Homecoming activities Tuesday, Feb. 15

Tuesday, Feb. 15

• Have breakfast with GRCC President Bill Pink, Student Alliance President Brendan Burke, and other student leaders. Grab-and-go meals will be available between 9 and 10:30 a.m. on the fourth floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.
• Get vaccinated or boosted. We’re all fighting the pandemic together. GRCC’s latest vaccination and booster clinic is planned for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the fourth floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.
• We’re celebrating leaders, events and opportunities during Black History Month. The GRCC Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is hosting a virtual keynote address at 6 p.m. featuring LaTosha Brown. She is a 2019 fellow with The Institute of Politics at Harvard University, is an award-winning organizer, philanthropic consultant, political strategist, and jazz singer with over 20 years of experience working in the non-profit and philanthropy sectors on a wide variety of issues related to political empowerment, social justice, economic development, leadership development, wealth creation, and civil rights. Details about registration are available here.

Additional information is available at grcc.edu/homecoming.

Young Alumni Award recipient Trimell Hawkins says GRCC is ‘more than a school; it’s a pathway to the future’

For Trimell Hawkins, Grand Rapids Community College’s first Young Alumni Award recipient, GRCC “is more than a school: it’s a pathway to the future.” 

The new award recognizes alumni ages 40 and younger for their community or civic contributions, service in support of GRCC, and exceptional accomplishments in their profession.

Since graduating from GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education in 2015, Hawkins has put his personal stamp on menus throughout West Michigan. He credits the foundation the culinary program gave him for his success and says the “quick fire” challenges were one of his favorite things to do.

“My experience at GRCC was one of the most important and vital things to my success in my career,” said Hawkins, who enrolled after leaving the Marines. “It truly prepared me for this industry and gave me tools to be successful. The program gives you insight on what to expect, how to handle it, how to grow, and how to face adversity and overcome.”

Hawkins counts culinary professor Kevin Dunn as one of his mentors and friends.

“Trimell was working, raising his family, while being an excellent student,” Dunn said. “He can best be described as a sponge – he wants to learn from every chef as much as they have to offer.”

Now executive chef at the Portico Restaurant in the Canopy by Hilton Hotel in Grand Rapids, Hawkins has learned and challenged himself at every stop in his career.

“I’ve been fortunate to work for some great restaurants that have helped hone and develop my talent,” he said. “Black Heron was my first executive chef position, then Forty Acres, where I was truly able to spread my wings and flourish, and a few restaurants from there to my current position, where I’ve learned a great deal and grew.”

For Hawkins, cooking isn’t just about making a living; it’s how he shows he cares.

“When I had hip replacement surgery, I stopped by to see him on my way home,” Dunn said. “Trimell had a caravan of to-go food for my family. He fed my family for the entire weekend!”

Jenna Vande Kamp, development manager for alumni relations and annual giving, said Hawkins is a great selection to launch GRCC’s new award.

“We are so excited to recognize and highlight the early career accomplishments of our young alumni,” she said. “Trimell’s achievements – and his pride in his GRCC education – are representative of so many of our graduates and the impact that they’ve already had on their community.”

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): More than the winter blues

While many people experience the “winter blues,” some people may have a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The first step is to determine how much your symptoms interfere with your daily life.

All forms of depression, including Seasonal Affective Disorder, are painful and serious. It is important to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment. Learn more about the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder is More Than “Winter Blues”

Employee Assistance Program can help!

Your Employee Assistance Program is available 24/7, is CONFIDENTIAL and available to all employees (except student employees), their spouses and children living in their household.

We encourage all employees to take advantage of these services offered. EAPs deal with a variety of issues such as depression, anger management, anxiety and physical illness.

All EAP consultations and referrals are CONFIDENTIAL and the services are provided at no cost. You can access EAP services 24-hours, 7 day-a-week the hotline number is (800) 442-0809 or (616) 455-6210.

EAP – A Guide to Your Benefits

Student Leadership Awards – March 17

Know of students, student organizations or organization advisors that are deserving of recognition?

There are five awards that we recognize students with annually and one award for a Student Organization Advisor. Nominations open now until Friday, February 25, 2022!

RSVP on Raider Connect to save your spot by Friday, March 11, 2022.

Link to webpage for details: Student Leadership Awards

Postseason bound: Grace Lodes leads GRCC women’s basketball team to victory over Lansing

The Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team qualified for postseason play after a convincing 66-50 win over Lansing Community College on Saturday.

The men’s basketball team fell to the hot-shooting Stars, falling 105-87.

The GRCC women’s team dominated on the glass, finishing with 43 rebounds against just 20 for Lansing. The team also put up its third-best shooting performance at 42.9% (24-56), and best free throw shooting performance, sinking 17 in 20 attempts.

Grace Lodes, 8 for 16 from the floor and 6 for 7 from the free throw line, finished with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 6 assists.

Sally Merrill picked up her eighth double-double with a 13-point, 10-rebound performance in 36 minutes of action.

“Pleased with the win today,” Coach David Glazier said.  “I thought we responded well to a competitive first half, and the adjustments we made at halftime, specifically our defensive intensity and execution, to hold Lansing to 17 combined points in the second and third periods. I also loved that we had 20 assists on 24 made field goals.”

The women’s team’s win improved its record to 14-8 overall and 10-2 in the conference, and also qualified them for this year’s NJCAA Region XII-Great Lakes District A Basketball Championship, which begins on March 1.

