Here to Help: Michigan Student Financial Aid Association honors Kristi Welling for supporting students

A state organization is recognizing Kristi Welling for career supporting Grand Rapids Community College students. 

Welling is GRCC’s associate director of Enrollment Center Services, and was honored by the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association with a Distinguished Service Award.

“I am so honored to receive this award!” said Welling, who served as MSFAA president during the 2021-2022 academic year.

“I have spent 33 years as a member of the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association that works very hard to enhance student financial aid awareness, promote student access to postsecondary education and to provide professional development opportunities to its members across the state.” It is humbling to receive this award from my peers.”

The award is bestowed upon an individual that has provided significant and outstanding service to the profession.

“Working alongside financial aid professionals across the state that support each other is a blessing and an honor.” She said. “My life’s passion is to help students gain access to a college education.  I was first in my family to obtain a college degree and I know fear and anxiety that happens when you don’t have the supports available to be successful.”

Welling said she strives to help students and other financial aid professionals to be successful.

“Being available, gracious, empathic and knowledgeable are attributes that I display when talking with the diverse population we serve in our MSFAA Association or the students we serve at GRCC,” she said. “People need support and grace when navigating the complicated world of education as well as the financial aid process.”

Welling started her career in 1988 at a small proprietary school in Texas and has enjoyed the environment and helping students understand the process of financial aid.

She worked at various institutions (Southwest Institute, Baker College and Albion College) before coming to GRCC 15 years ago to serve in the financial aid office.

Welling earned her Bachelor Degree in Business Leadership from Baker College with an associate degree in Sales and Marketing. She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid and enjoys helping students with enrollment and financial aid.

GRCC baseball ace Jared Berkenpas earns MCCAA Northern Conference Player of the Year honors after stellar year on the mound

Jared Berkenpas of the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team was named Conference Player of the Year, and seven other players were saluted on Thursday with postseason honors.

GRCC’s baseball team finished the 2023 campaign as the Northern Conference champions with a 23-2 record and the MCCAA champions with a 35-14 record.  The season included a 17-win streak.

“I think we had a lot of players that were deserving of All-Conference,” head coach Mike Eddington said. “We had a talented team that was very passionate about baseball.”

For the second consecutive year, Berkenpas was named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference.

The 6-foot, 5-inch righty from South Christian High School was GRCC’s top pitcher in the rotation and led the team with a 8-2 record, 1.44 ERA, 71 strikeouts, .194 opponents’ batting average, and had seven complete games. His ERA was second best of all NJCAA Division II players.

Fernando Rivera-Calderon and Xander Reisbig were also named All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference.

Rivera-Calderon led the team in 10 home runs, with half of those being grand slams. He also led the team with 59 hits, 15 doubles, 53 runs batted in, 17 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .699.  He was also in top-3 on the team with a .355 batting average, 1.106 OPS, six triples and 50 runs scored.

Reisbig earned All-Conference honors for the second straight year after leading the team in batting with a .393 batting average and 1.203 OPS.  The slugger also hit eight home runs, seven doubles, had a slugging percentage of .682 and led the team with 29 bases on balls.

Sophomore Jacob Gumieny earned All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference honors after batting .391 with a team-high 59 hits and seven triples.  The middle infielder also had 37 RBI, nine doubles and scored 33 runs.

Trevin Laming, the team’s leadoff hitter and center fielder, earned First Team-Conference honors.

Laming batted .316 with 55 hits, 35 runs batted in, 11 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and 12 stolen bases. He also scored a team-high 55 runs and was second on the team with 103 total bases.

Three GRCC players were named Second Team All-Conference: freshman pitcher Lucas McKinney; sophomore pitcher Colton Leatherman; and sophomore catcher Dylan Chargo.

McKinney was named to the All-Freshman Team after a season where he went 8-2 in 11 appearances on the mound.  In 50.2 innings the Clarkston native struck out 38 batters and had an ERA of 3.37.

