As part of a week of investiture activities, the community is invited to meet President Bill Pink during a reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday in The Heritage Restaurant.
Monthly Archives: September 2017
Photos from alumni panel
As part of the week of activities leading up to Friday’s investiture, GRCC hosted alumni in a panel discussion. Tatum Kovach was the moderator for the panel of Tony Helmholdt, Hilda Martinez-Gutierrez, Denavvia Mojét, and Sammy A. Puebles.
Seats available for next week’s staff development workshops
Goal Crushing Productivity — 1:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 3
If you want to increase productivity, then this program is designed for you and your team. Explore success strategies for realizing goals, prioritizing objectives, organizing your day and eliminating time wasters. Ignite motivation and achieve big goals with proven strategies for goal crushing productivity.
Choosing Civility — 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 4
What does it mean to be civil in today’s changing world? How do we continue to maintain and promote civility on GRCC’s campus? Civility betters our lives and provides a safe learning environment for our students, staff and faculty. In this workshop, participants will: 1. Understand the meaning of civility. 2. Respond to rudeness in an assertive yet civil manner. 3. Know how to react to persistently rude people. 4. Handle rudeness in the workplace. 5. Apologize for your own rudeness.
Intro to Windows 10 — 2-3 p.m. Oct. 5
Windows 10 has arrived at GRCC! This new operating system has replaced Windows 7 and there are some changes we would like to share with you. Come and join us for this basic introduction to Windows 10 and learn how to navigate the changes.
Library Resources For Work — 10-11 a.m. Oct. 6
This session will provide a basic introduction to library services for any GRCC employee. How to find and use resources, including the traditional book collection, the e-book and e-media collections, general databases, and pertinent Subject Guides will be introduced. Attendees will also sign up for the New York Times online and RaiderLoan Document Delivery & Interlibrary Loan
You can register for any of these workshops online.
IIPD Grant Applications are due on October 11, 2017 at 4:30 pm.
The deadline for the submission of grant applications for the Instructional Improvement & Professional Development (IIPD) Grants program is 4:30 p.m., October 11, 2017. Information about how to apply for an IIPD grant can be found at this website: IIPD Application and Guidelines. Please note that applications must include Dean’s and Department Head Approval forms, a budget form and budget documentation. If you have any questions about IIPD grants, please contact Judith Larsen, Director, Grants and Resource Development Department, at 234-3910 or jmlarsen@grcc.edu. Good luck!
GRCC In the News, 9-26-17
College building $3M manufacturing lab downtown
Sept. 26, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal
A college is building a manufacturing training lab downtown to address the shortage of skilled trades and engineering workers.
Western Michigan University has started construction on a two-story Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory, or the AMP Lab @WMU, which is being built in collaboration with Grand Rapids Community College and manufacturers.
Education Newsmakers: 09/25/2017
Sept. 25, 2017; Traverse City Record-Eagle
The Ed & Irene Fleis Education Fund awarded scholarships in May to students living in Leelanau County or with county lineage. The following students received $1,000 awards:
Tina Poulias, a medical student at Grand Rapids Community College, won the scholarship in memory of Jim and Rita (Fleis) Cwengros.
ArtPrize Nine jury shortlist: 20 finalists
Sept. 25, 2017; WZZM
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – The ArtPrize category award jurors revealed their shortlists of five artist entries in the 2D, 3D, Installation and Time-Based categories.
… Here are the shortlist picks based on category:
Two-Dimensional
… Virtue Virtu Vertu’ by HIPKISS by Alpha & Chris Mason at GRCC Collins Art Gallery (Panjas, France)
Geography alumna accepts New Zealand post
Cadey Korson
Cadey Korson, a 2008 GRCC graduate, recently accepted a permanent faculty appointment in human geography at Massey University in Auckland. Massey is considered New Zealand’s national university with an enrollment of 35,000 students.
Following award of the associate degree, Cadey completed the B.A. at Aquinas, M.A. at the University of Missouri, and Ph.D. at Kent State University. Subsequently, she took a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oulu in Finland, where she contributed much in terms of geographical scholarship.
Cadey has explored the realms of cultural geography, political geography, and geographic education by conducting fieldwork in the South Pacific with special reference to indigenous peoples, as well as research devoted to the teaching of world regional geography. These efforts over the past few years have resulted in six articles published in peer-reviewed publications, nine papers delivered at conferences in England, Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Finland, and Sweden, and an invited lecture given in Hawaii.
