Recap: SICE Awards Ceremony honors culinary graduates

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The Secchia Institute for Culinary Education Awards Ceremony is held to honor students who have completed the Culinary Arts; Restaurant Management; Baking and Pastry; Personal Chef; or Craft Brewing, Packaging, and Service Operations programs. Students must complete all requirements by the end of Summer Semester 2019 to participate in the Awards Reception.

The 2019 Secchia Institute for Culinary Education Awards Ceremony took place Tuesday, April 16.

Congratulations to all our culinary students, staff, and faculty – you did it!

Partnership with Knickerbocker – New Holland brews support for scholarships

GRCC is proud of its community partnerships! The craft brewing program of GRCC’s Secchia institute for Culinary Education teamed up with The Knickerbocker — New Holland Brewing in Grand Rapids and created a special brew – the appropriately named “Syllabus.” New Holland named the Secchia Institute the brewery’s Community Tap for November, with a portion of sales benefiting GRCC students. Last week, The Knickerbocker team presented President Bill Pink and Chef Werner Absenger, Secchia Institute for Culinary Education program director, a check for $1,000 for scholarships for students in the craft brewing program. They were joined by professors Jacob Brenner and Amanda Harper of the Fountain Hill Brewery.

GRCC In the News, 3-13-18

Chinese satellite falls toward Earth; odds of a Michigan landing ‘very, very small’

March 12, 2018; FOX 17

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Chinese space station dropping closer to Earth could possibly land somewhere in West Michigan. The odds are incredibly small, but it has been enough to catch people’s attention.

… Dr. Lauren Woolsey, professor of astronomy and physics at Grand Rapids Community College, has been watching the path of the Tiangong-1. She says you’re 10 million times more likely to be struck by lightning than to see any sort of debris from the satellite.

Downtown museum and brewery partner on Beer Explorers class

March 12, 2018; Grand Rapids Business Journal

There’s a class downtown this week for beer enthusiasts who are interested in learning about hops.

… Students from Grand Rapids Community College will direct the class in a tasting session.

Southern grads Mooney, Nocco excel at NCAA indoor track meet

March 12, 2018; Press of Atlantic City (Pleasantville, N.J.)

… Softball

… Monica Brignola (Lacey) singled, scored three runs and drove in one in Ocean County Colleges 16-0 win over Grand Rapids Community College in the first of two games Friday. In the second game, an 18-9 loss to Henry Ford, she went 3 for 4 with two runs.

GRCC hosts state House subcommittee hearing

The State House of Representatives’ Appropriations Subcommittee on Community Colleges conducted a public hearing Friday at the ATC, asking about financial pressures facing community colleges and what role the colleges can play in Michigan’s efforts to close the state’s talent gap.

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GRCC In the News, 11-17-17

Report finds gaps in funding, services for Kent Co. kids

Nov. 16, 2017; WOOD Radio

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new report shows large gaps in services and funding for young children in Kent County.

… Claudia Jones works at one of the childcare centers that partners with First Steps Kent. As a preschool assistant instructor at the GRCC Early Childhood Learning Lab and a mother of three, she has seen the benefits of preschool.

GR Mag’s top weekend picks

Nov. 16, 2017; Grand Rapids Magazine

Get in the holiday spirit or take flight with dragons this weekend in GR. You can also join the celebration of a 10-year-old favorite, attend a performance by contestants from one of the most popular reality TV shows and in classic Beer City fashion, learn about how some of the city’s favorite brews got their distinct flavors. This weekend is jam-packed with events you won’t want to miss.

BEER & DRAGONS

(Thursday)

If the name wasn’t enticing enough, Grand Rapids Public Museum has partnered with New Holland Brewing and Grand Rapids Community College for a beer tasting and interactive presentation event. Starting with New Holland’s famous Dragon’s Milk, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the process of determining flavor that the brewers wanted for featured beers and find out which New Holland beers were accidental discoveries.

55 Holiday Gift Experience Ideas — Your Local Shopping Guide for Kids and Families

Nov. 16, 2017; grkids.com

If you’d like to give or receive experiences rather than toys this holiday, here’s your list!

… Gifts for Mom

… Sign her up for language classes at Grand Rapids Community College. Then plan an international trip to let her use her new skills!

GRCC In the News, 11-6-17

GRCC program teaches basics of breweries

Nov. 3, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal

After Kyle Rondeau graduates from Grand Rapids Community College, he said he envisions himself in a multitude of career paths.

