GRCC in the News: 12/24/09-12/28/09

Chuck Martin’s move to Notre Dame raises a flurry of question marks
Grand Rapids Press | By Justin Hoff | December 27, 2009, 3:01PM

Chuck Martin leaving GVSU shouldn’t surprise anyone. Martin was never going to be the kind of coach to stick around in Allendale for 20-plus seasons. […] I expect GVSU to hire from within the program but I would not be totally surprised to see them try to land an experienced coach from the Division II or III levels to take over the Lakers in 2010. Also keep an eye on two local products in the Grand Rapids area with long time Muskegon Big Reds and current Grand Rapids Community College head coach Tony Annese and Muskegon Heights head coach Willie Snead III.  (More)

Unemployment in Jackson, Sparton Corp. leaving town and Holiday Inn fire top list of Jackson stories for 2009
By Tarryl Q. Jackson | Jackson Citizen Patriot | December 27, 2009, 6:00AM

These are the Top 10 local stories of 2009, as chosen by the Citizen Patriot newsroom staff.  […] 10. Daniel Phelan, president of Jackson Community College, receives a 42 percent raise.  Jackson Community College President Dan Phelan announced Jan. 26 that he would continue to lead the college after the board approved a $70,000 pay hike to $236,600 annually. The decisions came two days before he was to be interviewed for the presidency of Grand Rapids Community College.  (More)

Cafe realizes longtime dream for immigrant from Cuba
By Chris Knape | The Grand Rapids Press | December 27, 2009, 6:00AM

GRAND RAPIDS — Ida Duque spent years wowing friends with her tasty Cuban pork, chicken fricassee, beans and rice and other traditional dishes.  Three months ago, she and her children fulfilled a long-held dream to share the taste of her homeland with everyone in their new hometown.  […] Cuba’s Kitchen is a family business at its heart. Duque’s daughter, Varinia Del Barrio, 23, works alongside her and her son, Samson. Both also are students at Grand Rapids Community College.  (More)

Quadraphonic lead guitarist Conrad Marshall prepares for first gig since heart transplant
By John Sinkevics | The Grand Rapids Press | December 25, 2009, 5:19AM

This Christmas, Conrad Marshall is a real guitar hero.  The 23-year-old lead guitarist for local rock band Quadraphonic has been practicing for his first gig since receiving the ultimate gift this fall: a new heart.  […] Stancil, a lifelong friend who attends Grand Rapids Community College, said band members were determined to keep Quadraphonic going. “We make it work.  (More)

West Michigan’s business, political and education leaders say area has opportunity to make next decade a better one
By Jim Harger | The Grand Rapids Press | December 27, 2009, 4:30AM

West Michigan is poised to become younger, healthier and more energy-efficient in the next decade, community leaders say.  That’s assuming we create enough jobs for the next generation, overhaul our schools, rewrite our tax codes and take advantage of Grand Rapids’ burgeoning Medical Mile. “West Michigan has positioned itself well to be a leader,” said Steven Ender, who was named president of Grand Rapids Community College in January.  But execution will be critical, said Ender and others.  (More)

Genesee’s Mason DeMott makes all-region football team
By Mark Spezia | Flint Journal | December 24, 2009, 10:15AM

Genesee graduate Mason DeMott, a freshman offensive lineman at Grand Rapids Community College, was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Midwest Region second team. DeMott helped GRCC to a 9-2 record. GRCC, coached by former Montrose coach Tony Annese, was sixth in the final NJCAA poll.  (More)

Last minute shoppers hear the Christmas clock ticking
By Aaron Ogg | The Grand Rapids Press | December 24, 2009, 5:24AM

KENTWOOD — Last-minute shopper Howard Mosley speedily combed Barbie land Wednesday to find the right doll — one with oodles of outfits and accessories. […] [Leah Weis a] first-year student at Grand Rapids Community College said she prefers thoughtful gifts as opposed to blindly grabbing stuff off the rack, she said. Among her choices is a weeklong trip to Chicago and a Broadway play.  (More)

Caledonia figure skater Chelsea Morrow first local slated to compete in Olympic trials
By Kelly Hill | The Grand Rapids Press | December 24, 2009, 8:00AM

