GRCC In the News, 12-11-14

Community College Programs Can Lead To Big Payoffs In The Right Fields

Dec. 11, 2014; NPR

When it comes to higher education, we’ve all heard the talking points: More people than ever are pursuing four-year degrees despite skyrocketing tuition costs because they don’t have many other choices if they want to be competitive in the workforce.

(Article includes a photo of GRCC dental students.)

Learning at the University of Life

Dec. 11, 2014; rapidgrowthmedia.com

Compassion. Selflessness. Balance. Character. Social consciousness. Humility. Uplifting. And peace, love and understanding.

… Michael Schavey is the director of the department of experiential learning at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC). He points to their school’s Armen Awards, an annual program that recognizes faculty and students for service learning work, as a specific example of GRCC’s commitment to make service learning a significant part of the student experience.

Grand Rapids shelter helps one teen find escape

Dec. 11, 2014; Bridge magazine

Looking back, DaVionte Shannon recalled a time when each day seemed like a tightrope walk.

… He graduated from Union High School in Grand Rapids in June 2013 and plans to enroll in January at Grand Rapids Community College. He pays the rent through a job as a caretaker at an area nursing home.

Armen Awards proposals due November 1

The Armen Awards- Excellence in Service Learning invites all faculty to participate in this event showcasing best practices in service learning. Watch this [video] to learn how it works.

The event includes a professional video highlighting your service project, a celebration event honoring your team’s efforts, a chance to win up to $3,000 and an opportunity to share your hard work on a local network morning show.

See a video of last years winner Sarah Krajewski and her Biology for Educators course! [video]

Participants must submit their proposal by November 1st. The proposal includes a short description of how your course learning outcomes are met through your service learning project.

Click [here] to begin your proposal.

Need help? Please call Mike Schavey at 234-4180

Armen Awards proposals due November 1

Apply to the Armen Awards – Excellence in Service Learning! To learn more about the awards, click here.

Participants must submit their proposal by November 1st. The proposal includes a short description of how your course learning outcomes are met through your service learning project.

Click here to begin your proposal.

Need help? Please call Mike Schavey at 234-4180.

 

Armen Awards proposals due November 1

Apply to the Armen Awards – Excellence in Service Learning! To learn more about the awards, click here.

Participants must submit their proposal by November 1st. The proposal includes a short description of how your course learning outcomes are met through your service learning project.

Click here to begin your proposal.

Need help? Please call Mike Schavey at 234-4180

 

Proposals due November 1 for Armen Awards projects

The Armen Awards- Excellence in Service Learning invites all faculty to participate in this event showcasing best practices in service learning. Watch this [video] to learn how it works.

The event includes a professional video highlighting your service project, a celebration event honoring your team’s efforts, a chance to win up to $3,000 and an opportunity to share your hard work on a local network morning show.

See a video of last years winner Sarah Krajewski and her Biology for Educators course! [video]

Participants must submit their proposal by November 1st. The proposal includes a short description of how your course learning outcomes are met through your service learning project.

Click [here] to begin your proposal.

Need help? Please call Mike Schavey at 234-4180

GRCC In the News, 5-19-14

GRCC students earn awards at national business professionals competition

May 16, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College students took home eight awards at a Business Professionals of America completion in Indianapolis.

Grupos minoritarios de GRCC aumentan pese a prohibición de Acción Afirmativa

May 16, 2014; El Vocero

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (EVH).- Tras la aprobación de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de los Estados Unidos de ratificar la Prohibición de la Acción Afirmativa en el estado de Michigan, tal como se había aprobado en el año 2006 por un grupo de seis magistrados de la corte del estado, desde entonces universidades y colegios han acatado la ley, dejando de dar privilegios a las minorías a la hora de asistir en busca de educación superior.

Pese a la drástica ley, aun existen centros de educación avanzada donde estadísticamente los números en porcentajes de las minorías siguen aumentado.
En ese sentido, en la ciudad de Grand Rapids autoridades del Community College (GRCC) explicaron como están trabajando con los grupos minoritarios interesados en asistir al centro, tras la aplicación de la prohibición de la Acción Afirmativa.

West Ottawa seniors celebrate their next steps in Decision Day Party

May 18, 2014; The Holland Sentinel

Holland, Mich. — With cheerleaders lining the halls, college mascots giving out high fives and the drum line playing, West Ottawa High School was in celebration mode on Thursday.

… “At first I didn’t want to go to college,” (Darah) Kok said. But with the urging of some friends and teachers, he decided to look into it.
“People started telling me (college) changes your life. I didn’t want to waste my life.”

Kok plans to attend Grand Rapids Community College in the fall on a full ride scholarship.

