GRCC In the News, 11-10-14

GRCC to showcase new manufacturing equipment during event for local employers

Nov. 7, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College will show local employers its new mechatronics equipment during a Nov. 13 event.

How welcoming is GRCC? College to share results of campus climate survey at town hall forum

Nov. 8, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College will discuss the results of a campus climate survey Tuesday at two on-campus forums.

Ionia students participate in College Application Week

Nov. 7, 2014; The Ionia Sentinel Standard

Ionia, Mich. — Ionia High School staff and students participated in a week-long national initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for students to apply for college known as College Application Week.

… The final event of the week provided students with an opportunity to fill out college applications and meet with college representatives from Grand Rapids Community College, Montcalm Community College and Lansing Community College.

Skippers open season with blowout win

Nov. 8, 2014; The Port Huron Times Herald

It wasn’t always pretty. But a new era of basketball began Saturday for the St. Clair County Community College women’s basketball team.

The Skippers jumped out to an early advantage against Grand Rapids Community College and never trailed in the 91-76 victory at SC4 gym.

Kelsee Mullins joins School of Workforce Development staff

Please welcome Kelsee Mullins, ESP for Manufacturing/Manufacturing Apprenticeship, Applied Technology, Computer Information Systems, Architectural and Mechanical Design departments.

Kelsee received her Associate Degree from Grand Rapids Community College in 2011. She is currently working on finishing up her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with Ferris State University, at their Grand Rapids Campus. Kelsee started her GRCC career in the Music Center with Kevin Dobreff and Kathy Kolehouse and worked there for a year and a half as a part-time contingent employee. She is very grateful and honored that her first GRCC career experience was with Kevin and Kathy. Kelsee then took her current position as a full-time contingent employee and now permanent. She is excited for this opportunity and extremely excited to be working with these departments.

GRCC In the News, 5-6-14

Grandville student who died in crash was ‘finest young man I’ve ever met,’ teacher says

May 5, 2014; MLive

GRANDVILLE, MI — Roman Aguilar-Emmons, a Grandville High School senior and Kent Career Technical Center student, spent part of his Saturday picking up along 28th Street near Burlingame in Wyoming as part of a criminal justice class service project.

… Aguilar-Emmons, who worked at Meijer, planned to enroll in Grand Rapids Community College’s Police Academy in the fall. He had also applied for the one-week Grand Rapids Police Department’s High School Youth Police Academy in June.

‘Meet the Buyers’ aimed at introducing business owners to government buyers

May 5, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — West Michigan business owners who want to sell goods and services to local government agencies and schools can get to know their potential customers at a Meet the Buyer event on May 15.

… “In the past, this event has garnered some real business opportunities for a number of local suppliers,” said Mansfield W. Matthewson, director of purchasing at Grand Rapids Community College.

“Most of the public entities attending this year’s event have current, ongoing or pending projects, so this is an outstanding opportunity for them to connect with local area suppliers.”

GRCC shifts repair money, cuts funding for diversity programs to plug budget deficit

May 6, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Community College is set to close a projected $3.3 million budget deficit by raising tuition, charging students more to park on campus and using about $850,000 originally intended for deferred maintenance.

Goodwill Industries and GRCC partner to offer advanced manufacturing training for employment seekers

May 2, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS – Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids is partnering with Grand Rapids Community College to offer advanced manufacturing training for adults seeking employment.

Davenport’s Murphy, Bender, Tidey highlight All-WHAC awards ceremony

May 5, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Ten members of Davenport’s baseball team were selected to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference’s postseason awards with three winning three of its four individual awards, the league announced Monday. As voted by the WHAC head coaches, sophomore right-hander Corey Murphy was tabbed the pitcher of the year, junior two-way player Brendan Bender was selected newcomer of the year and Kevin Tidey was voted by his colleagues as coach of the year.

… A transfer from Grand Rapids Community College, Bender has started all but one of his 51 appearances as a position player and five of his seven games were started on the mound. As a first baseman, Bender finished third in the WHAC in batting average (.387) with a team leading 14 doubles and 48 RBI. He also hit a pair of triples and home runs each while drawing 34 walks to bump the on-base percentage to a league second best .498. As a pitcher, the southpaw is 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA.

Golf: Skippers in 7th following 36 holes at Elks

May 5, 2014; The Port Huron Times Herald

PORT HURON TWP. — After more than eight hours straight on his feet and 36 holes of golf, Joey Falk was thinking about more than just his score.

… Grand Rapids, with an even par 576, is running away from the rest of the field. Oakland is second with a 606. GRCC was led by David Thompson, who shot a two-under-par 142 and leads the tournament. Hes one of four Raiders in the top five.

GRCC In the News, 9-20-13

GRCC receives $4.1 million federal grant to improve workforce development programs

Sept. 19, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College is among seven two-year schools in Michigan to receive a federal grant to upgrade its manufacturing and workforce development programs.

GRCC Awarded $4.1 Million As Part of Grant From U.S. Department of Labor

Sept. 19, 2013; FOX 17

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — According to a press release, the Michigan Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing was awarded $24.9 million as part of the Trade Adjustment Act Community College Capacity Building Grant program. As a member of this consortium, Grand Rapids Community College was granted $4.1 million of this award to upgrade manufacturing programs, purchase equipment to support educating today’s workforce about the new role advanced manufacturing plays in West Michigan, and purchase equipment to grow existing programs at GRCC during the next four years.

8 MI colleges use $25M for job training

Sept. 19, 2013; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP/WOOD) – Eight colleges across Michigan are sharing $25 million in federal funds to expand and develop job training programs.