Leatherman finished off his GRCC career with a 4-1 record and an ERA of 3.26.  He was second on the team with three complete games, 37 strike outs and an opponent’s batting average of just .184.

Chargo earned All-Conference honors for the second straight year after proving to be the best catcher in the league.  He threw seven runners out in the rare instance that runners tried to steal on him.  At the plate he batted .300 for much of the season and finished with 35 hits, 10 doubles, two home runs and 25 runs batted in.

Fifth-year head coach Mike Eddington, who recorded a 100 career wins this season, was named the MCCAA Co-Coach of the year and the Northern Conference Coach of the Year.

This story was written by Ben Brown.

Raider Salute to the Campus Beautification Day volunteers

A huge thanks to the Campus Beautification Day volunteers who brought their energy, green thumbs, and enthusiasm to campus today to plant flowers in various areas of the Main and DeVos Campuses!

They came together and worked hard to enhance the beauty of our campus with fellow employees.

Thank you!

GRCC In the News 06/02/2023

Archival Brewing: A Journey Through Time and Taste

6/1/23 West Michigan Tourist Association

Archival Brewing started with the sole purpose of recreating historic beer while serving up scratch-made food all in a community-driven environment.

… Next up: food. The owners met at and graduated from Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. So naturally they wanted a menu that reflected their passion for food while still having it be approachable. Every dish down to the sauces, garnishes, and stocks is made from scratch, in house daily. Plus, our menu changes seasonally, utilizing local ingredients from area farms and purveyors. Each dish pairs uniquely with our tap list for a delicious, well-rounded dining experience.

Man in crash injuring Grand Rapids police officer had previous intoxicated-driving convictions

6/1/23 MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A man accused of drunken driving in a head-on crash with a Grand Rapids patrol car had two previous convictions for driving while intoxicated, a judge said.

… (Jack Allen) Case, who owns a house, had a full-time job while attending Grand Rapids Community College. He is on medical leave while recovering from his injuries, he told the judge.

Ford Fieldhouse closure and scheduled maintenance start June 5

The Ford Fieldhouse will be out of power and closed, due to scheduled maintenance, June 5th-13th.

If there is a reason you need to access the Fieldhouse during this time, please contact Whitney Marsh at whitneymarsh@grcc.edu to coordinate this.

In addition to the Ford Fieldhouse closure, the Aquatics Facility and Weight Rooms will also be closed from June 5th through July 4th for this same type of maintenance. 

Due to draining the pool and refilling the pool, the work on this side of the building will take a little longer. 

Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time.

GRCC Policies reviewed/updated

Policy Meeting
May 2023

14.20 Clery Act Compliance (NEW) – further discussion from April Policy meeting

• Policy needed to support Clery Act Compliance

6.24 Drug & Alcohol Abuse

• VI – Updated who should read this policy: Changed “student employees” to “All Employees”. Added Students
• IX.A.2 – Added “but not limited to” to the list of controlled or illegal drugs or substances
• X.C – Updated verbal notice corrective action language to include Human Resources in the conversation. 
• X.K – Removed the section that referenced the Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Oversight committee and the biennial review. 

10.1 Tuition and Fees

Changed “Cashier’s” to “Student Financial Services” throughout policy

• Under Section B, subsection 1: Changed:

1. Students who believe their residency status is incorrect may request a review of their records by submitting a Residency Review Form with acceptable documentation to GRCC Cashier’s Office. A Residency Review Form can also be obtained in the Cashier’s Office, Room 154, Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.
   To:
2. Students who believe their residency status is incorrect may request a review of their records by submitting a Residency Review Form with acceptable documentation to GRCC Student Financial Services. A Residency Review Form can also be obtained on Student Financial Services webpage https://www.grcc.edu/pay-college/student-financial-services/residency-information

• Section A, subsection 2, added: Veterans receiving Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 benefits will not be penalized for delayed VA payments

The new/revised policies have been added to the College Policies website.

