Daily Archives: January 28, 2013

SICE Ice Carving Team wins medals at national competition

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This weekend, the GRCC SICE Ice Carving team competed in the National Collegiate Ice Carving Competition in Frankenmuth. Teams travel from all over the USA and even Mexico to compete here.

We did well, placing fourth overall and receiving three bronze medals.

Student Jessica Miller took bronze in the individual competition for her “Surfing Lizard” and student Brandon Hooker took bronze in the individual competition for his “Dog Catching a Frisbee.” They also won bronze medals in team competition for their “Flying Geese.”

Thank you to Bob Schultz for coaching the students

Congratulations!

GRCC In the News: 1-28-13

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Mayor cites business involvement in annual address
January 26, 2013; Grand Rapids Business Journal
The plight of the city’s young people topped Mayor George Heartwell’s 10th State of the City address Saturday at DeVos Place, and he credited a lengthy list of local businesses for making his Mayor’s 50 program a success last year.
… No sooner had the mayor made that plea, when a local lender stepped forward this time for the city’s Upward Bound program, in which Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College prepare high schoolers for the rigors of college. Grand Rapids Spring and Stamping President Jim Zawacki accepted the mayor’s challenge last year to help raise funds for the effort, and then last Saturday, Mercantile Bank Chairman and CEO Michael Price committed $100,000 to Upward Bound.

Mercantile Bank CEO announces $100,000 gift to Upward Bound during State of the City
January 26, 2013; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A program aimed at helping students from Grand Rapids Public Schools transition to college received a financial boost today during Mayor George Heartwell’s State of the City address.
Mercantile Bank Chairman and CEO Michael Price announced a donation of $100,000 to Upward Bound programs, which primarily serve first-generation college students from low-income families, and are administered through Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College.

Mercantile Bank Corporation Announces $100,000 Contribution To Support Local Upward Bound Program
January 28, 2013; dailymarkets.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ Mercantile Bank Corporation (NASDAQ:MBWM) (Mercantile) announced today its contribution of $100,000 to the Upward Bound Program, an organization that provides fundamental and financial support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. Mercantile will donate $50,000 to each of the two foundations that support the local Upward Bound Program in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Upward Bound is a national program that was started locally by both Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College in 1978 for students enrolled in Grand Rapids Public Schools. The Grand Rapids program, which currently has 193 enrollees, provides opportunities for students to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves high school students of low-income families and potential first generation college students with the ultimate goal of increasing the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from college. Students begin enrollment into the program during their freshman year of high school, at an annual cost of approximately $5,000 to financially support each student for the entire program.

Alcalde anuncia nuevos servicios en español en la ciudad
January 26, 2013; El Vocero
Durante su discurso de presentación del State of the City (Estado de la Ciudad), en un desayuno llevado a cabo esta mañana en el DeVos Hall Center, el alcalde (Major), explicó que al ver en estos días en una audiencia que estaba llenada de personas que hablan primariamente español, las inconveniencias de estos para comunicarse, decidió buscar la forma de que las personas que hablan español puedan ir a la ciudad y expresar sus inquietudes sin barreras idiomáticas.
… Mencionó la participación del Grand Rapids Community College y del Grand Valley State University en los programas LEAD y Upward Bound, los cuales ayudan a orientar a los jóvenes sobre sus posibilidades de grados superiores luego de terminada la high School.
Para el programa Upward Bound el Banco Mercantil (Mercantile Bank) hizo una donación de 100 mil dólares.

Giant Among Giants winner Ingrid Scott-Weekley is Grand Rapids’ ‘conscience’
January 26, 2013; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI For decades, her name has been synonymous with the cause of diversity in West Michigan, prompting Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell to once call her the city’s conscience.

Giants Award recipient: Mentors matter
January 27, 2013; WZZM
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Grand Rapids Community College is paying tribute to men and women who serve as role models to the rest of the African American community.

GRCC to honor 11 at Giant Awards, Jan. 26
January 25, 2013; The Holland Sentinel
Grand Rapids Eleven people are being recognized as giants by Grand Rapids Community College for contributions to the community at the 31st Giant Awards presentation hosted at DeVos Places Steelcase Ballroom, 303 Monroe Avenue NW, 7:15 p.m. Jan. 26.

5 themes for Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell’s State of the City address
January 26, 2013; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI Mayor George Heartwell is set to give his tenth annual State of the City speech Saturday, Jan. 26, in Grand Rapids. The address, scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. in a DeVos Place ballroom, has less fresh, new initiatives and more here’s where we are on the important work we’ve been doing, Heartwell told MLive this week.
Based on his prepared remarks, here are five themes on which Heartwell plans to focus his comments:
Children and youth
Heartwell, in his 2012 State of the City address, called for a community dialogue about children. His speech this year will include a report on that conversation from George Grant, dean of the school of social work at Grand Valley State University.
Heartwell also will tout his Mayor’s 50 internship program and announce a $100,000 grant to expand the number of students in Upward Bound programs at GVSU and Grand Rapids Community College.

