GRCC In the News, 6-18-14

Culinary school ranks among ‘Top 20’ in US

June 17, 2014; Grand Rapids Business Journal

A local culinary school is one of the best in the nation.

Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education is featured among the comprehensive culinary programs in the ranking of America’s Top 20 Culinary Schools published last month by Full-Service Restaurant magazine.

GVSU students received more scholarship funds than other Michigan colleges

June 17, 2014; The Holland Sentinel

Holland, Mich. — Students attending Grand Valley State University received more scholarship funds than any other Michigan college from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation this year.

Grand Valley students were awarded a total of $163,000 in scholarships out of a record-breaking $1 million that was given by the foundation this year. Schools that follow Grand Valley on the college list of scholarships are University of Michigan, Michigan State, Grand Rapids Community College and Ferris State.

Black theatre group creates safe space to explore race

June 17, 2014; therapidian.org

Edye Evans Hyde knows Grand Rapids is missing something crucial in its theatre community. This is why she recently started the Ebony Road Players, a nonprofit black theatre troupe that focuses on racial issues. The company took to the stage at Aquinas College’s Kretschmer Recital Hall to present a reading of “The Story” on June 5, a play by a Tracey Scott Wilson. This play is the second performance the Ebony Road Players have held, the first being a choreopoem by Ntozake Shange called “For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.”

… Tom Kaechele, the theater program director at Grand Rapids Community College, is pleased to see a new theatre troupe in Grand Rapids.

“I think it gives any actors in the community more options for shows. If you have experienced theater in Grand Rapids, you know we have a really deep talent pool. The more theatre companies that are around to tap into the talent pool, the better for theater in general,” he says. “To a certain extent, you’ll see some plays at Circle or Civic or Actors Theater that deal with racial issues, but having something someone who specializes in that kind of voice just lightens the community.”

Aging population trends

June 17, 2014; WZZM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) — The population of the United States is aging at a dramatic rate, thanks to 76 million Baby Boomers.

… Mike Faber, from the Older Learning Center at Grand Rapids Community College, visited the WZZM 13 Noon News to share about the growing trends as the Baby Boomers are growing older.

Comstock Park’s Brayden Olson overcomes early obstacles to play college hoops

June 18, 2014; MLive

COMSTOCK PARK — Brayden Olson never gave up on his dream of playing college basketball, although the recent Comstock Park graduate had some serious doubts that it was going to happen.

… A big senior year helped Olson get back on the recruiting map. He played a key role off the bench for a Comstock Park team that won OK Blue Conference and district championships. The team included Drake Baar, who has signed with Grand Valley, and Ryan Hurley, who will be playing at Grand Rapids Community College. Jake Bush has committed to play football at Trine University.

Cronkright likes versatility, pitching depth on this year’s Berryhill roster

June 17, 2014; Midland Daily News

Diversity. That was the word that continually came up when Steve Cronkright was discussing this summer’s Midland Berryhill Post 165 American Legion Baseball team.

… The pitching staff for Berryhill will be led by third-year player Evan Marquardt, who graduated this spring from Dow and has committed to Ball State in the fall. He’ll be joined by Charger teammate Alex Sova, a second-year Berryhill player who will attend Iowa Western. Bullock Creek’s Caleb Somerville and Brian Feinauer of Grand Rapids Community College round out the returning pitchers.

Skateboard event to lead to road, parking ramp closings

On Saturday, June 21, 2014 the Meijer State Games will be hosting an Urban Downhill Skateboard Race on the streets surrounding GRCC’s Main Campus. The event runs from 4-8 p.m. with road closures beginning as early as 2 p.m.. The course begins on Lyon Street near Lafayette Avenue, turning southbound on Ransom Avenue to Fountain Street where it will make a right turn going westbound on Fountain to the finish line near Bostwick. There will be vendors, media, and spectators along the course. Parking will be available in the Lyon Ramp only, accessed via Bostwick (staff will be able to park in their normal place using the entrance on Lyon if necessary). The Bostwick Ramp will not be accessible.

Contact Campus Police if you have any questions.

Relay for Life team will accept donations through June 25

Thank you so much to the GRCC ESP Relay for Life Team: Bethany Tuffelmire, Caleb Tuffelmire, Easton Tuffelmire, Albert Bolt, Evan Force, Penni Weninger, Kirsten Sanford, Robert Sanford, Samantha Vandermolen, Marcia Lee, Lisa Snider, Arielle Brown, Emily Smitter, and Scott McGuire. This weekend and the weeks leading up to Relay were worth all the hard work and hours put in!

Thank you also supportive employees of the college who donated items for us to use and sell at the event! Your support has been amazing!

We will continue to collect donations up until June 25th. You can donate at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/GRCCESP.

We will also be holding a separate team fundraiser yet this summer. We will provide more information as it becomes available!

Earn state continuing education hours with online courses

Grand Rapids Community College offers Michigan teachers and educational professionals the opportunity to earn state continuing education clock hours online through a partnership with Cengage Learning’s Ed2Go.

Sharpen your skills, or learn new ones any time of the day or night. You can complete any course entirely from your home or office. Earn state continuing education clock hours online with our instructor-facilitated online courses specifically designed for teachers!  Choose from more than 45 courses already approved by the state!

To register, click here.