GRCC In The News, 10-16-18

Early enrollment gives GRPS students path to GRCC
10/15/18 WOOD TV
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — New numbers show efforts to encourage more Grand Rapids high school students to go to college are working.
Grand Rapids Community College saw a 31 percent increase in the number of Grand Rapids Public Schools graduates signing up for classes. According to GRCC, the number of students from GRPS rose from 116 in 2017 to 152 this year.
(This report also appeared on WOOD Radio.)

United Way welcomes new staff members
10/15/18 Grand Haven Tribune
The Greater Ottawa County United Way recently announced the addition of two staff members to its team.
… (Jennifer) Bryant has a background in fund development and education. She has worked in the non-profit, secondary and post-secondary sectors for more than 10 years. She joins the United Way from the Grand Rapids Community College Upward Bound program, where she guided first-generation and low-income high school students to higher education.

Greater Ottawa County United Way hires two
10/15/18 The Holland Sentinel
Greater Ottawa County United Way has added two staff members to its team. Jennifer Bryant is the new campaign associate, and Lisa Bassage is administrative assistant.
… Bryant, who lives in Grand Rapids, has a background in fund development and education. She has worked in the nonprofit, secondary, and post-secondary sectors for more than 10 years. She joins United Way from Grand Rapids Community College Upward Bound program.

Two Students Awarded with the GRCC Faculty and Staff Centennial Scholarship

The GRCC Faculty and Staff Centennial Scholarship was created by the employees of the college in honor of GRCC’s 100th year celebration. Currently, two awards are given each year: one to an incoming student and the other to a returning student that has earned at least 12 credits at GRCC. These scholarships are awarded based on scholastic achievement as well as extracurricular involvement and community service. Applicants are also asked to submit a short essay explaining why they feel they deserve the scholarship. The recipients are then selected by a cross-college committee made up of representatives from each of the various employee groups (Faculty, Meet & Confer, CEBA, APSS, and Campus Police).

We are pleased to announce and congratulate the 2018-19 scholarship recipients for the GRCC Faculty and Staff Centennial Scholarship: Carley Hume and Rodney Van Lagen. Both have been awarded $1,000! Rodney is studying to become a secondary school teacher with a major in mathematics and a minor in English. Carley is currently enrolled in the Dental Assisting program at GRCC and plans on starting the Dental Hygiene program next fall.

We are very grateful to all the faculty and staff who have helped make these scholarships possible for Carley and Rodney. We wish these students all the best in their academic endeavors.

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM)-Week Three

The Department of Homeland Security has teamed up with the Cybersecurity industry to provide information they believe everyone across the nation should know to stay safe and more secure online. The Week Three theme is “It’s Everyone’s Job to Ensure Online Safety at Work.”

The Week Three Newsletter for NCSAM is now available on The GRCC Security Awareness webpage.

Leadership Institute 2019 applications due next week

The Grand Rapids Community College Leadership Institute is a 12-month leadership program committed to strengthening new or emerging leaders from across campus. This program is geared to foster a broader understanding of the campus community, accelerate talent development and hone individual and team leadership skills. The Leadership Institute is designed for employees who have the capacity and desire to make a positive influence on our campus.

Testimonials from past Leadership Institute Alumni:

I was a member of the 2015 Leadership Institute team, and what an experience I had! Going into the start of the Leadership Institute I had reservations. Will this help me? Will I fit in? Do I want to put the time in that is required? The answer was yes! The Leadership Institute provided me with many opportunities to better myself professionally here at GRCC. Through the Leadership Institute I became comfortable with public speaking, where today I am comfortable interacting with anyone in any format. I was taught to express my thoughts and ideas, but probably the most gratifying aspect was to work on our project with my teammates. To be able to feel the accomplishment at the end, the bond we had formed, and most importantly the friends that I made along the way. I would encourage anyone that has any interest in the Leadership Institute to take the next step, and join as you will not be disappointed. – Thomas Vos

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As a member of the 2014-2015 Leadership Institute cohort, I was given the opportunity to meet many new people from multiple departments of the college. It also increased my awareness and appreciation for the work other GRCC employees do. Regardless of whether we work in Facilities, Information Technology, or the President’s Office; we all perform specific and valuable tasks. Our work can positively impact our students, faculty, and staff at GRCC, as well as the community around us. More importantly, the Leadership Institute allowed me to better understand the entire hierarchy of the organization; to see the big picture, and to comprehend how every one of us fits into this amazing GRCC family.
Professionally, the Leadership Institute enabled me to take the next step in my career. It gave me the extra knowledge and confidence to lead my very own team. Shortly after I finished the Leadership Institute in 2015, I accepted the Information Technology Desktop Support Team Coordinator position. If I had the opportunity to go through the Leadership Institute again, I would do it without hesitation. – Antonio Aguillon

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For anyone considering participating in GRCC’s Leadership Institute, stop considering and just apply. For those eager to learn and grow professionally, it is very difficult to find a better program!

Being a member of the 2016 Leadership Institute cohort allowed me the time to learn and incorporate leadership skills into my day to day practices. Having exposure to the inter-workings of the college including multi-departmental advisory boards gave a deeper level of perspective and understanding of the operations of GRCC Leadership and how decisions are made within the college.

The Leadership Institute experience is great for developing relationships with peers in other departments that I traditionally would not have the privilege to work with. Everything learned throughout the cohort, I knew I was capable of, but going through the process I developed the confidence and skills to tactfully implement the changes into my day-to-day routine.

The culmination of this experience has directly resulted in an increased confidence to lead, build collaborative relationships with others outside my team, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader and a resource for others.

For those interested and applying, the amount of energy and interest you put into the program is exactly what you will take away from it. Go in with an open mind and a willingness to learn! – Kelly Webber

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The Leadership Institute 2019 application deadline is next Friday, October 26, 2018. For more information visit the Leadership Institute webpage or please contact Jessica Berens in Human Resources at jberens@grcc.edu.