GRCC In the News, 11-16-15

FOX 17 Morning News

Nov. 16, 2015; FOX 17

The issue of health benefits for domestic partners of Grand Rapids Community College employees will come up for a vote today. The GRCC board of trustees is expected to vote on a proposal this afternoon that would grant benefits to domestic partners of unmarried employees, regardless of sexual orientation.

Friends for Life: How a teenager copes with loss

Nov. 13, 2015; WZZM

It’s Nov. 13, “Friends for Life Day” and as we do on the 13th of every month this is your reminder to know your body, know your normal, and think about breast health.

… Members of the Grand Rapids Community College women’s volleyball team aren’t just freshman Lauren Wieber’s teammates, they’re her family.

Focus on the future with STEM

Nov. 13, 2015; WOTV

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOTV) — Fifth grade students from Endeavor Elementary and Meadowlawn Elementary schools in Kentwood gathered recently to learn all about STEM. STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Kentwood schools are embracing the teaching of these subjects and work with community partners to teach students hands-on real world application in those fields.

STEM prepares students to be 21st century leaders. The STEM Conference at Grand Rapids Community College encouraged young women to see what they can do in STEM-oriented careers. Hands-on activities got girls involved alongside professionals from companies like Kettering University, Fifth Third Bank, and Gentex.

Ada board approves supervisor’s appointments

Nov. 13, 2015; MLive

The Ada Township Supervisor George Haga’s appointments to the Downtown Development Authority Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals have been approved by the board.

Sarah Andro, owner of Suburba Restaurant, 7277 Thornapple River Drive, will fill a vacancy on the DDA board. Andro is a graduate of Forest Hills Central and has attended Grand Rapids Community College, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Aquinas College. She has a background in business management, has resided in Ada and Cascade area nearly all of her life and has worked in Ada for the past eight years.

Ryan, Agren lead Aquinas volleyball honors

Nov. 14, 2015; MLive

Grand Rapids, MI- Aquinas College was well represented on the All-WHAC selections for women’s volleyball.

Michaela Ryan (Davison/Davison) received her second career All-WHAC First Team accolade as she tallied 2.68 kills per set and had a hitting percentage of .289. Ryan also led the Saints with 87 blocks. Katlyn Agren (Cadillac/GRCC) landed on the All-WHAC Honorable Team as she paced the Saints with 563 digs. Agren’s 4.94 digs per set this season is the fourth-best in Aquinas history.

‘Learn at Lunch’ canceled for November 17

The November 17 “Learn at Lunch” session has been canceled. It will be rescheduled soon.

Citizenship orientation starts in January

Next citizenship orientation will begin in January 2016, please call GRCC Adult Education at 616-234-3172 for more information.

WHO: Those ready to prepare for the citizenship exam.

• Must have permanent residence card (green card) for five years.
• Be able to speak, read, and write in Advanced ESL level (220 or higher in CASAS testing).

WHAT: Six week study for citizenship plus Citizenship Clinic

WHERE: Grand Rapids Community College Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC

(622 Godfrey SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

COST: $20.00 deposit and non-refundable $5.00 assessment fee.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

GRCC hosts STEM Girl Genius Conference

On November 7, Grand Rapids Community College hosted 85 sixth- to eighth-grade girls from all over Michigan in an experiential Science+ Technology + Engineering + Math (STEM) Girl Genius Conference. The daylong conference was designed to encourage young women to seek careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Provost Laurie Chesley opened the event by welcoming the participants to GRCC and introducing Jennifer Simon, who gave the keynote address titled Women of Vision. Throughout the day, participants carried out hands-on engineering and science activities, which were led and prepared by faculty Leigh Kleinert, Ashley Campanali, Tari Mattox, and Meghan VanderMale. The participants also had lunch with women who are engineering and science majors at Kettering University and the Van Andel Institute. Laurie Foster from GRCC also participated in the luncheon and Mike Vargo’s office helped with parking. Janis Qualls, Dan Groh, Amy Kudrna, Amy Kirkbride, Leah Engemann, and Pam Scott helped to set-up for the event. Bayard Brooks, Becky Yoder, Jim Schafer, and Chef Luba Petrash helped with event scheduling, set-up, and dining. Jennifer Batten worked with the community partners to prepare for the event. Fifteen GRCC students volunteered and helped the participants with the activities.

The STEM Girl Genius Conference is in its fifth year and is a collaborative effort between Fifth Third Bank, Kettering University, the Catholic Secondary School Foundation, and GRCC.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.