GRCC In the News, 4-1-13

Two GRCC instructors win national teaching awards

March 29, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Two Grand Rapids Community College instructors have received national awards honoring their teaching and leadership at the school.
Diane Sparks, a professor of education, and Dawn Cheikh, an adjunct instructor in French and Arabic, each received a John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award at the League for Innovation in the Community College annual conference earlier this month.

GRCC Faculty Members Receive National Excellence Award

March 29, 2013; FOX 17

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Two faculty member of GRCC were awarded the John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Awards at the League for Innovation in the Community College annual conference in Dallas, this month.

Bakewell owner takes advantage of local markets

March 31, 2013; Battle Creek Enquirer

When Erin Hill was growing up on her parents’ farm, she didn’t give a second thought to the fact that learning how to cook and bake may one day become her lifeline.

… She studied at Grand Rapids Community Colleges culinary school, and then moved to Scotland and worked in the pastry kitchen at a hotel. While there, she met an Australian chef who taught her how to make quiche.

Review: ‘[title of show]’ at Actors’ Theatre is fun, snappy musical that takes audience on wild ride

March 29, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — “Untitled Opening Number” opens a show like none other — a show within a show, and then within another show. {title of show} makes one’s head spin with all the zigzagging from reality to alternate reality and back, but the Actors Theatre production, which opened Thursday night in Spectrum Theater, is such brash, bracing fun, the audience rolls with it.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE PURCHASING DEPT!

Periodically, college employees will receive phone calls from suppliers who are soliciting quick sales. The majority of these calls are scams. Sometimes it’s a truck load of print paper at an unbelievable price or printer cartridges or office supplies or even energy (e.g. natural gas) – the list is endless. Never commit the college if you receive one of these calls. Always refer the caller(s) to the Purchasing Department. Thank you for helping us to protect college assets.

Fast Track – Summer 2013

Fast Track is an intensive, three-week program for AFP students to build their skills and skip their original AFP placement — and it’s free!  The GRCC College Success Center is ready to start recruiting students for this year’s summer sessions, and we need  your support.  Help students save time and money — send them our way.

Potential Fast Track students should meet the following criteria:

1. First time in any college (FTIAC) AFP student (one or more AFP placement, planning to enroll for the Fall 2013 semester).
2. Must have the following  ACCUPLACER score in any of the following subjects:
a). English = 4
b). Math (Algebra Score) = 60-76
c). Reading = 60-70

For more information, visit www.grcc.edu/college-success-center/programs.  Students can apply online.

Grand Rapids Poets Anthology Book Launch this Friday

David Cope cordially invites everyone to the book launch for Song of the Owashtanong: Grand Rapids Poetry in the 21st Century. The event will be held from on Friday, April 5. 7-9 p.m. at the Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library. The publication of Song is an historic event, the first time that poets have come together to establish a published literary identity for our city in this, the oldest of the arts. The book features 16 poets, and GRCC is well represented: Mursalata Muhammad, Barbara Saunier Kim Wyngarden, and David Cope are all current or former GRCC English profs, and GRCC graduates Carmen Bugan, Eric Greinke, G. F. Korreck, and Azizi Jasper are also represented. Published by Ridgeway Press, the volume contains 192 pages, text, bios, and credits. Song is priced at $12.95, and many of the poets will be on hand to sign copies. Please join us.

The latest from GRCC TV on YouTube: ‘The Color of Christ’

“The Color of Christ”

Wellness Department newsletter takes presidential angle

Learn how presidents have promoted physical activity in the Wellness Department’s April 2013 newsletter. To read the newsletter, click here.

ACT/SAT writing workshop set for April 8, 2013

GRCC’s ACT/SAT writing workshop is designed to help students understand the expectations for taking the essay portions of the ACT and SAT exams. The workshop highlights eight characteristics that graders of the exams are looking for and teaches students strategies for meeting the expectations.

The goal of the workshop is to help students understand the testing expectations and situation in order to give them the confidence to meet this challenge. Students are encouraged to ask questions and to use the skills of the workshop as they practice independently.

Students will:

• analyze sample essays.
• learn to use the prompts to formulate their answers.
• practice writing thesis statements and introductions.
• learn about how to incorporate support in essays.
• write a practice essay.
• receive a critique of their writing with recommendations.

Workshops will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 8, 2013, and 9 a.m. to noon May 11.

Each costs $42. You have to be 14 or older to attend the workshops. To register, click here.

‘Musical Moods’ concert scheduled for April 19, 2013

“Musical Moods,” a Music Department concert benefiting the Albert P. Smith Endowment, features instrumental and choral ensembles and select student soloists. It starts at 7:30 p.m. April 19, 2013, in the St. Cecilia Music Center’s Royce Auditorium.

Tickets are $12 for adults or $8 for students and seniors; they are available at the door. For more information, call (616) 234-3940 or click here.

Armen Awards Celebration: Why you should be there!

Join your colleagues to experience innovative teaching and learning practices that have made meaningful contributions to our community this winter.

Come for the awards (Three winners to be named)
This program and awards presentation will feature interviews and powerful video of the work of each team, and a (huge) check presentation.

Come for the food (The Menu)
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Domestic Cheese, Fruit with Almond Dip & Vegetables with Dip.
Coffee, Iced Tea & Lemonade.

Come to celebrate the work (Our Finalists)

• The Child Psychology course with Family Promise providing child-care services to homeless families seeking respite or time to seek employment.
• The Community Transcultural Nursing course with American Red Cross teaching GRCC students the life-changing skill of CPR.
• The Community Dental Health course with Salvation Army-Booth Family Services providing oral hygiene education to pregnant teens and teen mothers.
• The College Writing course with Grand Rapids Public Library administering One Book, One City for Kids in Grand Rapids Public Schools.
• The Consulting with Writers course with GRCCs Writing Lab training students to serve as tutors.
• The Community Transcultural Nursing course with the North End Community Ministry educating its food pantry clients on healthy meal planning and recipes.
• The Principles of Physical Education course with East Leonard Elementary administering Organ Wise Guys helping children develop a healthy lifestyle.
• The Mobile Device Security and Development course with the Collegiate newspaper creating a mobile app to increase access and readership.

Come to network (Our Judges):

• Matt Downey, Program Director, Nonprofit Services at Johnson Center of Philanthropy.
• Chris Wilson, Founder/Executive Director at NonProfit Process Excellence.
• Katie Daniels, Curriculum Specialist at Grand Rapids Community College.
• Nicole Notario-Risk, Nonprofit/Foundation Consultant, Owner of Dress My Rescue.
• Renee Zientek, Executive Director at Michigan Campus Compact.

Come to Learn More (Our Presenters):

• Armen Oumedian, local Philanthropist and Entrepreneur.
• Mike Schavey, Associate Director of Experiential Learning.
• Dr. Jeremy Osborn, Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence.
• Dr. Gilda Gely, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs.

Come to see the Federal Building (Event Details):
Friday, April 26, 2013, 3-5 p.m.
Federal Building, Room 217
Kendall College of Art and Design of FSU

Please RSVP at http://www.grcc.edu/armenawards