A charter member (and former president) of Lambda Upsilon, the GRCC chapter of the International Geographical Honor Society, Cadey is among a number of former GRCC students who have pursued graduate degrees in Geography, and the first alumna in recent years to be awarded a Ph.D. in the field. On New Zealand’s North Island, she can be expected to serve as an inspiration for geography students in the country’s largest city, which is known for its rich cultural diversity.
Photos from Lakeshore investiture event
The Lakeshore campus hosted President Pink and community leaders on Monday.
Business Cafe looks at interview tips
Business Department faculty discuss various topics throughout the semester in the Business Cafe series. All the sessions are drop-in — and open to all students, not just those in business majors — so stay for 10 minutes or the entire time. Snacks are provided!
Professor Ann Alexander will share tips for “Acing the Interview” from 10-11 a.m. September 27 in room 201 of Cook.
GRCC In the News, 9-25-17
Wickliffe joins News-Review’s sports department
Sept. 24, 2017; The Petoskey News
PETOSKEY — Greg Wickliffe already got a taste of Northern Michigan when he worked as an intern with the Petoskey News-Review in the winter of 2016.
… Wickliffe previously worked as a sports writer when he attended Grand Rapids Community College, at MLive, and was sports editor at Central Michigan Life.
Street Talk: The island of misfit produce
Sept. 22, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal
… Face time
An upcoming conference aims to help buyers cut down on cold calls by putting them face to face with purchasing managers.
… This year’s expected buyers include staff from the state of Michigan, Kent County, city of Grand Rapids, city of Kentwood, Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University, Western Michigan University, Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids Public Schools, The Rapid, Van Andel Institute and more.
College Channel programming through September 29
The latest schedule, through September 29, for the College Channel includes the September 18 Board of Trustees meeting.
GRCC In the News, 9-22-17
Grand Rapids Community College investiture for new president Sept. 29
Sept. 21, 2017; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS – Bill Pink’s investiture as Grand Rapids Community College’s tenth president is set for Friday, Sept. 29 at Fountain Street Church.
Downtown AMP Lab to tackle shortage of manufacturing talent
Sept. 21, 2017; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Construction is underway at Western Michigan University’s downtown Grand Rapids $3 million manufacturing laboratory.
AMP Lab @WMU, an Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory, is being built in collaboration with West Michigan manufacturers and Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) to address the shortage of skilled trades and engineering employees in the region.
PHOTOS: New Teachers join J-L district 2017
Sept. 21, 2017; Gaylord Herald-Times
… Dan Serba
… What did you study and where did you graduate from?
I have an associate’s degree in elementary from Grand Rapids Community College, a bachelor’s degree in K-fifth grade education, sixth- through eighth-grade social studies, and kindergarten through eighth physical education and health. I also received my master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in educational leadership, supervision, and administration.
Association names Excellence in Construction winners
Sept. 21, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal
A local association has honored the construction industry’s best work over the last year.
… Other award winners
… GC/CM: New Construction $5-10 Million: Rockford Construction for work on Grand Rapids Community College Early Childhood Learning Laboratory
English Department hosts poetry reading
GRCC’s English Department is one of the sponsors for this event:
Course pack due date
Winter 2018 Semester Course pack files, planners, orders, and SKUs are due to GRCCePRINT no later than Wednesday, December 6. Any items received after this date will not be guaranteed in the bookstore prior to classes starting.
Please make sure you notify the bookstore of any course packs that are needed and let them know if it will be a reprint of a previous course pack or if it is being updated or new for Winter ’18. Please send all new files and planner sheets to grcceprint@grcc.edu.
Alumni to share experiences in panel discussion
As part of a week of activities leading up to his Sept. 29 investiture, President Bill Pink will welcome GRCC alumni who are participating in a panel discussion.
“Today and Tomorrow: The GRCC Alumni Journey — This Is How We Did It” is open to students and runs 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sept. 26 in room 103 of Sneden Hall.
Tatum Kovach, director of external affairs for Student Alliance, will moderate the discussion.
Panel members are:
Tony Helmholdt, automotive technician for Tesla Motors.
Helmholdt, a Forest Hills Central High School graduate, received an associate degree in automotive technology in 2008 while working part-time as an auto technician at Fox Ford Mazda. In 2009, he took a job rebuilding transmissions at O’Neill’s Transmission Service.