Ada, Cascade historical societies team up for Veterans Day event

Nov. 4, 2017; MLive

The Cascade and Ada Historical Societies teamed up for a special Veterans Day presentation featuring one of the first women WWII pilots.

… (Jane) Doyle obtained her private pilot’s license when she graduated from Grand Rapids South High School in 1940. She completed her 70 hours of ground school at the junior college, now known as Grand Rapids Community College, and her 30 hours of flight training at what was then the Kent County Airport.

Mike Ketchum promoted to dispatch supervisor at Ionia County Central Dispatch

Nov. 4, 2017; Ionia Sentinel-Standard

IONIA COUNTY — Mike Ketchum has been promoted from dispatcher to dispatch supervisor at Ionia County Central Dispatch.

… Ketchum is a graduate of Lowell High School and Grand Rapids Community College. He and his wife, Dawn, have three adult children and two grandchildren.

Former BH woman releases first book

Nov. 6, 2017; The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph)

BENTON HARBOR — Benton Harbor native Cheryl Edwards-Cannon recently released her first book, Taking Care of Miss Bee Bee.

… A Benton Harbor High School graduate, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University, a master’s degree from Aquinas College and a certificate in gerontology from Grand Rapids Community College.

 

GRCC In the News, 10-25-17

‘Beer & Dragons’ take over the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Beer Explorers

Oct. 24, 2017; therapidian.org

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is collaborating with New Holland Brewing and Grand Rapids Community College students in November for a not to miss event. The GRPM will be hosting Beer & Dragons for their monthly Beer Explorers program.

Meet the Walker mayor and city commissioner candidates for 2017

Oct. 24, 2017; MLive

WALKER, MI – When Walker residents head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7, they will elect the city’s mayor and three of its six city commissioners.

… City Commissioner – 2nd Ward

… Jeff Kobza

… Education:

Grand Rapids Community College, Associates of Arts

 

GRCC In the News, 10-23-17

Change Ups: Back named SeyferthPR principal

Oct. 20, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… FOOD & BEVERAGE

The Grand Rapids Public Museum recently partnered with Brewery Vivant and Grand Rapids Community College brewing students for a special Beer Explorers class to learn about the science of tasting. Participants explored their senses in relationship to how they taste beer.

GRCC In the News, 9-11-17

New Kingma’s Market features locally-grown, culinary fare

Sept. 10, 2017; MLive

ADA, MI — For longtime grocer Alan Hartline, the fun of opening of Kingma’s Market second store has been working with a blank slate.

… His oldest son, Andrew, 19, now works at the stores while attending classes at Grand Rapids Community College. He plans to earn a degree in Western Michigan University’s lauded food merchandising program, and help his dad grow the Kingma’s brand.

Travis Pest Control keeps work all in the family

Sept. 8, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal

For the past six decades, not even the smallest nuisance has escaped the Travis family’s notice.

… James Travis Sr. attended Grand Rapids Junior College (now Grand Rapids Community College), then transferred to the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in entomology the study of insects.

3 square miles of art: Grand Rapids, Mich., hosts annual competition

Sept. 10, 2017; Kenosha News (Wis.)

Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city, finds unusual ways to gain attention. It has produced high-quality furniture for more than a century. It is a nationwide leader in environmental sustainability.

On the city’s Beer City Ale Trail are at least 60 microbreweries, including Brewery Vivant, in a former funeral home. Grand Rapids brews so much beer that its community college one year ago opened Fountain Hill Brewery and Peters Pub on campus, the nation’s first such business owned by a college and operated by students who study craft brewing there.

America, Meet Your New Pastry Olympians

Sept. 9, 2017; huffingtonpost.com

If you love dessert competitions, then you need to know about the Pastry World Cup. Founded in 1988 by Gabriel Paillasson, the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie is held every two years in Lyon, France, and is considered the most challenging and prestigious competition in the world.

The team is made up of three pastry chefs assuming different roles: one sugar artist, one chocolate artist, and an ice sculptor, and the members of team USA, our pastry Olympians, were just selected after an intense two-day trial at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College, where six talented pastry chefs battled toque to toque for the chocolate and sugar positions.

GVSU student senate releases DACA statement

Sept. 10, 2017; The Lanthorn (GVSU student newspaper)

The Grand Valley State University student senate spent nearly an hour at its general assembly Thursday, Sept. 7, amending and approving a statement to be released in support of students affected by the announcement of the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

… Before the meeting closed, one student stood to speak during the public comment period. Beau Vansolkema, a social work major who transferred from Grand Rapids Community College, began by identifying himself as a transgender student.

