August 6, 2024 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott joined Congresswoman Hillary Scholten at an event hosted by Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan to celebrate their selection for a $1 million Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant. This EPA grant program supports career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sectors and expands public awareness about drinking water and wastewater utilities. “Water utility operators play a critical role in supporting their communities by ensuring that drinking water is safe, and that wastewater is safely managed. I’m thrilled to celebrate this $1 million investment from the Biden-Harris Administration that will help recruit and train the next generation of the water workforce here in Michigan,”  said   EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “ It is a pleasure to visit Grand Rapids Community College and meet the program’s interns who are training for rewarding and good-paying careers in the water sector. “Pathways to good paying jobs are essential for any graduate. I’m thrilled for students of Grand Rapids Community College who can begin their education knowing there are opportunities to use their degrees in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector,”  said   Rep. Hillary Scholten.  “This federal grant is laying the groundwork for economic growth in West Michigan that will have ripple effects for years to come.” With this grant funding, Grand Rapids Community College will develop and implement a community-wide program to address the emerging employment needs of water sector utilities in the city of Grand Rapids and surrounding region. Grand Rapids Community College will partner with local government and community organizations to expand public knowledge about the importance of essential water services, build awareness of family-sustaining careers with water utilities, and provide training and other assistance to help individuals pursue careers in the water workforce. Grand Rapids Community College’s efforts will focus on supporting historically disadvantaged communities. “As we look to the future, it's imperative that we train and prepare the next generation of water workers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in this vital industry,”  said Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Susan Corbin . “Water workers play a critical role in maintaining the health, safety, and well-being of our communities. They ensure that we have access to clean drinking water and effectively manage our wastewater systems. With the EPA’s Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant, we are creating opportunities for Michiganders to enter a field that is both rewarding and crucial to our state's infrastructure.” “We are grateful for this innovative grant opportunity to highlight careers for water professionals and attract student interns who will obtain valuable training and skills in the water industry,”  said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. “This is the second grant the EPA has awarded Grand Rapids Community College as we continue to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the water sector,”  said Grand Rapids Community College President Charles W. Lepper, Ph.D.  “This funding will not only enhance our training programs and build critical partnerships but also enable us to scale our efforts beyond the City of Grand Rapids to our neighboring communities. By regionalizing our initiatives, we aim to equip more students with the knowledge and skills needed for rewarding careers in water utilities. We are excited to collaborate with local organizations and government entities to create pathways for success and make a meaningful impact on our region's future.” EPA’s Innovative Water Workforce Development grant program expands public awareness about job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector and addresses the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities. Activities that are funded include: Targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs; Education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students; Regional industry and workforce development collaborations to address water utility employment needs and coordinate candidate development; Integrated learning laboratories in secondary educational institutions; and Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that ensure incumbent drinking water and wastewater utility workers are prepared for higher-level supervisory or management-level positions.

August 6, 2024 Grand Rapids Community College is launching a new indoor digital signage system to better inform students and campus visitors of the opportunities we offer on campus, including events, academic deadlines and the activities our students are involved in every day. The 33 signs distributed across all campuses will play content created by the Marketing and Communications department, working closely with other GRCC departments interested in using this channel. The system is managed by the Web and Digital team, in close collaboration with others in Marketing and Communications and Information Technology. In the future the Web and Digital team hopes to incorporate additional types of content including student artwork, video clips from campus activities, temporary wayfinding signage, Instagram content and more. Besides showcasing campus life, the signage system can also display emergency alerts via an integration with GRCC’s emergency alert system. Beginning in the winter semester, signage will begin displaying more location-specific content pertaining to specific departments or spaces. Those interested in developing department specific content this school year can reach out to David Fitch, associate director of web content and digital strategy, at davidfitch@grcc.edu . Faculty and staff can request digital signage by submitting an GRCC Print and Mail Solutions ticket . This story was reported by David Fitch.