When he wasn’t working on motors on the job, he spent his time working on motors. In 2007, he converted the family lawnmower to operate on compressed hydrogen gas. In 2008, he converted a motorcycle to operate on full battery electric power. He’s been building — and racing — electric motorcycles for a decade.
In 2010, he joined electric car maker Tesla Motors, working out of Chicago and San Jose, Calif., servicing its fleet of vehicles nationwide.
“Skills I learned at GRCC — combined with some passion — led to my success story, as it opened the eyes of prospective Tesla recruiters,” he said. “GRCC’s fantastic facilities, staff, and training have made a significant difference in my life, and I hope it continues to do so for others who enjoy the program as much as I did.”
Hilda Martinez-Gutierrez, coordinator of GRCC’s suicide prevention program.
After graduating from GRCC, Martinez-Gutierrez went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in family studies and a master’s degree in counselor education-family counseling, both from Western Michigan University.
Martinez-Gutierrez, who served an internship with GRCC’s TRIO program, is the coordinator of the college’s campus suicide prevention program. The program, funded by a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, includes activities on both the Main and Lakeshore campuses, training, and crisis response planning.
“GRCC means opportunity to access continuing education at a higher level — exposure to discover the difference within people around me and the world,” she said. “It has provided the space for me to experience my journey, my story which has enhanced my love for working in higher education, most specifically with the college student population.”
Denavvia Mojét, political consultant and community organizer.
Mojét pursues her passion for educating and empowering vulnerable populations, bolstering civic engagement, and striving for workforce diversity.
Her first efforts were in Benton Harbor, where she observed first-hand the effects of underfunded municipalities, education inequality and the overreaching Emergency Management laws. She received the Key to the City of Benton Harbor for her efforts.
Upon moving to Grand Rapids, Mojét was named to the inaugural college cohort of Mayor George Heartwell’s Leadership, Employment, Achievement and Direction Initiative and began work in Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.’s planning department. She has served on the Grand Rapids Housing Strategies Collaborative’s land use and zoning and workforce and economic development teams, the Creston Neighborhood Association’s board, Kent County Young Leaders Against Violence, the Model United Nations Grand Rapids Chapter, and Well House.
She managed the successful 2016 state House campaign for the 75th District. She hosts the weekly radio segment, “Political Pulse” on Grand Rapids’ 97.3. She recently co-founded Equity PAC, a political action committee that advocates for low-income populations and works to eliminate socioeconomic disparities.
“GRCC gave me groundbreaking experiences, life-changing lessons and a dynamic network that empowered me to succeed in my career and impact my community,” she said. “I’m a better mother, teacher, student and professional because of my time at GRCC and I am proud to be an alumna.”
Sammy A. Puebles, performer and founder of the Mixed Roots Collective and One World Diversity LLC.
Puebles emigrated from Cuba with his family as a political refugee in 1988. He received an Associate in Liberal Arts from GRCC and a Bachelor of Arts, with a concentration in theater and Spanish, from Western Michigan University.
“I was an immigrant child who didn’t know the first thing about college and how to navigate those waters,” he said. “Thanks to my professors and lifelong mentors like Fred Sebulske, Tom Kaechele and Michelle Urbane from the Theater Department, I was able to prepare myself, discover my passion and eventually pursue my dream of being an actor.”
While living in Chicago, he performed with the Steppenwolf Theater Company, Healthworks Theater, Teatro Vista, Apple Tree Theater, Second City and Lookingglass Theater. He has appeared in the films “Batman Vs. Superman” and “Stone” and on the TV shows “Chicago Fire,” Chicago PD,” “Shameless” and “Empire.”
He has started his own theater company, Mixed Roots Collective, to address inequality of representation in local theater and film. Along with Urbane and Todd Lewis, he has formed One World Diversity in an attempt to address issues of disparity and inclusion and equality in society.
Meijer internships topic of Business Cafe
Business Department faculty discuss various topics throughout the semester in the Business Cafe series. All the sessions are drop-in — and open to all students, not just those in business majors — so stay for 10 minutes or the entire time. Snacks are provided!
Assistant professor Jennifer Knauf and Meijer Inc. representatives will talk about paid internships available to students interested in retail industry careers who have GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Students must register in advance for this session, which will take place 2-4 p.m. September 25 in the ATC auditorium.
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