Monthly Archives: April 2011

Congratulations to Stuart Noorman on GRAHEN Award

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GRAHEN Outstanding Adult Learner Stuart NoormanOn Wednesday April 20, at Sneden Hall, Grand Rapids Area Higher Education Network (GRAHEN) hosted the 12th annual Outstanding Adult Learner Award Ceremony and Reception celebrating the accomplishments and achievements of adult and non-traditional students at colleges and universities throughout the Grand Rapids area. There were 12 award recipients from the 13 member schools of GRAHEN (www.grahen.org). These students have the extraordinary ability and determination to successfully balance jobs, classes, families, and community involvement. A winner from each school is selected with the help of nominations from faculty and staff.

The 2011 OAL award recipient from Grand Rapids Community College is Stuart Noorman.

After working for thirteen years as a carpenter, Stuart Noorman made a major life decision to return to school which ultimately resulted in a great personal achievement. His accomplishments set a great example for his family, especially his four boys, whose encouragement and support inspires Stuart to succeed.

Here at GRCC, Stuarts maintains an outstanding 3.9 GPA and is a member of both the GRCC Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa Honor society. Stuart has his sights set on transferring to Grand Valley State for Winter 2012 to pursue a degree in Echocardiography.

Stuart currently serves his fellow students three days a week as a tutor in a developmental English course. He exhibits leadership by providing academic assistance and modeling ideal student behavior.

Congratulations Stuart!

GRCC’s own Jan Ensing Presents “Landscape as a Geographical Double”

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Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) of FSU, Gallery 104 is proud to present “Landscape as Geographical Double” a Masters Thesis Exhibition by Jan Ensing of GRCC’s Graphic Design department.

M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition: May 3-17, 2011
Reception: Saturday; May 14, 2011; 1-3 p.m.

KCAD Open House Reception:  Tuesday; May 3, 2011; 4-7 p.m.
KCAD Open House Hours:

  • Monday-Thursday; May 3-5, 2011; 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
  • Friday; May 6, 2011; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Saturday; May 7, 2011; 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Download a Flyer Here (.pdf)

GRCC in the News: 4/29/11

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College notes: GRCC men’s golf team seeks third MCCAA title in a row
Published: Friday, April 29, 2011, 9:00 AM | Matt DeVries | The Grand Rapids Press

The Grand Rapids Community College men’s golf team will enter next week’s Michigan Community College Athletic Association Championships with a valuable commodity — depth.  (More)

Creative menus highlight second annual Grand Rapids Restaurant Week set for November
Published: Friday, April 29, 2011, 7:24 AM | Garret Ellison | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — One Trick Pony owner Dan Verhil said sales at his Fulton Street grill and taproom were about 30 percent higher than normal during the inaugural Restaurant Week in Grand Rapids last fall. […] Establishments must pay a registration fee and agree to donate $1 from each creative menu meal to a student scholarship fund at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College, where Thursday’s announcement happened.  (More)

Grand Rapids school board candidates speak about qualities needed in next superintendent
Published: Friday, April 29, 2011, 6:54 AM | Monica Scott | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — Seven of the eight candidates running for the Grand Rapids School Board Thursday attended a forum where they described what qualities they want to see in a superintendent, if current leader Bernard Taylor needs to be replaced. […] “We need someone with a determined focus to be successful, to push people, to rally the troops but also the innovative intelligence to lay out a plan,” said Ross, director of Grand Rapids Community College’s Upward Bound program, a pre-college program for low income and potential first generation college students.  (More)

West Michigan man switches careers with help of retraining program
4:37 PM, Apr 28, 2011 | WZZM

[…] Dr. Tom Neils runs the Chem Tech program at Grand Rapids Community College. “We found out that the workforce needed two-year degree-people to do chemical technology tasks,” says Dr. Neils, who has seen students like Andy Fein start new careers.  (More)

Photos – Diversity Learning Center hosts Youth Summit

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Diversity champions in action

Wednesday, our Diversity Learning Center hosted the Mayor’s Champions of Diversity Youth Summit 2011, a morning of group activities and discussions on topics that high school-age students deal with daily, including Cyber-Bullying, Anti-Stereotyping, Relationship Safety, Reshaping Body Image and Success and Failure.