Kent ISD Adult Education is partnering with Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and Kentwood Public Schools to offer more classes in new locations to adults seeking GEDs and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Starting in fall 2024, GED classes will be held inside GRCC’s Sneden Hall at 415 Fulton St, E. in downtown Grand Rapids. ESL and GED classes will be offered evenings at Crossroads Alternative High, 28 60th St. SE in Kentwood. “We are excited to partner with GRCC and Kentwood Public Schools to add Adult Education classes downtown and in Kentwood where many students can access campus by bus or from nearby neighborhoods,” said Sue Gardner, Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent of Career and Talent Development. “Our free classes help adults create brighter futures by obtaining GED’s, improving English language skills and obtaining specialized technical training that can lead to professional and personal advancement.”  “This new partnership will allow more students to achieve their goals,” said GRCC President Dr. Charles W. Lepper, “We already provide ESL services and a high school completion program with Grand Rapids Public Schools at GRCC. Bringing more offerings from Kent ISD gives students numerous options to best meet their needs.” “Kentwood Public Schools exists to serve our community,” said Kevin Polston, Superintendent, Kentwood Public Schools. “We see this collaboration with community partners to provide GED and ESL classes at Crossroads as a great learning opportunity for adults in our community and are pleased to be part of this effort.” In addition to the new GRCC and Kentwood Kent ISD Adult Education locations, ESL and GED courses and testing are available at 3600 Byron Center Ave. SW. in Wyoming. These new locations replace programming previously offered at Beckwith School on Leonard St. NE in Grand Rapids. Enrollment is open now to adults age 18 and up.

July 30, 2024 Grand Rapids Community College has provided welding training and job placement assistance to 132 students since it was selected to receive the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) grant from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation (AWMH) in 2019. GRCC is the first and only community college in Michigan to participate in the prestigious MSI, which provides grant funding to enhance the student experience within career and technical education programs. GRCC uses the grant to offer a  Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp , an intensive welding program designed for nontraditional students.  The  Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp takes 15 weeks to complete and features smaller class sizes with flexible scheduling options and career preparation assistance. GRCC will again offer the Bootcamp starting in October. Those who qualify pay only $50 for the training. Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the  American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) , MSI began with 10 colleges and primarily manufacturing programs. With steady development by creative and dedicated leadership, MSI offers diverse workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers. Additional curricula will include construction, healthcare, and engineering, contributing to more than 25 fields of study offered within the Initiative. To date, AWMH has invested over $10.5M in the American workforce, reaffirming a commitment to career and technical education at the local level. James “Papa Het” Hetfield, Metallica’s lead vocalist and guitarist, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative’s growth. “When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me. A collective goal of breaking the stigma of trade skills. Trade skills are vital to society, and what’s even more important is to support the many folks who are trying to create a career by learning and using these skills, I am so proud - we all are - to see how this program is changing lives by providing much-needed resources to empower students, and it’s great that we’re able to make our biggest grant yet to support these students and the future workforce. We are reaching even further for year six of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, our program will be in 60 schools in all 50 states! All thanks to your support.” With the launch of year six, 18 new colleges join the roster of existing MSI community colleges, with each new college receiving $75,000 to enhance the student experience within career and technical education programs. The Metallica Scholars Initiative now has a presence in 60 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam.  “I am happy to congratulate the newest Metallica Scholarship Initiative colleges. The sustained investment in workforce education by the All Within My Hands Foundation has benefited thousands of community college students,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “This work helps to advance skills education and the nation’s workforce pipeline. We are honored to continue this partnership to provide critical resources that eliminate barriers for students to participate in skills education programs that lead to family-sustaining wage careers.” By the end of year six, MSI estimates that it will have helped more than 8,000 students with a wide range of backgrounds and ages gain skills to assist in finding meaningful jobs and careers. Metallica Scholars are often considered non-traditional students, as many have families they support or are the first in their families to pursue a college education. AWMH and AACC aim to connect students to skill-building opportunities and bridge the talent needs of the American workforce, all while utilizing the community college system, which is the most affordable, flexible, and industry-relevant applied-learning training provider in the country.  “Metallica, through their foundation, is changing how people view and engage with the trades in this country, and it is working,” stated Peter Delgrosso, executive director of All Within My Hands. “Metallica Scholars are diverse, motivated, and ambitious, and we are here to help them reach their goals. I am so proud and honored to be able to announce entrance into all 50 states as this is a significant milestone for not only our foundation but the incredible community we have helped foster and connect.” For a complete list of all 60 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit   allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars .  Learn more about GRCC’s Metallica Scholars Welding Bootcamp. This story was reported by Amy Soper.