Review: ‘A Steady Rain’ at Actors’ Theatre soaks audience in story of intense brotherhood
January 25, 2013; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI Deeply flawed and even disturbed, childhood friends Joey (Jim Cantrell) and Denny (Todd Lewis) always have each others’ backs, whether it be in life and domestic issues or on the mean streets of Chicago as cops and partners.

Check out what’s happening at Grand Rapids Community College in February
January 22, 2013; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Here’s a list of community events happening at Grand Rapids Community College throughout February.

Center for Teaching Excellence hosts drop-in hours on experiential learning

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If you have ever thought about developing an honors course, integrating service learning into your courses, or exploring study away in your offerings, then stop by 351 Main anytime today between 2:00 and 4:00 for Experiential Learning Drop-Ins. Our Experiential Learning Faculty Liaisons Sandra Andrews, Leigh Kleinert, and Sherry Knoppers will be available to answer any questions you may have. Honors, Study Away, and Service Learning all provide added opportunities to connect with your students at a different level and to build classroom engagement in a completely different way than you might be used to. If you have ever even thought about exploring any/all of these areas or are just curious about how experiential learning works, just stop by.

How webteam@grcc.edu Supports Drupal Web Content Authors

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As a Drupal web content author, you have several resources at your disposal.

By clicking here,  you’ll find a website request form, frequently asked questions, video how-tos, links to upcoming training opportunities, and a web content author’s guide with everything you need to know to maintain your webpages.

If you hit a road block, or don’t see instructions for what you’d like to do in the web content author’s guide, please email webteam@grcc.edu. Malinda and Julie from Communications, or Patrick from IT, will respond to your request.

Patchwork on College Park Plaza mezzanine to be finished this week

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Some updates about renovations to College Park Plaza:

  • Fireproofing patchwork of the steel and metal deck is complete on the second and third floors. The mezzanine is scheduled to be finished January 29, 2013.
  • Installation of the HW process piping continues on the third and fourth floors.
  • Electrical rough-ins continue on the fourth floor.
  • Dry-wall, metal stud, and patchwork for some walls continues on the fourth floor.
  • The mechanical contractor is installing ductwork on the fourth floor.
  • The new air handling units for the ramp-level mechanical room have been set in place. Ductwork and piping continues to be installed in this area.
  • Reinforcement of the steel I-beams is 20 percent complete on the sixth floor. The eight columns for the new chiller supports have been installed on the roof.
  • Installation of the fire suppression piping has started on the sixth floor.

Lean Certification program begins February 11, 2013

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Lean Enterprise isn’t just about the tools. It’s a strategic link to your business plan.

In GRCC’s Lean Certification program, you will learn to develop and use your organization’s value stream map to identify and drive your improvements. Critical to learning the principles and various tools is applying them to your current work. By successfully completing a lean implementation (or value stream) project of your choice from your company, you will yield ROI from this program immediately.

You will earn a certification after completing 19 classes and a viable Lean Implementation Project for your organization. You must achieve an 80 percent competency score in each class and complete homework assignments.

Courses begin February 11, 2013. For more information, click here.

Computer Applications Career Exploration Day scheduled for February 13, 2013

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Join us for Computer Applications Career Exploration Day, a free event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. February 13, 2013,  in the Wisner Botrall Applied Technology Center!

This event is open to high school students, GRCC students, and any individual interested in learning about opportunities available in the computer field.

The day will include:

  • local business people showcasing careers in the computer field — companies like Kelly IT, MLive, Johnson Controls, OST, Paragon, Steelcase and many more!
  • hands-on experiences that highlight an array of opportunities with computers.
  • GRCC counselors and Computer Applications Department faculty.
  • transfer institutions such as Davenport, Ferris State, and Grand Valley State universities.
  • representatives from the military with technical specializations who will discuss information security paths.

Come find out what a career in computers is all about!  Our GRCC degrees and certificates include:

  • Computer Applications.
  • Digital Prepress.
  • Unix System Administration.
  • Digital Graphics Communication and Digital Prepress.
  • Computer Information Systems – Applications Software Associates.
  • Computer Information Systems – Network Administration.
  • Computer Information Systems – Programming.
  • Web Design.
  • Web Technical Support.
  • Information Security — our newest degree and one that can be taken completely online!

Please contact (616) 234-3670 or abennett@grcc.edu if you have questions.