“Go Beyond” – May 2023

Student Employment Services sponsors the “Go Beyond” recognition program for Student Employees. 

This program recognizes Student Employees who go beyond their normal job responsibilities to provide extraordinary service while working at GRCC. 

Nominated student employees receive a special GRCC T-shirt and a gift card.

Congratulations to our “Go Beyond” recipient for May 2023!

Shaam Singh – Academic Advising & Transfer Center

GRCC Policies reviewed/updated

Policy Meeting
May 2023

14.20 Clery Act Compliance (NEW) – further discussion from April Policy meeting

• Policy needed to support Clery Act Compliance

6.24 Drug & Alcohol Abuse

• VI – Updated who should read this policy: Changed “student employees” to “All Employees”. Added Students
• IX.A.2 – Added “but not limited to” to the list of controlled or illegal drugs or substances
• X.C – Updated verbal notice corrective action language to include Human Resources in the conversation. 
• X.K – Removed the section that referenced the Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Oversight committee and the biennial review. 

10.1 Tuition and Fees

Changed “Cashier’s” to “Student Financial Services” throughout policy

• Under Section B, subsection 1: Changed:

1. Students who believe their residency status is incorrect may request a review of their records by submitting a Residency Review Form with acceptable documentation to GRCC Cashier’s Office. A Residency Review Form can also be obtained in the Cashier’s Office, Room 154, Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.
   To:
2. Students who believe their residency status is incorrect may request a review of their records by submitting a Residency Review Form with acceptable documentation to GRCC Student Financial Services. A Residency Review Form can also be obtained on Student Financial Services webpage https://www.grcc.edu/pay-college/student-financial-services/residency-information

• Section A, subsection 2, added: Veterans receiving Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 benefits will not be penalized for delayed VA payments

The new/revised policies have been added to the College Policies website.

Ford Fieldhouse closure and scheduled maintenance start June 5

The Ford Fieldhouse will be out of power and closed, due to scheduled maintenance, June 5th-13th.

If there is a reason you need to access the Fieldhouse during this time, please contact Whitney Marsh at whitneymarsh@grcc.edu to coordinate this.

In addition to the Ford Fieldhouse closure, the Aquatics Facility and Weight Rooms will also be closed from June 5th through July 4th for this same type of maintenance. 

Due to draining the pool and refilling the pool, the work on this side of the building will take a little longer. 

Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time.

GRCC grad Missy Summers is at the helm while Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts evolves

People flock to the Festival of the Arts every year to see performers, make or appreciate art, and munch on food on a stick. All of those will be back this weekend, but Missy Summers promises the annual celebration will look a little different in its 54^th year.

Summers, a Grand Rapids Community College graduate, was selected in January to be the executive director of the three-day event, which kicks off on Friday afternoon.

It’s not an easy task. Summers said she wanted to see Festival continue to evolve while still retaining the features that are beloved by attendees.

She attended GRCC from 2007 to 2009, then completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at Ferris State University and a master’s degree from Aquinas College.

“I had some of my best teachers at GRCC,” she said. “I was very blessed. I’m positive on GRCC.”

She worked in the financial world for 10 years before becoming the director of development for Junior Achievement of Michigan Great Lakes. But she was excited to see an opening for the Festival of the Arts’ first full-time employee.

“I went to Festival, and I’ve always loved it,” she said. “I have an 8-year-old son, and every year I take him to Festival. When they had this opening, I was very curious. I started at the end of January, so it’s been a little bit of a whirlwind.”

A whirlwind indeed. The event draws hundreds of thousands of people to downtown, with a small army of 200 volunteers coordinating performers, food booths, artists and businesses. 

“I’ve been here since 2000,” Summers said. “When we moved up here, Festival was one of the first events I went to. Back in the day, there weren’t too many big events downtown. It was Festival, Riverbank Run, and that was pretty much it happening downtown. There’s been such an evolution, because now downtown is so vibrant.”

