Daily Archives: March 31, 2022

International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)

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The world observes Transgender Day of Visibility each March 31 to raise awareness about transgender people.

“Trans Day of Visibility is a day specifically to celebrate trans people’s lives and joys, not as struggles, but as triumphs as something to be happy about, to be proud of, to stand up and say that we are here, we are happy, we’re part of our community and our lives are important. That our lives are worthy and we should be celebrated,” said Olivia Hunt of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team celebrates this day of visibility with an employee profile.

Phoenix Noelle.

Phoenix Noelle (they/she), a trans-woman veteran, is a technician in the Technical Operations Department and a co-champion for CAP 3.4, the LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team.

They grew up at GRCC spending time exploring the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center while their mother worked in the open computer lab, and now they work from the ATC maintaining and repairing equipment spread out over all of GRCC’s campuses.

She is especially thankful for the family atmosphere at GRCC and looks forward to spending many more years building ever-deepening friendships here.

Phoenix appreciates everyone who has fought to build an LGBTQ+ inclusive community at GRCC and the greater Grand Rapids area.

“I hope everyone here at GRCC feels comfortable as their authentic self, and want all LGBTQ+ folks to know they are not alone,” Noelle said. “We have a growing community of support and invite anyone who feels comfortable doing so to stand up and stand out in whatever way you are able.”

The team encourages other trans people to be visible by displaying a Pride flag or wearing a pin, sticker or t-shirt.

The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team, CAP 3.4, is dedicated to support GRCC’s greater commitment to equity and GRCC’s values of diversity, innovation, respect, and responsiveness by providing resources that highlight and celebrate trans people and their contributions.

In support of this day, the GRCC Library has a display that provides information about the richness and diverseness of our transgender community. The display will be up for approximately three weeks.

The CAP also wants to highlight community advocates and partners: Grand Rapids Pride Center, StandOut, United Campus Christian Fellowship, and Grand Rapids Trans Foundation.

GRCC Music sophomores showcasing their talent and skill in recitals

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Jonah Walters is a Grand Rapids Community College Music student and plans to continue his studies – and possibly even teach the subject someday.

Walters is among the GRCC Music students who are demonstrating their talent and skill during three Sophomore Recitals next month.

Walters and fellow pianist Madilyne Barbrick will share pieces at 7 p.m. Friday, April 1 at the Linn Maxwell Recital Hall in GRCC’s Albert P. Smith Music Center, 142 Ransom Ave. NE. It’s the first of three recitals featuring five students.

Baritone Matthew Hillen’s recital is planned for 7 p.m. on April 8. He studied with professor Scott Bosscher and will be supported by collaborative pianist Emily Grabinski Conklin.

Brandon Klein, who plays the bassoon, and Matthew Orsillo, who plays the tuba, will be performing at 7 p.m. on April 9. Grabinski Conklin also will be performing in support. Klein studied with professor Anthony Walker, and Orsillo with professor Kathleen Gomez.

All performances are open to the public, and admission is free.

Music Department Program Director Kevin Dobreff said the recitals are an opportunity for students to show what they’ve learned during their time at GRCC, and highlight the department and its faculty.

“The students and instructors work so hard to get to this point,” he said. “We’re celebrating their musical journey, and also showing our greater community the quality of our programs and our people.”

Walters, from Dorr, will continue his education at Grand Valley State University. He plans to study music education with a goal of teaching middle or high school band or choir. He studied at GRCC with Dr. Debora DeWitt.

“I’ve really enjoyed the warm learning environment that GRCC has and the friendliness that radiates from the music building, especially,” Walters said.

“The piano faculty especially are amazing people and pillars of leadership. They have made it easy to practice the piano and put in the many hours a week that practice requires.”

Barbick, from Byron Center, said music has been her passion since childhood.

“I’ve played piano for 13 years now, and my dream is to be a music educator myself one day,” she said.

Her plans after graduating from GRCC are to transfer to a four-year university to complete my bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

Math Awareness Month contest

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April is Math Awareness Month so it is time for the Math Awareness Month Contest. Feel free to make it a family affair.

The contest is open to any GRCC student or staff member. If you answer at least one of the three problems correctly, you are in the running for a prize.

Entry forms must be returned to Nancy Forrest (nforrest@grcc.edu) in the Math Department at by Monday, April 15.

Download the form online

Child Development & Education courses have undergone a prefix change

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Students in classes in Main on 11/19/2018 at GRCC. Tricia Siegel, Growth and Dev class. Photo by Steve Jessmore, Steve Jessmore Photography.

Faculty and Staff – please pass this on to your students.

Having trouble finding Child Development/Education classes?

As registration has opened for the Fall and Winter semesters, students may have trouble finding Child Development & Education courses in their Online Center.

These courses have undergone a prefix change beginning in Fall 2022 and can now be found under “EDU” instead of “CD”.

Courses with the prefix “CDA” are part of the Fast Track CDA program.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Education department at Education@grcc.edu

Thanks!