GRCC Foundation Board elects new chairman to guide giving
June 28, 2019; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – GRCC alumnus Dr. James V. Buzzitta was elected the new chairman of the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation Board of Directors.
New Programs: Nursing, Welding, Hospitality Management, Data Science, Education
July 2, 2019; Inside Higher Ed
… Grand Rapids Community College is starting a certificate program in welding.
Change Ups: Greenland named 40 Under 40 Bank Leader
July 5, 2019; Grand Rapids Business Journal
… EDUCATION
Grand Rapids Community College is launching a new Welding Skills Certificate program designed to teach basic welding skills in a semester, although part-time students might need two. The new Welding Skills Certificate will prepare students for entry-level welding positions, but the credits also will count toward GRCC’s one-year Welding Technology Certificate and the two-year Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Welding Technology.
Transitions: Bennett College Names New Chief, Taylor U. President to Step Down
July 3, 2019; The Chronicle of Higher Education
… DEATHS
… Charles Chanter, former executive secretary of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association, died on June 12. He was 89. Chanter worked for the association from 1966 to 2008. He was also an adjunct professor and golf coach at Grand Rapids Community College. He arrived at the college in 1954, when it was named Grand Rapids Junior College, and worked there until he retired as golf coach in 2007.
Whitmer wants to close ‘skills gap,’ but some experts call it ‘a lie’
July 1, 2019; Michigan Advance
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been vocal about wanting to “close the damn skills gap.” The Democratic governor tends to use the line almost immediately after her signature campaign slogan of “fixing the damn roads.”
… Indeed, students enrolled in a welding program at Grand Rapids Community College told the Advance that they expect a host of opportunities upon completing a four-month certification program.
Coldwater’s Jamie and Jasmine Wellet earn NJCAA All-Academic honors
July 5, 2019; The Daily Reporter (Coldwater)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — On July 1, a total of 18 student-athletes from Grand Rapids Community College’s Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Softball, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Baseball, and Golf were named NJCAA All-Academic for their work in the classroom during the 2018-19 school season.
Longtime educator Ruth Jones-Hairston remembered for her love of children
July 1, 2019; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Grand Rapids School District family and the greater community is mourning the loss of beloved educator Ruth Jones-Hairston, who died Friday, June 28.
… Jones-Hairston is graduate of Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College.
Kent County school district launching online program, career center
July 1, 2019; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – For the 2019-20 school year, Northview Public Schools is launching a new online learning program, the Northview Next Learning Center and the Northview Next Career Center for alternative students.
… Through a partnership with Grand Rapids Community College, last year alternative students had an opportunity to earn multiple certificates in the skilled trades. On Fridays, juniors and seniors were at Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC, every Friday for five hours of training from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
City leaders implore community to end ‘code of silence’ surrounding recent gun violence in GR
June 28, 2019; WZZM
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The firing of weapons in the city is up 57 percent compared to this time last year.
… The press conference was held at Joe Taylor Park—the location of the most recent of 10 shootings taking place in the last five days. Kiddle was surrounded by city commissioners, City Manager Mark Washington, Grand Rapids Public Schools administrators, nonprofit leaders, Grand Rapids Community College president Dr. Bill Pink and neighborhood association leaders.
July 1, 2019; The Daily News (Greenville)
Upon being crowned the Montcalm County 4-H Showmanship Sweepstakes champion in 2018, Cecilia Brandt was left surprised and humbled.
… A 2018 graduate of Cedar Springs High School, who recently obtained her associate degree through a middle college program at Grand Rapids Community College, Brandt plans to attend Grand Valley State University this fall with a focus on biology with a pre-veterinarian emphasis.
Doing More Together school collaborative adds 7 partners
July 7, 2019; The Holland Sentinel
Doing More Together, a coalition of Ottawa area schools launched in 2013, announced that seven new businesses are joining as partners to the program.
… Doing More Together announced on July 2 that DISHER of Zeeland, Elzing and Volkers of Holland, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids Griffins, JohnnyAdvertising of Grand Rapids, Nippon Piston Ring of America of Grand Haven and West Michigan Office Interiors are joining as partners.
Spectacular Chix senior class sends nearly 20 to college sports
July 5, 2019; The Holland Sentinel
… Water polo goalie Morgan Beers will likely play at Grand Valley State after a year at Grand Rapids Community College.
July 5, 2019; HealthBeat (Spectrum Health blog)
An item that’s unusual for a 13-year-old made the top of Jackson Schamper’s holiday wish list last year —a KitchenAid stand mixer.
… Coached by culinary students from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education and the Culinary Medicine team, the families then prepare an assortment of recipes and share a meal together.
One Good Thing: Consumers Energy Student Art Competition
June 28, 2019; WZZM
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Consumers Energy Student Art Competition gets today’s One Good Thing.
… The finalists were judged by a panel of art professionals from Kendall College of Art & Design at Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University.
New Machinists Enter the Workforce
July 3, 2019; Fabricating & Metalworking
Contract manufacturer Autocam Medical (Kentwood, MI) announced that 13 adult students graduated from their CNC Machinist Apprentice Program. The apprentices were awarded certificates of completion in a graduation ceremony held on June 12 at Western Michigan University’s AMP Lab in downtown Grand Rapids. This program covers the necessary schooling required by the State of Michigan to receive a certified Journeyman card. Six of the graduates also received their Journeyman card upon program completion and the other seven graduates are working to complete the necessary hour requirements.
… Bill Pink, the president of Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), John C. Kennedy, the president/chief executive officer of Autocam Medical, and John Kennedy, IV, the general manager of Autocam Medical were also present for the event.
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