Students from Grand Rapids Christian, City, Wyoming and Crossroads high schools were greeted over breakfast at Sneden Hall by both President Ender and Mayor Heartwell.

Two of the five session presenters are GRCC family: Allison Arnold, the daughter of Diversity Center Director Chris Arnold and Walid Azam, a current student here who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan and is serving his second year as one of the mayor’s Champions of Diversity.

Condolences to Lisa Dopke and Family

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Recently Lisa Dopke, Grants Coordinator, College Advancement lost her father, who passed away on April 23rd.  His Celebration of Life service is on Friday, April 29th.   Below are the obituary as published in the Grand Rapids Press as well as links to the guestbook.

Larry Rogers  Visit Guest Book

ROGERS – Larry William Rogers, age 55, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on April 23, 2011. He was born on October 8, 1955. Larry was a truly devoted husband, father and grandfather. His greatest pleasure in life was spending time with his family. He enjoyed many weekends camping, going on short trips and sharing his knowledge and talents for home improvements. When he was not spending time with his family, he also enjoyed working for many years at Action Fabricators. He will be missed more than words can describe by his wife of 37 years, Barb (Hathaway) Rogers; his children, Larry Rogers, Jr., Lisa (Mike) Dopke; his grandchildren, Alison and Kyle Dopke; his parents-in-law, Richard and Joan Hathaway; sisters, Barb (Frank) Weatherford, Cheryl DeWitt, Linda Crisman; brothers, Herb (Julie) Rogers, Ron Rogers; sisters and brothers-in-law, Paula (John) Moore, Ann (RJ) Ivy, Dan Hathaway, Jer (Barb) Hathaway, John Hathaway, Chris Hathaway; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. In honor of his wishes, cremation has taken place.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Township Hall located at 1836 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gilda’s Club or the American Cancer Society .

Published in Grand Rapids Press on April 27, 2011

GRCC in the News – 4/27/11

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Mourning Eric Zapata: Service honors officer who died in the line of duty
Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 1:25 PM | Rex Hall Jr. | Kalamazoo Gazette

KALAMAZOO — The call over the radio broke through the silence Tuesday, echoing off the large walls of Miller Auditorium and into the ears of thousands in the hushed crowd.  (More)

Kristina Arnouts-Moore, girlfriend of slain Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata speaks about her loss, their life
Published: Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 6:50 AM | Heather Lynn Peters | The Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON COUNTY — The Fourth of July will always hold a special place in the heart of Kristina Arnouts-Moore, girlfriend of slain Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata.  (More)

Grand Rapids Community College not among state schools in running for Obama-backed Aspen Prize
Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 1:18 PM | Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press

Grand Rapids Community Colleges board members and staff often proclaim the school to be among the best in the state, if not the country.  (More)

What would you ask someone running for the Grand Rapids Board of Education?
Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 1:54 PM | Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press

Do you have a burning question for the people running for the Grand Rapids Board of Education?  (More)

Live blog, video: Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata’s memorial service
Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 10:30 AM | Paula M. Davis | Kalamazoo Gazette

KALAMAZOO — Kalamazoo Gazette is providing live coverage of the funeral mass for fallen Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata, killed in the line of duty on April 18. The memorial service in Western Michigan University’s Miller Auditorium begins at 11 a.m. and is expected to draw thousands.  (More)

College Channel Special Programming Schedule – 4/25/11-5/8/11

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The programming line-up for the College Channel which will run for the next two weeks. Featured in this round is the entire Race & Ethnicity Conference (like the video below, which features Professor Leon Yacher, Southern Connecticut State University speaking about “Ethnicity, Settlement, Conflict and Reconciliation in Central Asia: A Geographical Perspective”) Presented by  along with many other all new offerings. Live streaming of the College Channel and the attached listings can be found at www.grcc.edu/channel28 and most of our programming can be found on our Youtube Channel at www.youtube.com/grcc.