Summers said Festival is a balancing act with art and culture — and economics.

“I understand supporting artists and helping out businesses,” she said. “Helping artists leave a bigger footprint is really important to me, and so is spreading multiculturalism. We think that’s such an important part of our city and our legacy.”

Festival’s evolution includes 16 food trucks joining the traditional booths staffed by community groups, for a total of 25 dining options.

More than 150 performances will be spread out among five stages, including a return to Rosa Parks Circle. Youth art will be on display in DeVos Place, and juried art exhibits will be in five galleries around the city.

An Artisan Village will share Calder Plaza with performers and the Festival Beer Patio featuring a selection from Lost Art Brewhouse. Story time is planned for the Grand Rapids Public Library, and a scavenger hunt can help attendees explore the event.

“We always think about the food and stuff, but for me, it was really cool to see the wide range of performance art,” Summers said. “One minute you could have a jazz group playing and the next minute you have ballet going. You just get this nice diversity of performances and music. I remember early on being able to go see all these wonderful local artisans and their businesses, to experience and see how they did their art.”

Summers promises old favorites will return, including the T-shirt printing booth, hat-making area, Swingin’ Art – and lots and lots of paint.

“One of my favorite ones was when my son was young, taking him down there and walking through the streets and all the experiences he could have,” she said. “He could paint. We create the environment where kids can paint, and they don’t want mom and dad interrupting them. He just had such a blast. It was such a powerful experience for him. As a mom, it’s really fun when they’re excited and happy. Those are those key moments you have in your life. And now I get to work for that organization, and that’s pretty amazing.”

Izzy Regner and Jaye Guichelaar among seven GRCC softball players honored after strong season

Izzy Regner and Jaye Guichelaar headline a list of seven Grand Rapids Community College softball players saluted on Wednesday with postseason honors.

GRCC’s softball team finished the season with a 25-18 record, and 15-10 in the conference, earning the team a share of their first conference title since 1999.  The team also finished as runners-up in the NJCAA Region XII Tournament.

“I’m so proud of the accomplishments of this team,” Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “The players went beyond my expectations after we did not field a team last year.  They stepped up and believed in the coaches and the program. I’m excited to see them grow in the future.”

Regner and Guichelaar were both awarded All-Region, All-MCCAA, and First Team All-Conference honors.

Both teammates were also named to the All-Tournament team at the regional tournament and Regner was named to the Northern Conference All-Freshman team.

Regner, a native of Elkhorn, Wis., finished her lone season at GRCC as one of the best pitchers in the nation, as she was second among all NJCAA Division II pitchers with 292 strikeouts and second in averaging 11.7 strikeouts per seven innings.  She was also third in the nation for shutouts with eight, and eighth with a 1.36 ERA.  She had a 20-5 record and three saves in 29 appearances.

Regner, who recently committed to Ferris State University – an NCAA Division II institution – had 19 games of 10 or more strikeouts, including a career-high 16 strikeouts against Mott Community College in the regional tournament.

While a force on the mound, Regner also ranked as one of the best hitters in the MCCAA, with a .434 batting average, 16 doubles, five home runs and a slugging percentage of .690.

Guichelaar’s batting average of .523 was the best among all 20 teams in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and top 15 in the country.  She was also second with a .543 on base percentage and fifth in the MCCAA with a .775 slugging percentage.  In 42 games, she totaled 79 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 28 runs batted in and only struck out nine times in over 160 plate appearances.

Three GRCC players were named Second Team All-Conference: shortstop and third baseman Brynn McArthur; catcher Samara Kolehouse; and outfielder Annika Roersma.

McArthur tied for the team with 41 runs batted in and led the team with 20 walks.  She also was tied for second with five home runs; third with a .592 slugging percentage, 38 runs scored and 11 doubles.  She was one of three players to play and start in all 43 games while batting a solid .384.

