See some of GRCC’s 100 years of history come to life in the video below! To learn more, visit our timeline.
Category Archives: 100th Anniversary
Sponsor a grad!
As part of the 100th 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.
Historical Society presentation features Mike Klawitter, Walter Lockwood
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 roots
Did you know that GRJC, the first junior college in Michigan, was located for 11 years on the third floor of Grand Rapids Central High School? Did you know that the first GRJC president–and for several years the second—served as both head of the college and principal of Central? Did you know that GRJC admission standards, class offerings, and even examinations were near-duplications of the University of Michigan’s? The University, by giving its blessing to the new junior college, provided the motivation for its 1914 opening. GRJC would become a main feeder school for the University and adopt U of M colors.
Open Door, a 192-page history of GRJC/GRCC written by retired English professor Walter Lockwood, is a treasure chest of information on the college and its people, enriched by several hundred historical photos, an extensive timeline, and multiple appendices. It can be purchased at Schuler Books, the GRCC Library, or online.
‘Open Door’ book includes orange stripe tale, other little-known stories
Did you know that Language Arts instructor Keith Longberg once painted a bright orange stripe from the sixth-floor elevator down 200 feet of hallway and around a corner where it became an arrow pointing to his office? He did it in protest of the drab confines of the GRJC West Building. Though Longberg was billed for the removal of the arrow, Language Arts colleagues, in the name of aesthetics, took up a collection in his support.
Read about this and more in Open Door, the 100 year history of GRJC/GRCC, available at Schuler Books, the GRCC Library, or online here.
100 Ways to Give: Equity Affairs, Diversity Learning, Older Learner centers team up to help 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.
Sharing the GRCC Story: Video highlights 1920s
See some of GRCC’s 100 years of history come to life in the video below! To learn more, visit our timeline.
‘Open Door’ book details growth in diversity
Juan Olivarez
Did you know that the first Hispanic president of a Michigan college or university was Dr. Juan Olivarez, the eighth chief executive of Grand Rapids Community College (1999-2008)? Deeply committed to diversity, Dr. Olivarez doubled the number of minority students in the nine years of his presidency.
Read about this and much more in Open Door, the newly published 100 year history of GRJC/GRCC. The book can be purchased at the GRCC Library or online here.
‘Open Door’ book explores GRCC’s literary history
Did you know that a number of GRJC/GRCC professors, now successful writers, were featured writers (as students) in early issues of Display magazine? Philip Jung, David Cope, Barbara Saunier, Kim Wyngarden, and Tom Rademacher all published their creative work in the college literary magazine. Novelist Maryann Lesert, associate professor of English, is the present adviser of Display.
Read about these people and other writers/alumni of note in Open Door, the 100 year history of GRJC/GRCC, available at Schuler Books, the GRCC Library, or online by clicking here.
Learn about GRCC sports history in ‘Open Door’
Did you know that legendary head GRJC football coach Gordon Hunsberger began his college coaching career by taking his team to the Los Angeles Coliseum for the first-ever National Junior College Championship game? Though team members had their money and valuables stolen during a practice session and GRJC lost the championship game, the event put the college football team on the national radar. Many more bowl games would follow for Hunsberger’s teams and those that came after him.
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. The book can be purchased at the GRCC Library or online here.
Learn about state’s first Hispanic college president in anniversary book
Juan Olivarez
Did you know that the first Hispanic president of a Michigan college or university was Dr. Juan Olivarez, the eighth chief executive of Grand Rapids Community College (1999-2008)? Deeply committed to diversity, Dr. Olivarez doubled the number of minority students in the nine years of his presidency.
Read about this and much more in Open Door, the newly published 100-year history of GRJC/GRCC. The book can be purchased at the GRCC Library or by clicking here.
100 Ways to Give: food donations for Bethany Christian Services
For the college’s 100-year celebration, Business Department faculty and students collected food for Bethany Christian Services. Learn more about this project in the video 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.
Open Door book includes all full-time employees
Did you know that if you have worked as a full-time employee for GRJC/GRCC at any time in the last 100 years, your name is in Open Door, the newly published 100-year history of the college written by retired English professor Walter Lockwood? This book 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 100 year history have had the vision to build a thriving institution.
Enthusiastically reviewed, this 192-page history is a treasure chest of information on the college and its people, enriched by several hundred historical photos, an extensive timeline, and multiple appendices. It can be purchased at the GRCC Library or by clicking here.
Sharing the GRCC Story: Video features GRJC in its early days
See some of GRCC’s 100 years of history come to life in the video below! To learn more, visit our timeline.
GRCC In the News, 12-15-14
Tom Rademacher: Author squeezes GRCC’s entire 100-year history in captivating book
Dec. 14, 2014; MLive
It’s amazing to fathom how Walt Lockwood was able to squeeze the entire 100-year history of Grand Rapids Community College into fewer than 200 pages.
Dentists donate time for healthier senior smiles
Dec. 12, 2014; WZZM
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) — Some local dentists and hygienists donated their time Friday to provide free dental care to more than 50 low-income seniors.
This was the fourth year for Senior Dental Day and the third year Grand Rapids Community College has hosted the event. Participants received free cleanings, any necessary x-rays and follow-up referrals.
Talent 2025 report pegs strengths, weaknesses
Dec. 12, 2014; Grand Rapids Business Journal
An extensive labor market analysis showcases the region’s strengths and the need to bridge potential gaps among education, training and industry demands.
… Other business and education stakeholders represented were Muskegon Community College, Ferris State University, Lake Shore Advantage, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Amway, Wolverine Coil Spring and Alliance for Health.
Gov. Snyder Appoints Ramirez-Saenz and Srivastava to the Ferris Board of Trustees
Dec. 12, 2014; Ferris State University news service
LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed Ana Ramirez-Saenz, of Rockford, and Rupesh Srivastava, of Franklin Village, to serve on the Ferris State University Board of Trustees. Ramirez-Saenz and Srivastava will serve eight-year terms that expire Dec. 31, 2022. Their appointments, effective Jan. 1, 2015, are subject to the confirmation by the Michigan senate.
… Ramirez-Saenz is CEO and owner of La Fuente Consulting LLC. She was previously the assistant product manager, and marketing and training manager in leasing and financial services, for Steelcase Inc. Ramirez-Saenz served as past chair of the Clark Retirement Community Finance Committee, board member and events chair for the Ellington Academy for Arts and Technology, and serves on boards for the Grand Rapids School Foundation, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation Board. She earned both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
The daily employee newsletter of Grand Rapids Community College 