August 14, 2024 The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) today announced 100 students won free pizza for a year in its first-ever “Reach for the Pie” pizza giveaway contest to boost completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and raise awareness about state financial aid opportunities. The department and local leaders celebrated the “Reach for the Pie” winners as well as the Fiscal Year 2025 budget investment in the Community College Guarantee at Grand Rapids Community College today. “Our department is committed to finding innovative ways to encourage students in our state to pursue the postsecondary credential needed to put them on a path to prosperity,” said Dr. Beverly Walker- Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “The ‘Reach for the Pie’ giveaway encouraged Michiganders to complete their FAFSA, which opens up opportunities for financial aid that takes a bite out of the cost of postsecondary education. MiLEAP is committed to working with partners across the state to clear barriers, help Michiganders achieve their lifelong education goals and expand our state’s talent pipeline.” More than 7,300 students from across the state completed their FAFSA form and entered the “Reach for the Pie” contest for a chance to win free pizza for a year — one pizza per week for 52 weeks — from Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs, a Michigan-based company. The effort is one way the state is working toward Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal to have at least 60% of Michiganders earn a degree or skill certificate by 2030. The FAFSA is the first step for students to receive the Michigan Achievement Scholarship—the state’s signature scholarship program—and the Community College Guarantee . Starting with the class of 2023 and beyond, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship significantly lowers, or in some cases eliminates, the cost of college. Qualifying students attending a public or private university can receive up to $27,500 to earn a bachelor’s degree. Through the Community College Guarantee , students attending their local community college can earn their skill certificate or degree tuition-free. “Reach for the Pie” winner Jana Schroeder, of Cedar Springs, said she didn’t know what to expect with the FAFSA process, but it went well. “I had some hesitation about the FAFSA process, but it wasn’t difficult at all and there are lots of resources to help you,” she said. “Every student owes it to themselves to complete the FAFSA because it opens doors to cash for college.” “When Michiganders complete their FAFSA and pursue a pathway to higher education, the benefits are lifelong and extend far beyond the individual, improving our communities and state as a whole. By delivering on the Michigan Guarantee, we’re not only lowering barriers to economic security and expanding access to higher education — we’re helping residents chase their educational and professional dreams,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “I’m grateful for MiLEAP, the Executive Office, the Michigan Credit Union League, and Hungry Howie’s for working together to put on this exciting contest. Together, let's continue propelling Michigan forward to a future where financial security is attainable for everyone.” “Michigan is investing in our future by restructuring state sponsored scholarships making it easier than ever to access funding with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Michigan Reconnect , and the newly signed Community College Guarantee ,” said Chair of the Higher Education Committee, Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Walker). “FAFSA is the key that opens the door to these resources helping Michiganders advance in their current careers or find opportunities in a new field of study and stay in our state.” Kevin Dittrich, a franchise owner of Hungary Howie’s Pizza and Subs, the contest pizza partner, said he was proud to join an initiative to help students across the state gain access to additional financial aid opportunities. “Just like Hungry Howie’s delivers pizza, Michigan is delivering access to the financial aid needed for our citizens to pursue their educational dreams,” said Dittrich. “I can’t think of a better way to send that message than with something every college-bound student understands — pizza.” For a list of confirmed “Reach for the Pie” winners, visit ReachForThePie.org .

August 13, 2024 How can someone who enjoys comedy, music and government meetings combine all those disparate interests into one career? Becoming certified in American Sign Language (ASL) is a great option. Justine Bryant , assistant professor of sign language at Grand Rapids Community College says there is a huge need for people who are proficient in ASL. Nationwide, the demand for ASL interpreters is expected to grow 19% annually through 2028. “Any place that a person who is deaf might go needs ASL interpreters,” Bryant said. “Ever since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, the need for ASL interpreters has grown. Think about it. The doctor, the dentist, a cruise ship, school, theater, a concert — in order to be accessible, all these places need to have people who can communicate using ASL.”  Bryant’s interest in ASL started in high school.  “I was volunteering at a craft show, running the check-in table,” Bryant said. “A deaf person who was exhibiting at the show came to my table. She was signing to me but I had no idea what she was communicating. I felt like I should have been able to respond, so I took a class just in case I needed it again. That one class became more than a ‘just in case.’ It fueled a lifelong passion and career.” How has American Sign Language evolved? American Sign Language is a language, but it does not originate from English.  “French Sign Language is one of the parent languages of ASL,” Bryant said. “That linguistic heritage shows up in the way we structure sentences. For example, if I said in English, ‘I’m going to the store this afternoon,’ the sentence order is subject, verb and then object. That same idea would be communicated in ASL as ‘Now afternoon food store I go.’ We convey ideas as object, subject, verb.”  As you might imagine, it takes some practice to learn this language.  “Unless you are a native user of ASL, it takes about three years to become conversational and about seven years to become fluent,” Bryant said. “I have been certified for 10 years and I still learn new signs every day. Our society also continues to evolve with new concepts, such as ‘COVID’ and ‘artificial intelligence.’ As these concepts arise, the Deaf community starts playing with sign ideas. When one sticks, it spreads and we add it to the language.” GRCC has responded to the urgent need for ASL interpreters through its own course offerings as well as partnerships. Students can take the first year’s worth of ASL interpreter classes at GRCC. Then through a  partnership with Lansing Community College , students can transfer those credits and finish the remaining two years of the program.  In order to work as an interpreter, students must also achieve certification. There are three levels of certification, with the most advanced allowing an interpreter to work anywhere in the nation. What can you do with a certification in ASL? “Some companies have enough interactions with deaf people that they hire full-time interpreters,” Bryant said. “Amazon, schools and video phone companies are great examples of places that are always advertising full-time positions. But most companies hire contractors as needed. I encourage students to earn a bachelor’s degree in a field that interests them, along with completing the courses for ASL interpretation.”  Bryant chose to start her own company after earning her master’s degree in business administration and her national ASL certification. That gives her a lot of freedom in a field where demand has outpaced supply.  “ASL interpretation has been growing as a field for a long time,” Bryant said. “Older interpreters are retiring and we are not getting enough new people in the field. There’s also more demand as our society continues to acknowledge the importance of equal access for the Deaf community. A 2021 study in Minnesota showed that nearly 40% of its interpreters plan to leave the profession within five years. While we don’t have that specific study for Michigan, I know that our pool of interpreters has declined at a similar rate.”  Bryant notes that freedom, lifelong learning and service opportunities are all wonderful reasons to learn ASL.  “If you love lifelong learning, ASL interpretation could be a wonderful career choice,” Bryant said. “There are annual certification requirements, and the language is always evolving. There’s a lot to keep on, but the reward is worth the effort.”  You can learn more about GRCC’s ASL program online.  This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.  

August 8, 2024 In 2007, Grand Rapids Community College had zero returning players on their  women’s volleyball roster . That team included 12 incoming freshmen and a new coach. What do you think happened that season?  The GRCC Raiders won their first-ever regional championship in women’s volleyball. Eighteen years later,  Coach Chip Will is still at the helm, and the team continues to  thrive , having won 10 regional championships, nine conference championships and one national championship.  What’s his secret?  “I coach with a sense of love,” Will said. “It’s not easy to play competitive sports. There are tough moments and hard conversations. Seasons have their ups and downs. But we stick to our core values of having fun, working hard, and treating people with love and respect. Our players know that this is a genuine, caring team. And they bring their best to it as a result.” Coach Will grew up watching his dad coach both men’s and women’s basketball in Whitehall.  “I was a gym rat,” Will said. “I hung around my dad’s teams and watched him interact with players. I coached high school and other collegiate teams before coming to GRCC, and I had the chance to learn from some incredible mentors. Over time, I have come to realize that I can have a great impact on student’s lives through sports.”  A great team starts with recruiting For Coach Will, the work starts with recruiting. He talks to the athlete’s coach and gets a read on the person and their abilities. But for him, the most important part of the process is the family visits. He invites partners to come with their students and watches the interactions.  Not all talented players make the cut. “I ask myself, ‘Is this someone I want to spend two years with? Is this someone who has respectful conversations with parents and adults? Does she work hard? Would I want her as a role model for my own kids?” Will said. “I’ve passed on good players because they don’t possess the character that has been the foundation of our team since day one.”  Coach Will believes that competitive athletics are an important part of the community college niche.  “I completely support what GRCC stands for academically and philosophically. As a parent, I see the huge impact that an affordable community college can have on a student’s future,” Will said. “I’ve turned down coaching jobs at four-year universities because I don’t like seeing students buried in debt. I enjoy coaching at this level. We compete against some of the best in the country and treat our athletes with many perks that Division 1 athletes receive, like travel, uniforms, and so forth. But more importantly, we also allow them to be kids.” Developing a family of athletes Will said it’s important that the athletes he coaches feel important and valued.  A large part of his job is trying to help form people who will be better prepared for the next stage of life. He works with his long-time assistant coach  David Rawles and the rest of the coaching staff to build a family dynamic, so at the end of the season, players are physically healthy, mentally strong, and still want to play.  That family dynamic matters a great deal to Coach Will. “Many of our competitors — especially those in the top 10 — recruit foreign athletes and out-of-state athletes,” Will said. “That’s not my philosophy. Most of our athletes come from a two-hour radius around Grand Rapids. I want families to come to our games and cheer for their kids.”  In preparation for the team’s upcoming season, GRCC recently hosted a huge dinner for all the volleyball team members and their parents. They played a corn hole tournament, smiled and laughed together, establishing a family culture to help see the team through the challenges they may face in the coming year. Coach Will nets it all out to one very simple philosophy.  “If players are the priority, the team does better. I want them to have great mental health. I want them to feel safe about learning and putting themselves out there. I think that’s why our alumni come back,” Will said. “The memories they make matter more than the wins and losses. They have moments that bond them for life. That’s why kids want to play for us. Our actions back up our words.”  To learn more about athletics at GRCC, please visit our Raiders  website . This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.