GRCC In the News, 8-28-17

Morning News

Aug. 28, 2017; WZZM

Kamady Rudd: “It looks pretty nice out now — a beautiful way to start off the school year. We’re joined by Superintendent Weatherall Neal.”

… Weatherall Neal: “I guess going into this school year, I’m really excited for the students and staff members … We are starting middle college this year, which is awesome. Our seniors will be able to graduate with an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College. So that’s nice — it’s free of charge, actually, to parents.”

Street Talk: The fountain of youth

Aug. 25, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta joined Gov. Rick Snyder at Grand Rapids Community College last week, where they discussed the importance of apprenticeships before touring the third and fourth floors of the colleges Peter and Pat Cook Academic Hall.

Craft brewing makes its way to Michigan college campuses

Aug. 27, 2017; The Lanthorn (GVSU student newspaper)

A new trend has been brewing on college campuses around Michigan, and that trend is craft brewing.

… Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, Ferris State University and Grand Rapids Community College are just a few examples of colleges in Michigan that offer a craft brewing program.

GRCC In the News, 3-23-17

Tuition-free early college program to build talent pipeline for in-demand jobs

March 22, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – As manufacturers gather in Detroit today for a summit on advancing the industry’s future, local companies are working with Kent ISD and Grand Rapids Community College to create a new pipeline of workers to meet labor demands.

GRCC welcomes its first African-American president

March 22, 2017; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids Community College’s first African-American president says he’s humbled to fill the role.

Is the craft beer market in Grand Rapids saturated?

March 22, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Pour a cold one and consider: the number of craft breweries in Grand Rapids has tripled since 2011, the year before beer lovers voted it “Beer City, USA.”

… Professionalizing the industry is the goal of a new Grand Rapids Community College certificate program, which has 30 people enrolled in its first year of offering coursework and hands-on training at its own Fountain Hill Brewery.

Making transferring easy

March 22, 2017; The Lanthorn (GVSU student newspaper)

Grand Valley State University has been chosen as a member of Phi Theta Kappa’s 2017 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes the university’s support of community college transfers.

… “We have an advisor at Grand Rapids Community College, which is really our main feeder school for community colleges,” (Bonnie) Ulmer-DeGraves said. “We have someone there from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday to meet with potential students and make sure they’re on the right path for transferring into Grand Valley.”

Monica’s Gourmet Cookies to debut on QVC

March 22, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A favorite Grand Rapids cookie brand will get the QVC spotlight next week.

… The former caterer (Monica Mitidieri) is a graduate of Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute of Culinary Education.

Words of encouragement

March 22, 2017; Commercial-News (Danville, Ill.)

DANVILLE — Zachary Pangborn has attempted nearly 300 shots this season.

On Wednesday afternoon in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at the Mary Miller Gymnasium, the Grand Rapids Community College freshman missed six of his first seven field goal attempts and he was just 1-of-5 at the free-throw line.

Sí, se puede! Standing up for immigrants & farm workers in Grand Rapids

March 23, 2017; rapidgrowthmedia.com

Lupe Ramos-Montigny remembers three summers of her childhood, seasons now decades ago, like they were yesterday: the months when she would travel with her parents, Ysidro and Maria, and seven of her nine siblings from her hometown of Weslaco, Texas north to Michigan. There, Ramos-Montigny, now a Grand Rapidian who serves on the State Board of Education, would spend the 10th, 11th and 12th summers of her life harvesting beets in a town at the tip of the Mitten State’s thumb, Caseville, and picking cherries in Old Mission Peninsula, a region just north of Traverse City.

… Since then, the march has gone on to draw hundreds of people each year, with such officials as Olivarez, the Aquinas College president; Grand Rapids Community College President Steven Ender; Grand Valley State University Vice President Jesse Bernal; Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall-Neal; Grand Rapids Police Chief David Rahinsky, and various elected officials attending the event last week.

Experimenting with healthier ingredients at home

March 22, 2017; WZZM

Liz Weber is a Registered Dietitian at Mercy Health Saint Marys.

… Seek out local cooking classes. Downtown Market, Grand Rapids Community College, Sur La Table, The Local Epicurean, and Williams-Sonoma are all great resources available in the Grand Rapids area that provide cooking classes.

LSU to host ‘Feria de las Flores’ to welcome in the spring

March 22, 2017; The Lanthorn (GVSU student newspaper)

For almost sixty years, the Feria de las Flores event in Medellin, