleshooter, and I want to get to level two. I’m also thinking about going back to school to earn my associate degree in computer science.”  Learn more about the  Computer Support Technician job training program or the Pre-Computer Science associate degree .