Category Archives: Computer Applications Department

GRCC In the News, 8-12-13

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Change Ups: West Michigan residents destined for U.S. sled hockey team

Aug. 9, 2013; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… EDUCATION

… Grand Rapids Community College was named a Great College to Work For by The Chronicle of Higher Education in the compensation and benefits category for its employee health and wellness program.

Grand Rapids Community College computer information systems professor Cheryl Kautz is the recipient of two 2013 Blackboard Catalyst awards for Exemplary Course Program.

GRCC student Alexi Bettig, who earned her associate degree in arts last spring, is the recipient of the Presidents Scholarship from Davenport University. Bettig qualified by receiving first place, along with teammate Corwin Tobias, in video production at the Business Professionals of America national Leadership Conference in May.

Bath Farmers’ Market flourishing

Aug. 9, 2013; The Lansing State Journal

BATH — Bath Farmers Market customers have had some pleasant surprises this season, including more vendors and more varied products.

… On Aug. 1 Grand Rapids professional cooks Bryan Newton from the J.W. Marriott and Hannah Stockwell from the Amway Grand Plaza were busy preparing a dessert that included fresh doughnut pieces covered in a blueberry-cherry compote and topped with melted goat cheese and honey. The free samples were delicious and made entirely from items on sale that day.

Newton says he hasn’t been in a McDonald’s in six or seven years and Stockwell says she was influenced by a vegan chef at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College.

Grandwich 2013: The Top 10 finalists revealed

Aug. 12, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Top 10 finalists in the 2013 Grandwich competition were announced Monday, Aug. 12.

(Article doesn’t mention it, but GRCC alumnus Adam Watts is a chef at Grand Rapids Brewing Co. and GRCC alumna Heather Roscoe is the sandwich artist at Express Cafe.)

Grand Rapids’ free Jazz Festival’s second outing hopes to double your pleasure

Aug. 12, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Grand Rapids Jazz Festival last year drew 4,000 people downtown for the inaugural free festival.

(Article doesn’t mention it, but GRCC is a sponsor.)

Kelvin Grady, area stars play in first annual basketball tourney on Calder Plaza

Aug. 10, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kelvin Grady has put away the footballs and basketballs in his life in favor of a clipboard and a whistle.

… Aside from Grady, some of the players taking part was former Notre Dame star Tory Jackson, Grand Rapids Community College player Rachman Dillard, Grace Bible and U.S. Army player Paul Nelson and Davenport standout Dauntrell Hill.

GRCC In the News, 7-30-13

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GRCC instructor wins award for course design

July 29, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A Grand Rapids Community College instructor has been recognized for using technology in outstanding course design, the college said in a news release.

GRCC professor receives two global awards for design

July 26, 2013; The Holland Sentinel

Grand Rapids — A Grand Rapids Community College professor received two global awards for outstanding course design.

Change Ups: Bank earns diversity lender award

July 19, 2013; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… AWARDS

Grand Rapids Community College English professor Mursalata Muhammad was recognized with Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s Champion Leadership Skills Award. Associate professor of English Katrina Katie Kalisz was honored for her piece “Viewing of the 14-Year-Old Girl’s Wake.”

Two more sports programs dropped by GRCC

July 29, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Community College announced Monday it will eliminate its men’s and women’s tennis programs.

Central Michigan QB job wide open heading into preseason camp, coach Dan Enos says

July 30, 2013; Central Michigan Life

Preseason camp kicks off on Monday and, for the first time in recent memory, the Central Michigan football is without a clear-cut leader at quarterback.

… At first glance, junior Cody Kater appears to be the obvious choice, a fifth-year journeyman who came to CMU in 2009. He has the most experience of the three, playing in two games last season as a backup to Ryan Radcliff and leading Grand Rapids Community College to a perfect 11-0 record in 2011 while throwing for 2,218 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games (GRCC won a game via forfeit).

Congratulations to Cheryl Kautz

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Cheryl Kautz with Jay Bhatt, president and CEO of Blackboard Inc.

Cheryl Kautz with Jay Bhatt, president and CEO of Blackboard Inc.

Congratulations to Cheryl Kautz, Adjunct Instructor in Computer Information Systems, who is the winner of two Blackboard Catalyst Awards for Exemplary Courses. One of the awards she earned was for her CO152 Photoshop course. This course also won “Director’s Choice” for Courses with Distinction (going above and beyond rubric requirements). The program honors members of the community who design and develop exciting and innovative courses that represent the very best in technology and learning. Cheryl’s courses are a model for best practices in providing course content within Blackboard. She is especially gifted at providing high levels of accessibility for students with disabilities, providing them a “barrier-free” environment so that they can fully participate in her courses. We in the CIS Department are fortunate to have Cheryl on our team! On behalf of us all, thanks for the excellent work, Cheryl!

GRCC In the News, 5-29-13

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GRCC to become more energy efficient

May 23, 2013; rapidgrowthmedia.com

Grand Rapids Community College is making some changes to become more energy efficient, resulting in an estimated $850,000 in savings over 15 years.

Why Ferris State and GRPS teamed up to offer parents a free college class

May 28, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The parents of eight Harrison Park students now have a college class under their belt in a partnership between the school and Ferris State University.

… At least three parents who completed the course applied to Grand Rapids Community College, she said. Others told Ewigleben they intend to pursue their GED.

Mel Trotter Ministries names Bill Jones CFO

May 28, 2013; Grand Rapids Business Journal

The nonprofit Mel Trotter Ministries has named a new CFO.

