GRCC In the News, 5-6-13

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.)

GRCCePRINT hosts open house

Join us for an open house on May 9th from 1-4pm and we will show you many options for saving money in creating, printing, and mailing your letters or promotional pieces. Snacks and Beverages will be available. While you are here, please fill out our quick survey and put your name in the box for a chance to receive a thank you item.

Maryann Lesert to work on novels during sabbatical

Maryann Lesert

Grand Rapids Community College’s Sabbatical Committee is excited to endorse Associate Professor Maryann Lesert’s Sabbatical application for winter semester 2014.

Professor Lesert’s application represents an exemplary level of scholarly endeavor for which we should all aim. The committee found many strengths and no weaknesses in her application, not only as a well written document but also meeting all the requirements of what is expected.  Her proposal deserves the College’s most prestigious professional development opportunity.

She plans to work on writing two novels, both of which center around local environmental issues. Her work on these critical issues will directly benefit her students, the College, and the community as she has already become a well-known resource on the subject.

The enthusiastic support of Dean Chesley and Department Head Balyeat reinforced our opinion of the worthiness of her proposal.

Construction Update: Pardon Our Dust

This summer begins a busy construction season as phase one of Cook Hall renovations begin this summer. We ask for your flexibility with noise and construction traffic, and we will give as much forewarning and accommodation as we are able. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Vicki Janowiak at extension 3565 or vjanowia@grcc.edu

Both Cook Hall and Main Building renovations are considered the first phase of two phase projects. Fall 2013 and winter 2014 construction phases will include Sneden Hall and the Learning Resource Center.

Here is the construction schedule, much of which begins today:

Cook Hall Capital Outlay Project:

• G2 and G1 parking ramps are unavailable (effective May 1).
• Contractors will begin placing Dumpsters for demolition on Bostwick Commons and in Winchester Alley today.
• Staging equipment is being placed on Bostwick Commons, Winchester Alley and in Cook Hall.
• Evacuation of the fourth and fifth floors of Cook will be completed this week of May 6; two Dumpsters will be placed on Bostwick Avenue and several in Winchester Alley.
• Demolition and material deliveries for the fourth and fifth floors begin May 8; double shifts will allow demolition to be complete in five days.
• The third floor will be retained for dental programs only the first seven weeks of summer, then the demolition and construction cycle begins.
• The Cool Hall elevator will be dedicated to construction use beginning May 13; pedestrian traffic will be directed to the Main Building elevators.

Main Building Bond Funded Project:

• Demolition and construction preparations begin today.
• Will receive fire suppressant and new windows throughout.
• The second and fourth floors will be construction zones and off limits.
• The Lake Michigan Credit Union will be closed July 22 through Aug. 9; otherwise, access will be maintained though the construction zone.
• Winchester Alley will be closed behind Cook Hall, although open for GRCCePrint, AT&T and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

Moves:

• The English department has moved to CPP; you’ll find its offices on fhe fourth and fifth floors.
• The health tutoring lab has moved to CSC 103.
• Language arts and math tutoring labs have all moved to the Learning Resource Center.
• The business tutoring lab is in the Applied Technology Center.

The renderings included here show what Cook Hall will look like after two years:

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