Legendary Grand Rapids West Catholic, GRCC football coach succumbs to prostate cancer
May 5, 2013; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS — A legendary Grand Rapids area football coach has passed away.
Fred Julian, who coached at West Catholic High School and Grand Rapids Community College, died Saturday morning due to prostate cancer. He was 75 years old.
Businesses to community colleges: Talk to us
May 5, 2013; reflejos.com
Executives representing some of the largest manufacturers in the U.S. urged community college presidents to reach out and form partnerships to help them train desperately needed middle skills workers at a national summit at Harper College.
… “The stronger the relationship and the communication is between community colleges and employers, and the more we struggle though this journey together, the better opportunity we have to be the right side of the curve,” said Dr. Steven Ender, President of Grand Rapids Community College.
Kalamazoo Valley CC softball slugs way to another outright conference title
May 4, 2013; MLive
KALAMAZOO, MI — If this is Amanda Kotecki’s last-hurrah in college softball, then it appears the Kalamazoo Valley Community College sophomore slugger is saving her best for last.
… The Cougars face Oakland in the MCCAA state tournament semifinals at 2 p.m. Sunday at Delta College in the Saginaw/Bay City area. Winner faces the Grand Rapids/Mott victor 30 minutes after the completion of the KVCC/Oakland game.
Erin Whitaker earns West Shore Community College Outstanding Graduate Award
May 5, 2013; The Ludington Daily News
VICTORY TOWNSHIP– Erin Whitaker has a dedication to all she does — parenting, catering, volunteering and her college career, among her many activities.
… Whitaker plans to go on to Grand Rapids Community College to study culinary arts and already is working toward her bachelor’s degree through Ferris State University, which has a partnership with West Shore.
Athlete of the Week: Chris Wilson
May 5, 2013; The Sentinel-Standard (Ionia County)
SARANAC — Chris Wilson, son of Jack and Karie Wilson, is this week’s Ionia County Athlete of the Week. The Saranac senior is a member of the Redskin Football, boys basketball and baseball teams.
… What are your plans after high school? Do you plan on attending college?
“I want to study criminal justice. I plan on attending Grand Rapids Community College first.”
Saline students from South and West Washtenaw Consortium clean up at competition
May 5, 2013; The Saline Reporter
SALINE — It’s been a banner year for the programs of the South and West Washtenaw Consortium.
… The SWWC sent several teams and individual entries to the annual Skills USA Michigan State Leadership and Technical Skills Competitions hosted in Grand Rapids.
Most of the skills competitions were hosted at Grand Rapids Community College, DeVos Place, M-Tech Tassell and Ferris State University where students tested their skills in areas that they have studied during the past school year in their CTE classes.
WASHTENAW COUNTY: Culinary Arts program sending two to nationals
May 5, 2013; The Saline Reporter
Two students from the South and West Washtenaw County Consortium Culinary Arts program are heading to Kansas City month to compete in the SkillsUSA National Championships.
… Musto said the competition was held at Grand Rapids Community College. The judging was tough, with the lead judge coming from France.
Ann Arbor high school students in building program take first-place in state competition
May 6, 2013; annarbor.com
There are no bleachers filled with screaming fans. No mascot. No cheerleaders.
Still, this team of Ann Arbor high school students brought home the gold recently when they competed in a statewide construction contest held in Grand Rapids. It was the third year running the students from the Ann Arbor Student Building Industry Program took top honors in the SkillsUSA TeamWorks building competition, setting a state record. They advance to the nationals this summer.
(The SkillsUSA competition was held at GRCC.)
Latin Americans celebrate all cultures during 48th annual Fiesta
May 3, 2013; The Holland Sentinel
Holland — Fiesta 2013, opening today, is for everyone of any ethnic group.
(Photo with story is of a GRCC student playing trumpet at last year’s festival.)