GRCC alum, military-aviation pioneer Mildred Doyle dies
2/1/19 FOX 17
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Grand Rapids Community College is extending condolences to the family of the college’s 2018 Distinguished Alumna.
West Michigan woman who flew planes during World War II dies at 97
2/1/19 MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Grand Rapids woman who was a test pilot during World War II, part of a rare number of women flyers to play a critical role during the war, has died at age 97.
… Before she went to the University of Michigan, Doyle attended Grand Rapids Junior College — the institution now known as Grand Rapids Community College.
Michigan’s last female WWII pilot dies at 97
2/1/19 WOOD TV
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids native who was among the first women to fly a U.S. military plane has died.
… Doyle was Grand Rapids Community College’s Distinguished Alumna of 2018.
Michigan’s last surviving WWII Women Airforce Service Pilot dies at 97
2/2/19 Detroit Free Press
Michigan’s last surviving World War II fly girl, Jane Doyle of Grand Rapids, has died.
… It wasn’t until she enrolled in what was then Grand Rapids Junior College in 1939 that Doyle considered flying an airplane was something she could do.
Inside Track: Using tragedy to help others
2/1/19 Grand Rapids Business Journal
Gabriel Grant had just graduated high school with plans to attend Michigan State University when a car crash changed everything.
With dreams of becoming an athlete, he was set to start school at Grand Rapids Community College and transfer to MSU, with a promise of paid tuition from mentor and former MSU and professional basketball player Steve Smith.
Putnam: Grand Ledge classmates work to bring murder victim home for funeral
2/4/19 Lansing State Journal
LANSING — A tight-knit group of friends from Eric Nelson’s school days in Grand Ledge is working to bring his body back home after the 28-year-old was shot to death in Las Vegas.
… Meaghan Jacobs said Nelson attended Grand Rapids Community College for a year and then Lansing Community College for a year along with her husband. The two friends roomed together.
College completes $8M upgrade of athletic facility
1/29/19 Grand Rapids Business Journal
A local college has finished an $8-million project to renovate an athletic facility.
Grand Rapids Community Colleges upgraded Ford Fieldhouse, on the main campus at 111 Lyon St. NE, opened to the community last week.
WMCAT arts residency trains novice shutterbugs
2/1/19 schoolnewsnetwork.org (Kent Intermediate School District newsletter)
Instructor Dennis Grantz reviewed some basic camera settings with a group of teens before turning them loose on a recent Friday morning inside the West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology’s spacious studio and project areas.
… Another group of students attend Grand Rapids Community College’s Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC program, and local business professionals also hold on-campus career sessions.
Grant aims to ready middle schoolers for what comes after high school
1/25/19 schoolnewsnetwork.org
In Wyoming, seventh-graders mental gears were turning as they considered their futures. MacKenzie Burgess would like to be a marine biologist or a doctor.
… Lucky for them, no matter what their goals, local educators are joining forces to help students navigate where they want to go. Grand Rapids Community College is the recipient of a $2.1 million, six-year grant from the U.S. Education Department. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) initiative is beginning to take shape, serving Wyoming, Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights and Godfrey-Lee students.
Postponements and makeup dates for Grand Rapids-area college basketball teams
1/30/19 MLive
Most of the small college basketball schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday has been wiped out for Grand Rapids-area teams. Here’s who postponed and when the games will be made up.
… JUNIOR COLLEGE
Grand Rapids Community College. The Raiders’ games at Kalamazoo Community College for Wednesday were postponed with makeup dates to be announced.
Katie Kalisz: A Quiet Woman’s Clarity
1/29/19 therapidian.org
Local poet and GRCC professor Katie Kalisz will read from her just-released first book of poems, Quiet Woman, on February 21 at 6:30 pm, at the Grand Rapids Community College Library. The reading is free and open to the public.
New SingularityU chapter fosters “Exponential Technologies for Good”
1/31/19 rapidgrowthmedia.com
Thanks to local futurist, Mary Brown, Singularity University (SU) is establishing a chapter in Grand Rapids, one of 142 chapters in 66 world locations recognized as up-and-coming technology centers. SU had been on Brown’s radar for some time. After attending its Global Summit, she submitted an application in hopes of starting a Grand Rapids chapter. Because Grand Rapids is recognized as an emerging center of innovation, the chapter application was approved.
… SingularityU Grand Rapids team members include Brown, the chapter ambassador, and Jan Mathorne, owner of HUCAPA – Human Capital Partners, an executive search consulting firm based in Denmark, Michigan, and California. Brown, a futurist, focuses on ethical adoption of AI in healthcare and society via human-centered design and organizational change and learning. A former senior digital experience analyst at Priority Health, she currently serves as senior consultant for learning and development in Spectrum Healths Inclusion and Diversity department and as adjunct faculty at Grand Rapids Community College in the psychology and business departments.
Change Ups: Spectrum Health appoints diversity officer
2/1/19 Grand Rapids Business Journal
… BUSINESS SERVICES
… The Right Place board of directors elected the following officers for 2019: chair: Sean P. Welsh, regional president, West Michigan, PNC Bank; vice chair: Mitch Joppich, Grand Rapids managing partner PwC LLP; and treasurer: Dave Staples, president and CEO, SpartanNash. Executive Committee Appointments: Bill Pink, president, Grand Rapids Community College; Matt Becker, managing partner, BDO; and Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, Spectrum Health.
Grand Rapids residents deal with largest snow storm of the season
1/28/19 FOX 17
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Residents in Grand Rapids dealt with nearly a foot of snow on Monday.
… “We’re trying to shovel our driveway, it’s a little tough,” said Lauren Jonker, a student at Grand Rapids Community College.
WMEAC Presents: Women, Community and the Environment Series
2/1/19 Women’s Lifestyle magazine
Since 2011, women in West Michigan have come together to discuss and explore something about which they are all deeply passionate: environment advocacy.
… What: Thirst for Justice Film and Panel Discussion
When: Friday, Feb. 22, 7- 9 pm
Where: Grand Rapids Community College, 143 Bostwick Ave NE
![Poster for the GRCC Culinary Speak Series. The poster has photos for each of three upcoming events, “Paths to Becoming a Chef” on February 4, “Zingerman’s Building a Culture of Great Service” on March 11, and “Creating Magic-Creating Outstanding Experiences and Positive Change” on April 1. The text reads: “Culinary Speaker Series. Paths to Becoming a Chef. [First event] Monday, February 4, 2019. 5:30 p.m. Reception, sponsored by Key Impact Group. 6:15 p.m. Speakers: Shawn Kohlhaas, President ACF Greater Grand Rapids Chefs Association and Owner of Culinary Cultivations; Werner Absenger, Ph.D., M.S., Program Director for the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. Looking to advance your career, but not sure how? Join us to learn about the paths to becoming a chef and the pieces necessary to achieve that goal. We’ll talk about different certifications and academic degrees that may provide opportunities for upward mobility. 7:30–8 p.m. Q & A. [Second event] Zingerman’s Building a Culture of Great Service. Monday, March 11, 2019. 5:30 p.m. Reception, sponsored by Way Point. 6:15 p.m. Guest Speaker, Tabitha Mason. Tabitha Mason has served as Service Steward for the entire Zingerman’s organization. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing and implementing Zingerman’s nationally renowned approach to customer service for its ten businesses. She did this by analyzing and leveraging companywide service data, managing internal customer service training, and chairing a committee of service champions to execute companywide service improvements. Tabitha has continued her role as a trainer with ZingTrain, in which she shares the renowned Zingerman’s approach to giving great service with businesses throughout the country. 7:30–8 p.m. Q & A. [Third event] Creating Magic-Creating Outstanding Experiences and Positive Change. Monday, April 1, 2019. 5:30 p.m. Reception, sponsored by Hormel and Fontanini. 6:15 p.m. Guest Speaker, Ken Wasco. Ken Wasco is the Customer Effectiveness Manager at Gordon Food Service. He conducts hundreds of seminars and workshops on ways to achieve higher levels of personal effectiveness through an emphasis on communication skills across the foodservice industry. 7:30–8 p.m. Q & A. The events are held at GRCC’s Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center (ATC) at 151 Fountain St. NE. For more information, please contact the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at (616) 234-3690, or email culinary@grcc.edu. All participants are welcome. Those in need of accommodations please contact Secchia Institute for Culinary education at (616) 234-3690.”](https://grcctoday.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/grcc-acf-speaker-series-2019_108297.png?w=558)
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