[…] Caledonia resident Chelsea Morrow is scheduled to skate Jan. 21 and 23 at the United States Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Wash. She is only the second local skater ever to compete in the national championships. Brittney Westdorp skated in the national championships in 2007 and earlier this year. Morrow, 18, a Grand Rapids Community College freshman, qualified for the national championships by winning the regional championships, and the sectional championship in November, in Wichita, Kan.  (More)

Early buzz promising: Tech infused school ‘a good, progressive idea’
By STEPHEN KLOOSTERMAN | The Holland Sentinel | Posted Dec 24, 2009 @ 05:30 AM

Holland, MI – Progressive and promising is the early buzz on a Holland Public Schools initiative pitched to area leaders on Monday.  The plan to open a technology-infused high school with a focus on project work was pitched to area business leaders and politicians at Hope College. […] Both Hope College and Grand Rapids Community College officials said they were open to working with Holland Public Schools in the initiative.  (More)

GRCC Works: Ask Dennis Rider

Check out the inspirational story of Dennis Rider; a former employee in the furniture industry who has found a new career with the help of Grand Rapids Community College:

Holiday Breakfast Video

In case you missed this year’s Holiday Breakfast (featuring employees singing – led by Performing Arts Department Head Kevin Dobreff, and the annual reading of the holiday poem by Jim Schafer), streaming video is available here: www.grcc.edu/holiday_breakfast_2009

GRCC in the News: 12/23/09

Teen hero rushes to rescue at Santa Parade
December 23, 2009 | Rockford Squire

Alex Kilvington joined the Michigan State Police Explorers because he’d like to someday have a career helping others. Apparently he’s ready to start doing that right now.  Kilvington was working in his role with the youth Michigan State Police Explorer program at the Santa Parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, when he realized something was wrong. One of the Rockford High School band members was having trouble seeing and breathing. Kilvington said he asked if the boy had eaten. When he found out he hadn’t, Kilvington suspected a diabetic reaction. […] The Rockford senior is headed off to Grand Rapids Community College next year and plans to go into law enforcement.  (More)

Growing community colleges need leadership; Ferris State aims to fill need with doctoral program
By Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press | December 23, 2009, 7:21AM

GRAND RAPIDS — Community college enrollment is hitting record levels in Grand Rapids and elsewhere, and Ferris State University leaders say there’s a growing need for people to lead those schools as they grow.  Ferris trustees last week approved creating a doctoral program for community college administrators, planning to focus on the special needs at two-year institutions. […] Ferris has partnerships with Grand Rapids Community College and 16 other of Michigan’s 28 community colleges.  (More)

Sneden Cafe: Opening January, 2010

GRCC’s Food Service Department is proud to announce the opening of the Sneden Café in January, 2010.  The new food venue will be located in Sneden Hall at 415 Fulton St. East and will be open Monday –Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The menu will offer fare like burritos, hamburgers, panini, flatbread pizzas, soups, salads and sushi in addition to beverages like Coke products, Italian & French sodas, and coffees (like mocha and french vanilla cappuccino).

The Sneden Café will be staffed by Karena Haug, a five-year veteran of GRCC food service department and recent alumna of GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. Karena has had a fascination with cooking ever since she was a young child and has learned a great deal from her mother who is a Dietitian (who inspired her to attend GRCC).  In her spare time, she enjoys baking and cooking ethnic foods in addition to being a wife and mother to her three-year-old daughter Hannah.

In keeping with GRCC’s sustainability initiatives, Sneden Café will be using disposable products that are fully compostable and are made with renewable resources (with the exception of the burrito container, which will be reusable).

Move it or Lose it Winners: 12/21/09

Luanne Wedge, Student Employment Services and Mike Faber, Older Learner Center, are the winners of the bi-weekly drawing for the Move It or Lose It program.  They each win a $25 gift card of their choice.

Employees can register for the Move It or Lose It program any time.  Go to www.grcc.edu/moveit for complete details.

Channel 28 Programming Schedule: 12/18/09-1/5/10

GRCC’s cable channel special programming listing has been updated, and the new slate of shows features new programs like the GRCC Psychology Speaker Series first lecture “The Real CSI” Forensic Psychology Lecture with Jeffery Kieliszewski, Ph.D., the Board of Trustees December 2009 meeting, several holiday concerts: Songs for the Holidays concert,  Winter Instrumental Concert, and the Tuba Christmas Concert.