… Here is the consortium of eight educational institutions in Michigan to receive funds —

… Grand Rapids Community College — $4.1 million

Grand Rapids Christian’s two-time state-winning baseball coach Brent Gates retires

Sept. 19, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids Christian baseball coach Brent Gates guided the Eagles to state championships in each of the past two seasons as well as a runner-up finish in 2011.

… Gates is stepping down to spend more time with his family. His daughter, Taylor Gates, plays volleyball at Grand Rapids Community College, and his son, Brent Gates Jr., is continuing his high school education at Ashwaubenon High School in Green Bay, Wis. The younger Gates, who also played for his dad on the Eagles baseball team last spring, has signed to play hockey for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League.

GRCC In the News, 9-19-13

Michigan colleges using grants to boost job training

Sept. 19, 2013; The Holland Sentinel

Lansing — Colleges and universities across Michigan are sharing more than $26 million in federal funds to expand and develop job training programs.

… Other schools receiving money are in Escanaba, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Lansing and Livonia.

ArtPrize 2013 Showcase Venue review: Women’s City Club hosts worthwhile collection, nods toward history

Sept. 18, 2013; MLive

Welcoming 52 artists in this incarnation of ArtPrize are the gracious hosts of the Women’s City Club. Unlike most of the large-scale institutional venues, this location brings visitors into a most charming domestic-scale venue that allows us to ponder the joys of living with art. Again, the iconic Fred Bivens and his team have worked diligently to bring in artists from around the region and across the country. Impressive is the manner in which his selections of contemporary works compliment and frequently are in conversation with the historic structure, and its collection of art and antiques.

(Article mentions entries by GRCC instructor Dianne Carroll Burdick and alumnus Kevin O’Rourke.)

Cornerstone University Celebrates Grand Opening of De Witt Baseball Field and Central Hall

Sept. 18, 2013; The Midland Daily News

Cornerstone University will spend a day celebrating its newest facility on Sept. 21 with an all-day, outdoor festival called Heading Home that includes a dedication service.

… Events begin with an 11 a.m. varsity softball game against Grand Rapids Community College followed by public batting practice, a mens soccer game, tours of Central Hall, inflatable games and a dedication ceremony at 4:30 p.m. in the concourse.

New Blood, New Bounty

9/18/13 The Lanthorn (GVSU)

Sophomore Kaleigh Lound’s first breakout game could not have come at a better time. The Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team was more than 1,000 miles away from home without one of its best players and staring down No. 6 Washburn University when Lound put on a display of athleticism that carried GVSU to a remarkable upset at the Oredigger Classic in Golden, Colo.

… The Lakers not only found a new offensive weapon inside, but also discovered the emergence of a reliable setter who transferred from Grand Rapids Community College.

Junior Kaitlyn Wolters was outstanding in each of the four games in Colorado, racking up 182 assists to go with 48 digs, 16 kills, six blocks and three service aces. Wolters not only earned a spot on the All-Tournament team, but was also tabbed as the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week.

Local Company to partner with Heating & Air Conditioning Department

Quality Air, one of the largest mechanical contracting companies in the state, has approached GRCC with a goal in mind – to help develop the best HVAC students whom they can hire upon graduation.

Tim Albers, President and CEO of Quality Air, invited HVAC Instructors Don Steeby and Ron Stevenson to tour their local facility last Friday to continue developing a plan that will help turn their goal into a reality. Quality Air’s 45,000 Sq. Ft. facilities include a full engineering department, as well as a complete sheet metal and pipe fabrication shop. Tim knows that to meet the growing demand for quality HVAC technicians, installers, and service techs; there needs to be proper training both in the classroom and in the lab. They have offered their assistance to the HVAC Program through company tours as well as through classroom participation and guest lecturing. In addition Bob Middlebrook, Director of Field Operations, plans to serve on the HVAC Advisory Committee beginning this fall.

Established in 1968, Quality Air employs 220 people and has offices in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

GRCC In the News, 1-10-13

Out of hands: With skills scarce, some West Michigan manufacturers train their own talent

January 9, 2013; Crain’s Detroit Business

Orders are up at West Michigan’s factories. But the number of people with the skills to fill them is down. Way down.

“There are not enough skilled people to go around,” said Michael Kiss, head of the applied technology department at Grand Rapids Community College and coordinator of its manufacturing apprenticeship program. “We have been getting calls every day of the week for the past six months” from employers trying to fill openings.

The companies calling GRCC’s Applied Technology Center range from Grand Rapids’ oldest to newest. All want tool-and-die makers, machinists and welders who can be productive the minute after they finish filling out their employment paperwork, Kiss said.

Happy 40th to Professor Nick Pinckney in Manufacturing

If you see Nick Pinckney (Professor, Manufacturing Department) please wish him a happy 40th birthday! Nick turns 40 on Sunday, February 19th!

Happy 40th Birthday to Nick Pinckney

If you see Nick Pinckney (Professor, Manufacturing Department) please wish him a happy 40th birthday! Nick turns 40 on Sunday, February 19th!

Manufacturing, Mechanical and Architectural Design Combine with Culinary Arts for Gingerbread Housing Boom

The following video is a marvelous holiday story about how departments can work together to create a Gingerbread Village! The Manufacturing, and Mechanical and Architectural Design Departments worked together to create reusable patterns for gingerbread houses used in the Culinary Arts program. This is a wonderful example of an interdisciplinary project involving several departments.

Manufacturing Career Day a Rousing Success – Photos

On Monday November 7, 2011, GRCC sponsored a Manufacturing Career Day featuring employers from across West Michigan and the opportunity for students and prospective students to explore a career in the field.  Prospective employers were on-hand to discuss working in the modern manufacturing sphere, and GRCC faculty were available to discuss the college’s numerous degrees and certifications in manufacturing.

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