Kolehouse, the team’s every day catcher, led the team with six home runs.  She also ranked in the top-5 on the team with a .321 batting average, .566 slugging percentage, 34 hits, 10 walks, and 34 runs batted in.

Roersma, who earned her third straight All-Conference honor, finished off her stellar career with a .401 batting average, 108 runs scored, 15 home runs (including five this year), and a perfect 67 for 67 steal ratio.  In the last nine games of her career, she went 11-for-26 with four home runs and 10 runs batted in.

Lauren James and Alyssa Wierenga were named All-Conference honorable mention.

James, who split time as the team’s starting third baseman or first basemen, was third on the team with a .387 batting average and finished her freshman campaign batting .417 in regionals with a home run, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament team.  She also tied for the team lead with 41 runs batted in and was tied for second with four home runs.

Wierenga played outfield and second base and batted .276 for the year.  She was second on the team with three triples and third with 11 steals.  Her spectacular defense with many diving catches also helped her earn All-Conference honors.

Wierenga was also a member of this year’s volleyball team that finished fifth in the nation.

This story was written by Ben Brown. 

GRCC In the News 06/01/2023

The 15 most popular college destinations for Grand Rapids-area students

5/31/23 MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – One Michigan college was by far the most popular post-high school destination for Class of 2022 graduates in the Grand Rapids area last year. Can you guess which one it was?

Grand Rapids Community College was the top pick for high school graduates in Kent County last year. Nearly 27%, or 1,037, of all college-bound students in the area went on to become GRCC Raiders after high school.

GRCC workshops help students explore careers

5/31/23 WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids Community College is looking to help middle and high school students explore different careers this summer.

GRCC offers young students workforce training sessions

5/31/23 WOOD Radio

GRAND RAPIDS (WOOD-AM) – Students in both middle and high school now have a chance to learn about the vast amount of career opportunities available post graduation at Grand Rapids Community College summer workshops.

Morning Buzz: May 31

5/31/23 FOX 17

Grand Rapids Community College hosts summer camps for kids in grades 6 through 9.

GRCC offering free college prep program at Lakeshore Campus this summer

6/1/23 The Holland Sentinel

HOLLAND TWP. — Graduating seniors in the Holland area can take advantage of a free college preparation program at the Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus this summer.

Sluggers and scholars: Twins Fernando and Andres Rivera-Calderon say GRCC prepared them for success on and off the diamond

5/31/23 La Prensa

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 25, 2023: A half century or so ago, American schools introduced a short-lived concept called “the new math.” It didn’t last.

But this baseball season at Grand Rapids Community College, new math often was necessary to calculate the offensive output of twins Fernando and Andres Rivera-Calderon. For instance, when the Raiders swept Muskegon Community College in a May doubleheader, the equation was 2 x 3 = 12.

Morning News

6/1/23 WZZM

(Police mention GRCC’s proximity to the site where a woman was fatally shot.)

You’re invited to the Dr. Juan R. Olivarez Plaza Naming and Mural Unveiling

Grand Rapids Community College cordially invites you to attend the naming and mural unveiling of Dr. Juan R. Olivarez Plaza.

Please join us in celebration of the plaza naming and the mural unveiling by artist Raymond Trujillo. Light refreshments will be provided.

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

4-6 p.m., short program at 5 p.m.

Complimentary parking is available in parking ramps B (Lyon) and A (Bostwick).

Grand Rapids Community College

Dr. Juan R. Olivarez Student Plaza

Outside of the main doors of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall

RSVP to Mary Reed at mreed@grcc.edu, before Monday, June 5

For more information or to RSVP by phone contact the GRCC Foundation at (616) 234-3939.

‘I don’t give up.’ State program helps Pam Syfert complete the GRCC degree she started 36 years ago

At GRCC’s commencement, Pamela Syfert wore a mortarboard emblazoned with these words: “1987 – 2023. Took me 36 years to get my degree.”

