Mike Klawitter, Walter Lockwood to give ‘Open Door’ presentation tonight

The Main Building in 1944.

Did you know that Grand Rapids Junior College had been in existence for 57 years before it built its first new building (the North Building, now known as the Cook Building)? Before 1971, the college campus consisted of two hand-me-down facilities from the Grand Rapids Public Schools—the former Central High School (the East Building) and the Davis Technical High School (the Main Building). A third building, known as the West Building, an empty Lear-Siegler factory on Division Avenue, was purchased by the college in 1963 and renovated as a classroom building. It is now the Kendall School of Art and Design.

Read about this and much more in Open Door, the newly published 100 year history of GRJC/GRCC. The book can be purchased at Schuler Books, the GRCC Library, or online here.

Tonight: The Grand Rapids Historical Society will host a presentation by Mike Klawitter and Walter Lockwood on “Open Door: The 100-Year History of Grand Rapids Junior College/Community College at 7 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.

To learn more about tonight’s presentation, click here or visit the society’s Facebook page here. To read a review of Open Door by society member Tom Dilley, click here.

‘Open Door’ musical gets encore screening

You are invited to the Open Door – The Musical “encore” screening!

Where: ATC Auditorium (168)

When: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Friday April 3, 2015

Why: Because it’s an amazing show that we don’t want anyone to miss!

Questions? Contact Shelly Urbane or Julie Otte

Walter Lockwood, Mike Klawitter to speak about GRCC’s history

The Grand Rapids Historical Society will host a presentation by Mike Klawitter and Walter Lockwood on “Open Door: The 100-Year History of Grand Rapids Junior College/Community College at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.

Their presentation will explore the college’s origins and its importance to the central city through the years. Included will be a look at the expansion of programs, enrollment and facilities; the challenges and successes GRCC has experienced; and some of the personalities involved.

To learn more, click here or visit the society’s Facebook page here. To read a review of Open Door by society member Tom Dilley, click here.

GRCC was not always an ‘Open Door’

Did you know that for most of the first half of its 100-year history, GRJC entrance requirements for an academic transfer student duplicated those of the University of Michigan? Only in the early 1960s, under Dean Dr. John Visser, did the college open its doors to any student with a sincere desire to get a college education. The doors have been open ever since, with the exception of a few years when enrollment was capped for lack of classroom space.

Open Door, a newly published history of the college, written by retired English professor Walter Lockwood, tells the story and names the names of the people who in the early years fought for the college’s existence, and those who over its history have had the vision to build a thriving institution. It can be purchased at Schuler Books, the GRCC Library, or online at grcc.edu/100^th.

100 Ways to Give: Collecting 100 children’s books for Safe Haven Ministries

In celebration of GRCC’s 100 years, the Academic Support Center and the Academic Testing Center are combining efforts to collect 100 children’s books on behalf of Safe Haven Ministries. Safe Haven Ministries offers comprehensive domestic abuse services to women and their children.

During the month of March, new or gently used children’s books, particularly books about feelings, can be dropped off at one of the following 100 Ways to Give drop box locations:

• the enrollment center.
• the student success center in Sneden Hall.
• at Tassell M-TEC.
• in the student life office at the Student Center.
• the first-floor circulation desk at the library.
• ATC Tutorial and Open Computer Lab, room 215 ATC.
• Biology Learning Center, room 106 CSC.
• Business Tutorial and Computer Lab, room 201 CAH.
• Calculus and Physical Science Tutorial Lab, room 103 CSC.
• Health Science Resource and Tutorial Lab, room 401 CAH.
• Math Tutorial Lab, room 105 CAH.
• Language Arts Tutorial Lab, room 501 CAH.
• Academic Testing Center, 325 SCC.

To see the full list of 100 Ways to Give projects, click here. When getting involved, don’t forget to share it on social media by using #GRCC100years and #100waystogive on Twitter and Instagram, and “Grand Rapids Community College” on Facebook.

 

 

Historical Society to look at GRCC’s 100 years

The Grand Rapids Historical Society will host a presentation by Mike Klawitter and Walter Lockwood on “Open Door: The 100-Year History of Grand Rapids Junior College/Community College at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.

Their presentation will explore the college’s origins and its importance to the central city through the years. Included will be a look at the expansion of programs, enrollment and facilities; the challenges and successes GRCC has experienced; and some of the personalities involved.

To learn more, click here or visit the society’s Facebook page here.

100 Ways to Give: 100 flannel board kits for the Early Learning Neighborhood Cooperative

Join the GRCC Lab Preschool and the Child Development Club as we create 100 flannel board kits to benefit the families of the Early Learning Neighborhood Cooperative! Two times are available to put your talents to work – come and go as you are able!

