Daily Archives: June 29, 2022

GRCC Celebrates World Affairs Council Award with Ambassador Yovanovitch

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On Friday, June 24 , members of the GRCC community celebrated with former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch her award of the Vandenberg Prize. Given annually by the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, the honor is presented to national or international leaders who have been influential in developing global understanding and collaboration on the world stage.

Pictured below with the ambassador are (left to right): Kate Kryger (Professor of Biology), Rachel Lutwick-Deaner (Assistant Professor of English & Gender Studies), Ambassador Yovanovitch, Kathleen Bruinsma (Board of Trustees), Ashley Fox (Assistant Director of Student Life), and Emily Pain (Assistant Professor of Sociology & Gender Studies).

Also attending the event were: Grant Snider (Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences), Leigh Kleinert (Interim Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences), Bill Faber (Interim Dean of Arts & Sciences), Steve Abid (Foundation Board of Directors & Retired Professor of Economics), Yan Bai (Professor of Political Science), Hillery Haney (Professor of French), Nikki Smith (Professor of Criminal Justice), Evan Macklin (TRIO Program Advisor), Mike DeVivo (Professor of Geography), Suzanna Duba (former US Department of State Intern, US Embassy, Kyiv & GRCC alumna), and Cadey Korson (Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Massey University of New Zealand & GRCC alumna).

GRCC, as an educational partner of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, hosts the Great Decisions Global Discussion Series, which is considered America’s largest discussion program on world affairs.

Among the speakers featured in 2022 were Fiona Hill, Elizabeth Shackelford and Jennifer Devine. GRCC students, faculty, and staff attend lectures for free. For more information, visit: Home | World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (worldmichigan.org)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness webinar opportunity June 30

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This session will share information on the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program Basics, recent changes to the PSLF program, the PSLF Help Tool, and additional resources to navigate the application process.

This session is intended for borrowers of Federal student loans with special emphasis on current and former students who may qualify for the PSLF Program due to the following: employer type; employment status; eligible payments and an eligible repayment plan.
 
The platform to have your questions answered will be via chat on Microsoft Teams Live.

Thursday, June 30, 2022

8:00-9:00pm EST

Register today!

More than 900 new students eligible to attend GRCC with financial support from Grand Rapids Promise Zone

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More than 900 students have been invited to attend Grand Rapids Community College during the 2022-2023 academic year with financial support from the Grand Rapids Promise Zone.

This year, more than 500 students attended GRCC using the Promise Zone scholarship, which removes cost as a barrier to a quality college education for eligible students.

“The Grand Rapids Promise Zone is about access and opportunity, and an indication of this community’s commitment to helping everyone get the education they need to be successful,” said Ashlee Mishler, Promise Zone director. “This is an opportunity for students to start their educational journey at GRCC, earning credits or career skill certificates — for free — close to home.”  

The Promise Zone scholarship is available for students who live within Grand Rapids and graduate from one of the 25 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city limits. The program covers the cost of tuition, fees, books and required course materials for GRCC’s associate degree and job training and certification programs.

The Promise Zone scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship. Students must complete the FAFSA — Free Application for Federal Student Aid — to determine available need-based aid. Once the total need-based aid has been determined, the scholarship covers the remaining costs.

Students are eligible to receive the full Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship (60 credit hours) if:

  • They attend an eligible Grand Rapids high school continuously since the beginning of 10th grade or before;
  • They live in the city of Grand Rapids boundaries continuously since the beginning of 10th grade or before; and
  • They graduate from any of the 25 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city.

Students who have been enrolled at an eligible high school and who have resided in Grand Rapids continuously since the start of 11th grade are eligible for a partial scholarship, covering up to 30 credit hours at GRCC.

Eligible students have five years to access these funds from the time they graduate high school. Once enrolled, they must take at least six credits in the fall and winter semesters. Students who opt to attend a different college or university can still use the Promise Zone scholarship as a GRCC guest student during the summer semesters.

The scholarships were created in 2020 by the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, a group of city and community leaders and educators.

Additional information is available at grcc.edu/promisezone and grpromisezone.com, through email at promisezone@grcc.edu and by calling (616) 234-4321.

GRCC In the News 06/29/2022

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Baseball awards

6/24/22 The Post (Cedar Springs)

The Cedar Springs Red Hawk varsity baseball team tied the school record for wins this season with 23.  They finished 4th in the OK Gold Conference, which gave them four all conference nominations.  

… (Aiden) Brunin batted lead off this season. He had 110 at bats and a 427 average. His 47 hits included 9 doubles and 3 triples. He scored 42 runs and led the team with 27 stolen bases. He will attend Grand Rapids Community College this fall and play for Coach Mike Eddington. Though he was primarily a shortstop for the Red Hawks, Aiden will likely see playing time all over the field at the collegiate level. Brunin was OK Gold All Conference, and District 9 All District as a short stop.  He will also play in the John Bos all-star game this week.

How Some Hospitals Are Grappling with the Workforce Shortage

6/29/22 American Hospital Association

In April, leaders at Sanford Health, a rural system in Fargo, North Dakota, began rolling out an augmented intelligence software tool the organization co-developed with the tech firm Flexwise Health to begin scheduling its 10,000-plus nurses more effectively.

… After examining turnover and forecasting data, Trinity (Health) leaders decided to try an apprenticeship program modeled after approaches used in manufacturing and construction. The 12-month program, developed with Grand Rapids Community College and Michigan Works! Association, lifted Trinity Health’s medical assistant-retention rate to 76% one year after graduation. The health system has trained 129 medical assistants since the program’s inception.

Twisthink moves headquarters to Grand Rapids

6/29/22 consulting.us

Twisthink, a Holland, MI-based digital consulting firm, is establishing a new headquarters facility in Grand Rapids.

… The new facility will create 37 immediate jobs in engineering, strategy, design, and project leadership. Twisthink provides employees with professional development opportunities including reimbursement for advanced degrees and training programs, with Grand Rapids Community College committing to support Twisthink’s expansion with a workforce training package in 2023.