July 29, 2024 Jackie Araiza knows exactly what it feels like to be overwhelmed by education. She plans to leverage that empathy in her role as the new operations manager for the Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus in Holland.  Araiza struggled in high school. She skipped classes and had a low GPA. Her personal turnaround story  started with GRCC. As someone who has worked her way up to a new role and is currently working on a master’s degree, she never forgets that the people of GRCC were the secret to her success.  “I received so much support at GRCC,” Araiza said. “In fact, I still keep in touch with the people who helped me succeed. I know how important that kind of encouragement is for students, because I’ve lived it. I also know that if I could do it, so can they.” Cameron Buck, executive director of the Lakeshore Campus, explained why this new position is so important.  “We are very intentional about building community on the Lakeshore,” Buck said. “Much of my role involves being in the community creating relationships. I’m excited we will have someone dedicated to working on the community inside the building, ensuring that both faculty and students feel connected and welcomed. Jackie is the perfect person to forge that culture.” Buck gave this example. “A student in crisis emailed Jackie late one night. By 8:05 a.m. the next day, she had a solution worked out and had communicated with the student. I found out about it after the problem was already solved! That’s the kind of exemplary service she brings to her role.”  Araiza is able to create solutions in part because she has deep knowledge of GRCC systems.  “Jackie understands how we provide services at our Main Campus in Grand Rapids,” Buck said. “She also understands the nuances and differences at the Lakeshore Campus. That dual knowledge will empower her to identify barriers and increase our efficiency in serving students.”    In addition to her professional skills and high degree of empathy, Araiza is also fluent in Spanish. That’s a wonderful asset for the Lakeshore Campus. “Spanish is actually my first language,” Araiza said. “I grew up in a Spanish-speaking home. That allows me to connect very well with the Latin community here. I am always happy to help a student, talk with a family or translate information for GRCC.”  The availability of Spanish-speaking staff helps draw students to GRCC’s Lakeshore Campus.  “Our Lakeshore Campus enrollment is almost 30% Hispanic/Latino,” said Buck. “We have a handful of bilingual staff members. My goal is that the Hispanic community sees itself represented and welcomed here. People actually come from Grand Rapids to this campus because of our language accommodations.”  In her new role, Araiza will be able to focus particularly on services for students who may face challenges. “We are a wrap-around organization,” Araiza said. “We are here to help students. That student focus is why I love working at GRCC. Whether you’re having trouble with food, transportation, mental health or classroom expectations, just reach out for help. It will always be there.”  Araiza and the rest of the Lakeshore Campus team will have plenty of opportunities to serve, as enrollment continues to climb. “We have a lot of students coming through our doors,” Araiza said. “It’s a lot more convenient for local residents to come to our campus than to go to Grand Rapids. It’s also a smaller, less intimidating place to navigate. This is a wonderful place for someone to take their general education courses and figure out a direction. Then they can decide what the next right step looks like. It might be staying at the Lakeshore Campus, blending in some online learning, or possibly transferring to the Main Campus. We have a lot of options and we will help students decide what to do.” Regardless of her new title, Araiza says one thing won’t change. “I’m still here to help students,” she said. “I will never turn anyone away.” Learn more about GRCC’s Lakeshore Campus in Holland . This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.    

Grand Rapids Community College is dedicated to breaking down barriers and making college education both accessible and affordable for learners of every age and background. Our programs are tailored to meet the evolving needs of our diverse communities. To amplify our reach and engage more prospective students, we are excited to launch our latest marketing campaign. This new campaign is more than just a series of ads; it is designed to highlight the transformative impact of our institution on our students and how our mission is to help them reach their goals and dreams. Campaign Details The campaign, under the theme of “Together, We’ve Got This,” is designed to resonate with prospective students and their families by showcasing the unique strengths and values that define GRCC.  Tagline: “Together, We’ve Got This” is not just a tagline; it’s a promise and a rallying cry. It encapsulates our belief in the power of community and collective effort in achieving personal and academic success. GRCC is here to help a student every step of the way. No one goes on their educational journey alone. Visual Identity: The campaign features vibrant and engaging visuals of current students that illustrate the diverse and dynamic experiences at GRCC. From inspiring student stories to dynamic campus scenes, the imagery reflects the vibrant programs and opportunities available here. Channels: Look for our campaign across multiple platforms, including billboards, television, streaming services, digital ads, print ads and more. Messages are in English and Spanish and each channel will bring those messages to life in unique and engaging ways, ensuring our reach is as broad as our vision. The two television spots can be seen on YouTube - “ Together, We’ve Got This .” and “ You Imagine It, We Make It Possible .”            Campaign Objectives What sets this campaign apart is the depth of thought and creativity invested by a cross-departmental team. Through this campaign, we aim to achieve several key objectives: Increase Awareness: We want to broaden awareness of GRCC’s unique offerings and the transformative impact we have on our students. Enhance Engagement: By showcasing our values and strengths, we hope to engage more deeply with prospective students and their families, making them feel a part of the GRCC community even before they step on campus. Strengthen Connections: We aim to build stronger connections with our current students, alumni and the local community, reinforcing the sense of pride and belonging that defines GRCC.   Campaign Launch All of us at GRCC are filled with excitement and optimism about the future. “Together, We’ve Got This” is a reflection of our commitment to supporting our students every step of the way. We look forward to sharing this journey with you and seeing how together, we can help students achieve great things.