March 11, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in 226 Cook Hall
or
March 24, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the GRCC Laboratory Preschool. Parking is available at the preschool for this event.

Please RSVP to Julie Sizemore at jsizemore@grcc.edu if you plan to attend the evening event—snacks will be provided!

 

 

When getting involved, don’t forget to share it on social media by using #GRCC100years and #100waystogive on Twitter and Instagram, and “Grand Rapids Community College” on Facebook.

100 Ways to Give: MS Scholarship fundraiser

As part of the 100th anniversary, GRCC Adult Education will be supporting the efforts of the MS Scholarship Foundation.  Please join us on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at Big Boy, located at 407 Pearl Street, Grand Rapids, from 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM.  During this event, Big Boy will donate 15 % of your food purchase when you present the flier to the cashier.

View this document on Scribd

 

 

Sponsor a grad!

As part of the 100^th anniversary, we have set a goal of seeing 800 students walk across the stage during Commencement (this is double our normal participation). We need your help to accomplish this goal.

In the past, students have told us the cost of the cap and gown kept them from walking. We would like to remove this barrier for our students by kicking off a new gown recycling program. To get started and keep in theme with our 100-year Anniversary, we are hoping to collect 100 caps and gowns.  The cost per set is $31 and we are asking you to consider sponsoring a graduate (or 2 or 10) by contacting the Foundation Office today at 234-3939. This can easily be handled by sending in a check or calling with a credit card number.

The gowns that are purchased through the recycling program will be collected after commencement to be used again by students for years to come. Please help us reward our students who have to sacrifice so much to attend college. It would be a shame for them not to celebrate this great accomplishment.

Thank you in advance for your support. If you have any questions about this program or how to make your donation, please contact Stacey Bush at x3739 or Sara Dorer at x3924.

Sharing the GRCC Story: Video highlights the 1940s

See some of GRCC’s 100 years of history come to life in the video below! To learn more, visit our timeline.

Walt Lockwood, Mike Klawitter to talk about GRCC history

The Grand Rapids Historical Society will host a presentation by Mike Klawitter and Walter Lockwood on “Open Door: The 100-Year History of Grand Rapids Junior College/Community College at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.

Their presentation will explore the college’s origins and its importance to the central city through the years. Included will be a look at the expansion of programs, enrollment and facilities; the challenges and successes GRCC has experienced; and some of the personalities involved.

To learn more, click here or visit the society’s Facebook page here.

GRCC’s original building still stands

The East Building in 1925.

Did you know that part of the college’s original building, the East Building, still stands? It is presently the GRCC Music Center, constructed in the gymnasium portion of the East Building when architects and acoustic consultants determined that the concrete floors and heavy masonry walls were excellent sound isolators. The classroom portion of the East Building was razed in the early 1970s to make room for the Learning Resource Center.

The Music Center, the first true facility the Music Department has occupied at the college, opened in August of 1980. Original plans included a 750-seat performance hall to the immediate east, but the funding never materialized.

Read about this and much more in Open Door, the newly published 100 year history of GRJC/GRCC. Written by retired English professor Walter Lockwood, it provides a wealth of information on the college and its people. It can be purchased at Schuler Books, the GRCC Library, or online here.

100 Ways to Give: school supplies needed for ABO students

The Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Diversity Learning Center, Office of Equity Affairs and the Older Learner Center are collaborating on a #100WaystoGive project to collect items for students in Alpha Beta Omega. You can see a list of needed items in the flier below.

To see the full list of 100 Ways to Give projects, click here. When getting involved, don’t forget to share it on social media by using #GRCC100years and #100waystogive on Twitter and Instagram, and “Grand Rapids Community College” on Facebook.

View this document on Scribd

The latest from GRCC TV on YouTube: Psychology Lecturer Andrea Baier Petiet, Diversity Lecturer Mary Pipher, Ph.D., Giants Banquet 2015, MLK Celebration Evening 2015, 100th Anniversary Play – “Open Door” – the GRCC Story, and more.

‘Open Door’ shares history of troubled times at GRJC

Arthur Andrews

Jesse Buttrick Davis

Did you know that GRJC came close to closing down on numerous occasions in its first 40 years? During World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, both the mayor of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Board of Education attempted to shut the doors of the college in an effort to save money. It was only through extraordinary efforts on the part of Presidents Davis and Andrews that the college survived.

Read about this and much more in Open Door, the newly published 100-year history of GRJC/GRCC. Written by retired English professor Walter Lockwood, it is a wealth of information on the college and its people. It can be purchased at Schuler Books, the GRCC Library, or online here.