SECOM-GRCC Partnership Recognized at Annual Armen Awards Celebration

May 16, 2014; SECOM newsletter

Service, innovation, and collaboration are at the heart of Grand Rapids Community College’s annual Armen Awards, a competitive program designed to promote innovative thinking. Created and supported by longtime GRCC supporter Armen Oumedian, the program rewards student teams who design and implement projects that benefit a community organization.

Muskegon sports briefs: Muskegon Community College drops 13-inning marathon in regional baseball

May 16, 2014; MLive

MUSKEGON, MI — It’s going to be a quick turnaround for the Muskegon Community College baseball team.

… The game ended after midnight and MCC (35-17) faces an elimination game at 11:30 a.m. Friday against Grand Rapids Community College in Battle Creek.

 

 

GRCC In the News, 5-5-14

The 2014 Armen Awards

May 2, 2014; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Three Grand Rapids Community College staff members are recipients of The Armen Awards. The Armen Awards is a team competition event designed to inspire best practices for teaching and learning.

Challenge Scholars: creating opportunity

May 5, 2014; therapidian.org

They say it takes a village to raise a child and in the eyes of Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Grand Rapids Public Schools, these words ring true. Benjamin Oliver, Challenge Scholars Advisor, and Meredith Fennema, PR & Marketing Specialist, both at Grand Rapids Community Foundation, are two of the many individuals dedicated to the success of Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s newest education endeavor: Challenge Scholars.

… Since the program has been implemented, the participating schools have seen a near 10% increase in academic acceleration, a 5% decrease in chronic absenteeism and an over 20% increase in expected growth targets in math and reading. As a way to celebrate the program’s success thus far, a special celebration for all currently enrolled Challenge Scholars will take place on Tuesday, May 6 at Grand Rapids Community College’s Ford Fieldhouse.

Silver Line looks to boost economic development, local real estate

May 2, 2014; Grand Rapids Business Journal

Hi-ho, Silver Line! When all is said and done, it is possible that one of the greatest recent economic development catalysts Grand Rapids has seen will arrive by way of bus.

… Part of the process meant being sure to touch economic hotspots like 54th and 44th streets, Venema said, but it also meant marketing to both Silver Lines customers and its neighbors. One of the biggest factors is higher education, he said, adding that BRT officials spent a lot of time discussing how such a corridor could help students attending downtown Grand Rapids colleges, such as Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College. The Silver Line could benefit the schools by allowing students to reach their destination without the need of a car, meaning schools could spend less on providing parking and instead spend more on the programs offered, he said.

Gast, Weidinger Homer As No. 17 Owens Softball Routs GRCC In Doubleheader

May 2, 2014; ABC 13

The No. 17 Owens Community College softball team swept a pair of five inning games against Grand Rapids Community College in today’s home finale.

GRCC In the News, 5-1-14

GRCC’s Armen Awards honor student service learning projects

April 30, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College has announced the winners of its annual service learning awards.

West Michigan family gains new fame as BBC recounts story of their trials, torture in Romania

May 1, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — There were no more secrets last October when Ion and Mioara Bugan and their three children met for a reunion with their former neighbors in Draganesti, a small village in eastern Romania.

… Carmen studied at Grand Rapids Community College, then at the University of Michigan and Oxford University. Besides writing Burying the Typewriter, she has published a collection of poems, “Crossing The Carpathians.” She won the 2011 Katharine Bakeless Nason Prize for non-fiction. Her second collection of poems, “The House of Straw” came out early this year.

Let the roasting begin: Retiring Grand Rapids police chief in hot seat for Silent Observer fundraiser

April 30, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Retiring Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk will be the guest of honor — and the target of jokes — at a Silent Observer fundraiser on Wednesday, April 30.

(Article doesn’t mention it, but Kevin Belk is a GRCC alumnus.)

The dirt on bad duct cleaning

May 1, 2014; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — With furnaces having worked overtime this winter, many homeowners may be considering getting their air ducts cleaned. Target 8 discovered when it’s time to get them cleaned and when you’re wasting your money.

… Target 8 took his pictures to Grand Rapids Community College HVAC professor Don Steeby, who said it didn’t look like the ducts had been cleaned properly.

Loriel Jenny’s extra work paying off in the batters box for Wyoming softball team

May 1, 2014; MLive

WYOMING — Loriel Jenny is off to a sizzling start for the Wyoming softball team and doesn’t appear to be ready to cool off any time too soon.

… Jenny has already signed to play softball at Grand Rapids Community College.

Raider Salute to Armen Awards team

From Michael Schavey, of the Department of Experiential Learning:

I wanted to thank the Armen Awards Planning Team for another successful year!