The men’s team record drops to 9-16 overall, 4-10 in the conference.

“We talked before and after the game about the importance of sustaining success,” Coach Joe Fox said. “As a young team, you need to build off of successes and string positive things together. We need to do a better job of building on momentum throughout the game, especially defensively. You need to be fully locked in to get stops, and commit to rebounding. Those are the main things holding this group back from reaching their potential right now.”

LCC’s men’s team shot 56.2% from the field compared to 39.1% for visiting GRCC.

Drew Moore carried the team with 27 points on 10-21 from the floor while Ryel Daye contributed with the team’s only double-double, with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Point guard Danyel Bibbs had 11 assists for the third time this season and grabbed 5 boards.

GRCC’s women’s team will return to the hardwood on Feb. 14 at Kellogg Community College.  The men’s team returns to action on Feb. 16 at Muskegon Community College. 

Google Drive Navigation Bar update

Google has been working on updating various applications to make them more accessible for users no matter where they are working. The latest update coming will allow users to write text watermarks on Google Documents. 

The feature has been available on Microsoft Word but is finally coming to Google Docs. Additionally, when working with Microsoft Word documents, text watermarks will be preserved when importing or exporting your files.

Text watermarks will repeat on every page on your document, making it useful for indicating file status, such as “Confidential” or “Draft” before sharing more broadly, no matter the application you use. In addition to text watermarks, you can insert an image watermark or images above or behind text.

For more information and helpful tips, please visit the IT Customer Support Portal or contact the IT Customer Support Desk at x4357. If you have a suggestion or a Technology Tip you think can be useful, you can submit them by emailing techtips@grcc.edu

CTE February Sessions

For registration instructions and to view descriptions of all sessions, workshops and events the CTE has to offer, please click on the Calendar and Programming page.

• Understanding Today’s Veteran ~ Thursday, February 17 ~ 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• LGBTQ+ Panel Discussion ~ Friday, February 18 ~ 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
• They/Them/Pronouns ~ Thursday, February 24 ~ 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
• Building Community in the Online Classroom ~ Thursday, February 24 ~ 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. — Register with Garry Brand: gbrand@grcc.edu

GRCC In the News 02/14/2022

GRCC working to train more to do bloodwork

2/11/22 WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids Community College is working to meet the growing need for phlebotomists through a new scholarship partnership with blood supplier Versiti.

GRCC plans Feb. 15 clinic to provide students, employees and community members COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters

Grand Rapids Community College is planning a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for students, employees, and community members for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15 on the fourth floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE.

No appointment is needed for the clinic, the latest in a series conducted at the college. About 350 people have so far been assisted in campus vaccination clinics.

The clinic will offer COVID-19 vaccinations as well as booster shots. Vaccines have been determined to be the most effective tool in preventing serious illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19.

People wishing to obtain the vaccines or booster shots can save time and create an account and fill out the required vaccine form in advance:

https://www.visit.covidsecureapp.com/michigan (or QR Code below)

The clinics are part of a series of wellness protocols intended to help GRCC students, employees and community members.

The campus is requiring face-coverings indoors, and has posted face-covering dispensers near entrances in many buildings.

On-campus class sizes are limited to 75 percent capacity, and the college has replaced two-person desks with single-person desks in most classrooms.

The college also has installed new furniture for common areas that is intended to help with distancing.

Hundreds of hand sanitizing stations were added since the start of the pandemic, and changes were made to campus cooling and ventilation to increase air flow.

College leaders are monitoring developments with COVID-19 and its variants, and are communicating with state and federal health authorities for guidance as conditions change.

GRCC’s mission is to serve its community, and the campus has played a role in fighting the pandemic. GRCC Nursing students in 2021 administered shots into the arms of students, campus employees, and others in the spring as part of the Shot of Love campaign, a partnership with Urban Church Leadership Center and Spectrum Health.

In May, the college hosted a campus vaccination pop-up clinic, which was visited by first lady Jill Biden.

Tomorrow GRCC celebrates Black History Month with a keynote address from LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter

LaTosha Brown, an award-winning civil rights and voting rights activist, will offer the keynote address for this year’s Black History Month program hosted by Grand Rapids Community College’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The virtual event, free and open to the public, will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. Registration is available via Eventbrite at: tinyurl.com/GRCCequity

A 2019 fellow with the Institute of Politics at Harvard University, Brown is an organizer, philanthropic consultant, and political strategist with over 20 years of experience working in the non-profit and philanthropy sectors on a wide variety of issues related to political empowerment, social justice, economic development, leadership development, wealth creation, and civil rights.

Brown, a native of Selma, Ala., is also the co-founder of Black Voters Matter. This power-building southern-based civic engagement organization was instrumental in the 2017 Alabama U.S. Senate race and the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

“Ms. Brown’s work mirrors the activism of historical titans such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Ida B. Wells, and Dorothy Height,” said Dr. B. Afeni McNeely Cobham, GRCC’s Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. “Latosha’s commitment to expansive voter access has placed her at the epicenter of what some have defined as restrictive election reforms. The keynote address will explore the importance and impact of staying engaged in the democratic process of voting at every level.”

As a catalyst for change, thought leader and social strategist, Brown’s national and global efforts have been known to organize, inspire and catapult people into action.

In 2021, Glamour magazine recognized Brown in the ‘Women of the Year’ issue for her contribution to protect democracy. In previous years, she has received the White House Champion of Change Award, Spirit of Democracy Award, and the Louis Burnham Award for Human Rights.