GRCC In the News, 11-15-22

GRCC working to address ASL interpreter shortage

11/14/22 WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A 2019 survey from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights found that 7.4% of people across the state live with some form of hearing disability — being completely deaf or hard-of-hearing — and there aren’t enough certified American Sign Language interpreters to meet the demand.

Grand Rapids Community College has seen the need and is taking action. It is working to add more courses and partner with a nearby school to address the interpreter shortage.

Islam Hoxha, refugjati nga Rahoveci që po shkëlqen si asistent në kolegjet amerikane

11/14/22 Rahoveci24 (Rahoveci, Kosovo)

Për publikun sportdashës në Rahovec, Islam Hoxha është një emër i njohur.

… Në fillim të sezonit 2022-2023, Islam Hoxha angazhohet si asistent trajner në ekipin e basketbollit të Grand Rapids Community College(Kolegj Publik në Michigan), ku po korr suksese të mëdha.

(For the sports-loving public in Rahovec, Islam Hoxha is a well-known name.

… At the beginning of the 2022-2023 season, Islam Hoxha is engaged as an assistant coach in the basketball team of Grand Rapids Community College (Public College in Michigan), where he is reaping great success.)

(This article also appeared in Raho Gazeta, a Kosovo newspaper.)

Whitehall Sports Hall of Fame welcomes new induction class

11/14/22 White Lake Beacon

WHITEHALL — Last Saturday’s Whitehall Sports Hall of Fame banquet saw a new venue – the White Lake American Legion Algot Johnson Post 69 on Colby St. – but the same warmth and memories the annual event is known for.

… (Kurt) Huizenga starred in four sports at Whitehall, but most notably baseball, going on to play at Grand Rapids Community College and Aquinas College. He still holds the career batting average record at the latter school, an astonishing .443. He played pro baseball for a while after college and assistant coached under Warren Zweigle for many years. His son Casey is continuing the family tradition of coaching in the Viking programs, and former Viking Terrell Harris, who is now part of the family as well, is pursuing a career in education too.

Compassionate care earns Watson a DAISY Award at Gerber Hospital

11/14/22 Spectrum Health press release

FREMONT, Mich., Nov. 14, 2022 – Ladonna Watson, RN, an inpatient charge nurse at Corewell Health™ Gerber Hospital (formerly Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Hospital), was selected as the hospital’s latest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

… As a young girl, Watson knew she wanted to be a nurse. She earned her nursing degree from Grand Rapids Community College and came to Gerber Hospital in 2006. She shared that one of the most rewarding aspects of being a nurse is the feeling you get when you know you’ve taken good care of someone, and they get to go home.

Her volunteer efforts led to saving a life

11/14/22 RDH Magazine

Each week the RDH PIRA (Patient Impact & Rise Above) recognition program, sponsored by Water Pik, Inc., features a dental hygiene clinician who excels in his or her role and goes the extra mile. The past two and a half years have been a challenge for many clinicians and as we return to the operatory, we want to acknowledge those who provide patient care—clinicians who are changing their patients’ lives, influencing their patients’ health, and making a difference every day. This week we honor Teri Herdon, BAS, RDH.

… “I teach dental hygiene at Grand Rapids Community College, work in private practice, and serve as a CDCA-WREB-CITA examiner. I love the variety from all these activities. I love my relationships with my students, patients, and coworkers. When teaching, I learn also, and I take the knowledge to my practice to help my team and patients.

Silver Line moves to Wave card, cash payments

11/14/22 WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Payment options are changing for The Rapid bus service’s Silver Line.

… The Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit service was designed to quickly move people up Division Avenue and to the Medical Mile and downtown Grand Rapids, easing traffic and parking congestion around Grand Rapids’ hospitals and Grand Rapids Community College. It started running in 2014.

School News Network feature: TRIO National First-Generation College Student Day celebration focuses on success stories

Grand Rapids Community College psychology professor Ennis Young said he would likely be in prison if he didn’t go to college.

Pursuing education allowed for a different life path, he said as part of a panel of educators during a National First-Generation College Student Day celebration.

“A lot of people I grew up with are dead and gone or locked up and that’s my truth,” he said. “I grew up with people in my community and in my own home who didn’t believe in me. Those words kick you in the gut and you feel inadequate.”

Young and other faculty, staff and college students shared their stories about what it’s like to be first in their families to go to college at a Nov. 8 event organized by GRCC’s TRIO program. The annual recognition was started in 2017 by the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation Student Success.

TRIO’s mission is to support and motivate first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities throughout their college experience.

GRCC student and TRIO student employee Erika Hernandez said she received support from Dr. Kristi Haik, dean of GRCC’s School of STEM, who told her, “nothing goes as planned” and to “always have a plan B” in regard to your college journey.

“I graduated in 2020 and that switched my plans,” Hernandez said. “I took a gap year and then came to GRCC. Things didn’t go as planned, but I learned so much about the college journey coming to GRCC and TRIO.”

Through TRIO, she learned about financial literacy in regard to attending college and got connected with tutoring.

“They have supported me, given me tools and resources and helped me see the reality (of college),” Hernandez said. “I’ve learned to set goals and imagine my future.”

Learning to Navigate Education

After immigrating from Mexico to the United States, where Hernandez was born, her parents moved back for a few years and then returned to Michigan, where she had to relearn English while attending high school and preparing for the future.

“When it came time for college, my parents didn’t know how to help me get into college or the things I needed to know about financial aid,” she said.

She also faced additional roles and responsibilities as the oldest child in her family.

“Coming from an immigrant family, you’d think a diploma comes with authority and confidence. But being a first-generation college student doesn’t go away just because you graduate and get your degree.”

Looking forward, Hernandez hopes to receive her associate degree in business in spring 2023 and transfer in the fall.

No matter what her future holds, Hernandez will be happy if she can help people and “do what she wants to do.”

“For so long, I was doing what other people told me to do,” she said. “My dad says to me that so many people will try to tell you things and influence you. But in the end, you have the final choice.”

TRIO Program Director Victoria Powers said she hoped putting professional first-generation college students in front of current students was informative and inspiring.

“When you get a degree or a certification, it isn’t a magic piece of paper to make the anxieties and insecurities go away for first-generation college students,” Powers said.

Upcoming learning opportunities in November & December

Wednesday November 16

Mental Health First Aid

***Still spots open!***

Thursday November 17

Data Literacy: Making Meaning

Friday November 18

Mindfulness Made Simple 

Wednesday November 30

Show Me The Money

Thursday December 1

25Live Searches & Reports

Friday December 2

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Monday December 5

Strategic Planning at GRCC

Tuesday December 6

Communicating With Tact

Wednesday December 7

Good People Make Mistakes

Thursday December 8

Verbal De-escalation Skills Training