For dates/times, streaming video and more listings – visit www.grcc.edu/channel28

GRCC Leads With Free Training on Sustainable Construction

GRCC’s Workforce Training (Construction Trades) and  Building Science Academy, LLC (BSA) held a free seminar on sustainable solutions for the contracting industry, last Thursday at the Tassell M-TEC.

The seminar educated contractors on the importanceof being Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified, provided updates on Utility and State programs, discussed opportunities in the retrofit market, and Home Performance standards.  Attendees included contractors, Utility organizations, auditors, as well as GRCC faculty and students. GRCC and Building Science Academy will be combining resources to provide BPI certification training for contractors during the first quarter of 2010

Student Life Needs Info Station Volunteers

Student Life is in search of volunteers to staff our Winter Student Information Stations located at the following spots:

• Sneden Hall
• Main Building, 1st Floor
• Main Building, 4th Floor
• Science Building, 1st Floor
• ATC, 2nd Floor (outside Art & Bev’s)

On the following dates and times:

• Thursday, January 7, 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 -6:30 p.m.
• Monday, January 11, 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 -6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 12, 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 -6:30 p.m.

Please complete the form here to sign up for one, two or three shifts, http://www.grcc.edu/InfoStationSignUp.  Student Life thanks you for helping students start the new semester with a great experience; a  positive attitude, smile and willingness to help really makes a difference for our students during a hectic first week!

GRCC in the News: 12/18/09-12/21/09

Whitehall’s Fretty headed to GRCC
White Lake Beacon | Posted: 12-21-2009

WHITEHALL — For the second time in just a few months, the Whitehall varsity volleyball program has landed another player on a college volleyball team roster.  Dec. 14, Viking senior Mackenzie Fretty agreed next year to play for the Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) Raider volleyball squad. Fretty, a three-year player for Whitehall, was a team captain who helped lead this year’s team to the Class B regional title match.  (More)

Names and Faces in Business for December 19
By The Grand Rapids Press staff | December 19, 2009, 2:42AM

The West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America elected: […] and board members Derek DeVries, of Grand Rapids Community College; Rick Jensen, of Davenport University; Kristin Mooney, of Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum; and Nick Wasmiller, of Seyferth & Associates.  (More)

Despite bowl loss, Grand Rapids Community College’s Tony Annese labels season a success
By Gary Bond | The Grand Rapids Press | December 18, 2009, 11:00AM

GRAND RAPIDS — The football season ended with a loss for Grand Rapids Community College, but the Raiders accomplished plenty this season.  First-year coach Tony Annese took 14 returning sophomores, paired them with key newcomers and led GRCC to a 9-2 record, the Midwest Football League title and, after being ranked No. 3 nationally, finished No. 6.  (More)

Older Learner Center’s Mike Faber Honored

Kudos to Mike Faber of GRCC’s Older Learner Center – he was recently honored by being named a Fellow of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE).  From the AGHE’s description:

“Fellow status is an honor conferred by the Association which recognizes outstanding leadership in gerontology and geriatrics education by established scholars/educators. […] Qualifications include noteworthy achievements in teaching, scholarship, and research on educational issues…”

Mike will be recognized in Reno, Nevada at the 36th annual meeting of the AGHE.  The AGHE is the educational branch of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to studying aging.

GRCC on Holiday Shutdown From 12/23/09 – 1/3/10

Reminder:  Grand Rapids Community College will close for its annual “Holiday Shutdown” on December 23, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. and re-open on January 4, 2010.  During this time GRCC’s facilities will be inaccessible.  The Holiday Shutdown was established several years ago as part of a number of efforts to reduce the cost of operating the college.

Employees may visit www.grcc.edu/shutdown for instructions on how to record Holiday Shutdown hours on their timesheets.

2009 Holiday Breakfast Photos

These photos come from this morning’s Employee Holiday Breakfast, which featured great food, the annual hazing of the new employees (by having them sing a festive song), and the comedy stylings of GRCC’s own James Schafer.

Raider Spirit Award Winner – Janet Paasche

Congratulations to Janet Paasche, English Department Chair, on receiving the Raider Spirit Award for the month of December.  Janet was honored this morning at the Holiday Breakfast.

Sounds of the Season: GRCC Winter Music Concert

As GRCC prepares for the upcoming Holiday Shutdown, the Performing Arts department presents the soundtrack for the season…