AMP Lab family open house looks to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers

The next generation of scientists might be inspired by building motorized LEGO creations and watching robots in action this Saturday through a Grand Rapids Community College partnership with Western Michigan University-Grand Rapids and Autocam Medical.

An AMP Lab Family Open House event is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 9 in the AMP Lab @ WMU, located at 200 Ionia Ave SW in Grand Rapids.

The free event encourages children ages 5-12 to explore the world of STEM and advanced manufacturing through hands-on activities related to this rapidly growing field.

“There are exciting careers in advanced manufacturing and the STEM fields,” said Julie Parks, interim dean of Grand Rapids Community College’s School of Workforce Development. “GRCC is proud to work with WMU and other partners to inspire West Michigan families by showing how the state-of-the-art technology used in the AMP Lab classrooms is used to create things that are changing our world.”

GRCC will join Western engineering faculty, JR Automation, Bricks4Kidz, West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology and Autocam Medical to present an array of fun-filled activities, including robotic demonstrations, 3D printers in action, motorized LEGO building, manufacturing lab tours and much more!

“Autocam Medical is proud to work with our education partners to model the intersection of education and industry to help empower children and their families to explore the possibilities STEM-related fields have to offer during this event,” said John Kennedy IV, general manager of Autocam Medical. “The AMP Lab was designed to foster collaborative learning between industry leaders, educators, and students and provides a unique opportunity to create pathways to careers in manufacturing and engineering.”

Occupying the first two floors of Western’s Grand Rapids regional location, the AMP Lab @ WMU is a state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory where future engineers, designers and other skilled individuals can cultivate their abilities.

“Western Michigan University is placing manufacturing and design at the forefront of solving key challenges for industry by combining prototyping, professional workshops, training, K-12 outreach, small-scale manufacturing and advanced education opportunities in one space in the AMP Lab,” said Joanne Roehm, director of WMU-Grand Rapids.

The AMP Lab @ WMU in Grand Rapids is a makerspace in its truest form, providing a space to bring ideas to life.

Aiming to foster a multi-talented workforce to help reinvigorate the advanced manufacturing industries, the lab features high-tech equipment such as 3D printers, lasers and scanners to offer hands-on instruction and training, including computer numerical control programming, computer-aided design, and computer-aided manufacturing.

Wellness Champions: Sock collection centers across campus

Wellness Committee April Initiative: 

Earth Day is April 22–Let’s focus on the Environmental Dimension of Wellness! 

Socks are the most thrown-away piece of apparel.

GRCC can help with that! The Wellness Champions are teaming up with Smartwool’s Second Cut Project to create a more circular economy and give every sock a second chance at life.

Smartwool has partnered with Material Return circularity platform to deconstruct socks and upcycle them into new products, like dog beds.

The Wellness Champions have identified 9 locations around campus for sock drop-off and those are listed below! This initiative will go from April 8-April 22 and we hope you can participate! 

Drop-Off Site Locations Are:

• RJF 305
• Student Financial Services – 1st floor RJF
• Admin Building – 2nd Floor
• Math Dept – 2nd Floor CPP
• GRCC Police – Main Office
• Calkins – Science Computer Lab, Room 104
• ATC – Tutorial and Open Computer Lab, Room 215
• Lakeshore Campus – Main Office Room 101
• Fieldhouse – 2nd floor office 211

Strength Blast Canceled Today, 4/7

Today’s Strength Blast exercise class at noon has been canceled due to illness. Apologies for any inconvenience! 

GRCC In the News 04/07/2022

Michigan universities see decline in enrollment; numbers increase at community colleges

4/6/22 FOX 17

It’s a problem many university leaders are scrambling to find answers for — lower enrollment in higher education. The trend is happening across the country, and the state of Michigan is no different.

… Grand Rapids Community College had a 4.4% increase from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021. Kalamazoo Valley Community College saw a whopping 49.6% increase in enrollment from 2020 to 2021.

Renowned photographer, CMU alumnus reflects on journey to wildlife photography

4/6/22 CMU Life (Central Michigan University’s student newspaper)

Central Michigan University alumnus and award-winning photographer, Steve Jessmore discussed his career and recent change in photography to a virtual audience April 5.

… He reached out to several photojournalist friends that worked in public relations at various universities. The first person he made contact with was at Grand Rapids Community College. He has been with the college since.