• Ann Sandberg
• Becky Yoder
• Jeremy Osborn
• Jose Mora
• Julie Otte
• Klaas Kwant
• Leah Kicinski
• Malinda Powers
• Noah DeSmit
• Armen Oumedian

Winners of Armen Awards: Excellence in Service Learning announced

Projects to create age-appropriate biology lessons for schoolchildren, assist Gilda’s Club with LaughFest, and support those who work with cancer patients and survivors were named winners in Grand Rapids Community College’s 2014 Armen Awards.

The winners were announced during a ceremony on April 25, 2014:

[First Place: $3,000] Sarah Krajewski and her Biology for Educators course partnered with Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

[Second Place: $1,500] Bethann Talsma and her Office Ethics and Etiquette course partnered with Gilda’s Club.

[Third Place: $750] Jolanta Lanier and her Personal Health course partnered with the American Cancer Society.

The other finalists were:

• Hope Hagan and her Business and Technical Writing course, which partnered with Covenant House.
• Aleta Anderson and her Introductory German course, which worked with Palmer Elementary School.
• Dr. Sherry Knoppers and her Community Transcultural Nursing course, which partnered with South End Community Outreach Ministry.
• Gayl Beals and his Automotive Job Training course, which worked with Mel Trotter Ministries.

Learn more about this event by visiting www.grcc.edu/armenawards

More pictures will found on our Facebook page too.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.684676971567507.1073741830.110648775636999&type=1

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Photos: Eat, drink, and celebrate experiential learning.

Celebrate integrated innovative teaching and learning practices that make meaningful contributions to our community through service learning!   The Armen Awards presentation will feature interviews and powerful video of the work of each team, a (huge) check presentation – plus delicious snacks before the show starts.

The details:
Friday, April 25th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University Woodbridge N. Ferris Building located at 17 Pearl St. NW, Room 217. Please RSVP at http://www.grcc.edu/armenawards

Check out this album from last year’s event.

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Video Invitation to Armen Awards

RSVP today for this celebration of students, faculty, experiential learning and community partnerships.

Armen Awards Celebration Event

Come celebrate your colleagues who have integrated innovative teaching and learning practices while making meaningful contributions to our community this winter through service learning.   This program and awards presentation will feature interviews and powerful video of the work of each team, and a (huge) check presentation.

Date & Location:

Friday, April 25th from 3:00-5:00pm at the Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University Woodbridge N. Ferris Building located at 17 Pearl St. NW, Room 217.

Please RSVP at http://www.grcc.edu/armenawards

Come to celebrate the work (Our Finalists)

• Hope Hagan and her Business & Technical Writing course is partnering with the Covenant House.
• Aleta Anderson and her Introductory German course is partnering with Palmer Elementary School.
• Sarah Krajewski and her Biology for Educators course is partnering with Immaculate Heart of Mary School.
• Dr. Sherry Knoppers and her Community Transcultural Nursing course is partnering with South End Community Outreach Ministry.
• Gayl Beals and his Automotive Job Training course is partnering with Mel Trotter Ministries.
• Jolanta Lanier and her Personal Health course is partnering with the American Cancer Society.
• Bethann Talsma and her Office Ethics and Etiquette course is partnering with Gilda’s Club.

Come to learn how you can participate in this event.

Experiential learning blog highlights American Legion project, Armen Awards

Please check out the Experiential Learning April BLOG at:  http://grccdel.wordpress.com/

April Highlights:

1. Service Learning Project: Computer Support Technicians and American Legion Post 459 teamed up together
2.  Service Learning: BI 151 students offered DNA Experiment to High School Learners
3.  Reminder: Armen Awards April 25 visit the Experiential Learning Website for details: https://www.grcc.edu/thearmenawardsexcellenceinservicelearning

Students Making an Impact at Immaculate Heart of Mary School

Sarah Krajewski’s Biology 101 for Elementary Educators (BI 101E) class has partnered with Immaculate Heart of Mary School (IHM) in a service learning experience as part of the Armen Awards. GRCC students are challenged to not only learn the biology content but also to transfer what they learned into age appropriate lesson plans for early elementary or middle school children including a lesson on owls, the life cycle of a bean plant and DNA, DNA extraction, and DNA fingerprinting.

Professor Krajewski stated that this service learning project has been a wonderful partnership. The GRCC students were given an authentic teaching experience and an opportunity to meet and get feedback from professionals in the field of education. This experience has enhanced the IHM science curriculum because it provided the students with an opportunity to engage in a laboratory experience with lab equipment that would normally not be available.

Save the date: Friday, April 25^th from 3-5pm.

Come hear the results of this years Armen Awards and support the great work being done by faculty and students in our community.