 Yes, there’s a story there, one that the gregarious Syfert can laugh about now as she tells it, although there were also a few tears along the way.

She graduated from Wyoming High School in 1986 and a week later moved out on her own. She doesn’t dwell on the details, but she said the move was for the best. And she went to work, landing a full-time job at Sysco Frost Pack.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to go to college,” she said simply.

But she saved her money, and in the fall of 1987, she was able to take two classes at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College.

“I was living on my own; I was working, and it was pay as you go,” she recalled with a hearty laugh. “I think I was making four or five bucks an hour back then.”

She’s not sure almost four decades later what those two classes were, although she thinks one of them was English 101.

“I didn’t do well,” she said. More laughter. “In fact, I had to take it over and failed it again, and then I passed it the third time. I don’t give up.”

After those two classes, she took a five-year break.

“Life happens,” she said. “You have to work; cars break down — yeah.”

But in the early ‘90s, she got on a roll: two classes in 1992, one in the summer of 1993 and three more that fall.

Things were looking good. But, she said, more life came her way.

“I got married a couple of times, had a son, my parents died, different jobs, life interfered,” she said.

Still, GRCC continued to tug at her.

“I knew I wanted to go back,” she said. “I wanted to complete that degree. But I really didn’t see a way to get there, and, as the years went by, it got harder and harder to figure out how I could finish what I’d started.”

When COVID hit, she avoided the layoffs that were happening in her industry and at her company at the time, Haviland Enterprises.

“I wanted to work,” she said. “And I worked continuously all through COVID.”

And then one day, the HR people at Haviland sent a message out to their employees about a state program called Futures for Frontliners, a scholarship program for Michiganders without college degrees who worked in essential industries during the spring 2020 shutdown.

Even now there’s a hint of disbelief in her voice as she remembers first hearing about the program.

“I remember thinking, ‘the government will pay for you to get your associate degree?’” she said. “It seemed too good to be true.”

While Futures for Frontliners is no longer available, another state program, Michigan Reconnect, covers the cost of in-district tuition for residents 25 and older who do not have a college degree. 

With the financial burden of tuition lifted, Syfert dove headfirst back into an online pool of GRCC offerings, taking classes continuously since the fall of 2021 at the rate of two to three per semester.

She credits GRCC professors and staff for getting her reacclimated to being a student after 28 years between classes.

“It’s not as easy when you’re older,” she said. “You forget a lot more when you’re older. But the advisors I have had have been so good. And the teachers, too. Online is a different experience for me, and the professors have helped me every step of the way.”

Now, she’s in the last weeks of two classes that are part of the 2023 summer session, and when she’s done with them, she’ll be an official GRCC graduate.

She laughed as she recalled asking GRCC staff members if she’d be allowed to be part of the April graduation ceremony.

“They said I could walk in April,” she said. “I wanted to make sure it was OK. When they said yes, I couldn’t wait.”

But on a path that had begun in 1987, the final leg provided one more challenge for Syfert.

There was an accident on U.S. 131 on graduation day, and traffic was backed up for miles. She and her husband, a Grand Valley State University professor, sat helplessly on the highway as the clock continued to tick. Finally, traffic cleared, and Syfert walked in right before the ceremony was starting.

“I just started bawling,” she said. “Not only because I made it on time, but the culmination of all those years and not giving up finally came to fruition.”

Her 36-year journey had reached the finish line on her time. From 1987 to 2023. From high school graduate to GRCC graduate. Right on time.

This story was reported by Phil de Haan. 

GRCC In the News 05/31/2023

Summer camps offer hands-on career exploration to 6th-9th graders

5/30/23 MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College is hosting a series of summer camps where kids can get hands-on experience learning about careers in water sustainability, construction, manufacturing and wood working.

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia, family announces

5/30/23 pennlive.com

ATLANTA (AP) — Former first lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia, her family announced Tuesday.

(This article is illustrated with a photo from the Carters’ 2014 visit to GRCC.)