… He (Bill Jones) previously served as a computer applications adjunct professor at Grand Rapids Community College, a principal/franchisee at Liberty Tax Service and the president and CEO of the School of Missionary Aviation Technology in Ionia, Mich.

Silver Coast Winery Receives Award At 2013 Tasters Guild International Wine Judging Competition

May 28, 2013; southporttimes.com (North Carolina)

May 28, 2013 – Ocean Isle Beach, NC – Silver Coast Winery proudly announces their 2008 Touriga was awarded a bronze medal at the 26th Annual International Wine Judging held May 1-4, 2013 at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College in the State of Michigan. With this additional award they are now up over 350 national and international medals garnered from various competitions since they opened their doors in May of 2002.

 

Winners of Armen Awards announced

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Projects that educated pregnant teens about oral hygiene, promoted a healthy lifestyle to children, and improved access to The Collegiate student newspaper were named winners of Grand Rapids Community College’s 2013 Armen Awards.

The winners were announced during a ceremony on April 26, 2013:

  • First place: Community Dental Health course students teamed up with Salvation Army-Booth Family Services to provide oral hygiene education to pregnant teens and teen mothers.  Faculty member Deb Schultz and students Nancy Kyser and Kaley Sherwood worked with Angela Scott, from Salvation Army-Booth Services.
  • Second place: Principles of Physical Education course students worked with East Leonard Elementary School on an “Organ Wise Guys” program to promote a healthy lifestyle to children.  Faculty member Melanie Schiele Gady and student Samantha Fredrick teamed up with Kathy Sainz, of East Leonard Elementary, and Stephanie Marino from Michigan State University Extension.
  • Third place: Mobile Device Security and Development course students worked with The Collegiate on a mobile app to increase access and readership for the GRCC student newspaper.  Faculty member Szymon Machajewski and students Adam Logue, Quentin Reader and Jason Fedewa partnered with Collegiate adviser Jennifer Haywood.

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Computer Applications Career Exploration Day scheduled for February 13, 2013

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Join us for Computer Applications Career Exploration Day, a free event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. February 13, 2013,  in the Wisner Botrall Applied Technology Center!

This event is open to high school students, GRCC students, and any individual interested in learning about opportunities available in the computer field.

The day will include:

  • local business people showcasing careers in the computer field — companies like Kelly IT, MLive, Johnson Controls, OST, Paragon, Steelcase and many more!
  • hands-on experiences that highlight an array of opportunities with computers.
  • GRCC counselors and Computer Applications Department faculty.
  • transfer institutions such as Davenport, Ferris State, and Grand Valley State universities.
  • representatives from the military with technical specializations who will discuss information security paths.

Come find out what a career in computers is all about!  Our GRCC degrees and certificates include:

  • Computer Applications.
  • Digital Prepress.
  • Unix System Administration.
  • Digital Graphics Communication and Digital Prepress.
  • Computer Information Systems – Applications Software Associates.
  • Computer Information Systems – Network Administration.
  • Computer Information Systems – Programming.
  • Web Design.
  • Web Technical Support.
  • Information Security — our newest degree and one that can be taken completely online!

Please contact (616) 234-3670 or abennett@grcc.edu if you have questions.

Donations keep Food Bank shelves well-stocked

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The Office of Student Life and Conduct would like to send a huge “thank you” to the Computer Applications Department for its personal donations — and for collecting other donations — to support the campus Food Bank!

Department staff made a sizable donation, which goes a long way in supporting our students.

Professor Katie Vander Meer said the department has gathered money and provided Thanksgiving food baskets to students in computer applications for the past five years.

“With the creation of the student food pantry last year, this year we decided to donate a Meijer gift card to the pantry in hopes to help more students, and make our donation dollars go farther,” she said.

The food bank has been well-used, and it’s been a challenge to keep the shelves stocked. The generosity of all the donors is appreciated.

Basics of MS Office Workshops Presented by the ATC Open Computer Lab

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This week’s hands-on workshop will focus on the basics of MS EXCEL 2010 and is open to ALL students but limited to the first 24 participants per session.

  • Tuesday, October 16, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM – room 219 ATC
  • Wednesday, October 17,  12:00 PM to 1:30 PM – room 219 ATC
  • Wednesday, October 17,  6:00 PM to 7:30 PM – room 219 ATC
  • Friday, October 19, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM – room 219 ATC

Basics of MS Office – Workshops Presented by the ATC Open Computer Lab

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This week’s hands-on workshop will focus on the basics of MS WORD 2010.  Open to all students, but limited to the first 24 participants per session.

Sessions are held in room 219 ATC:

  • Tuesday, October 16, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
  • Wednesday, October 17,  12:00 PM to 1:30 PM and 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
  • Friday, October 19, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

Computer Applications Bits & Bytes Donation Drive a Success

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This year The Computer Applications Department held their 5th Annual Bits & Bytes Thanksgiving Meal Baskets donation drive, helping students in their department who were in need of a Thanksgiving Day meal.

Through donations from Computer Applications faculty and staff, 22 students were awarded a bag with all the ingredients for a Thanksgiving Day meal including a gift card for turkey. Katie Vander Meer shopped the sales and purchased 44 cans of corn, 44 cans of beans, 22 boxes of potatoes, pounds of yams, 22 cans of cranberries, 22 bags of stuffing, 22 pumpkin pies, scored 11 free Cool Whips, 22 jars of gravy, and $220 in Turkey gift cards. Then she lugged it all to the ATC, bagged it up, and contacted happy students.

Thanks to generous donations, the department was able to nearly double the Thanksgiving meal baskets given away last year.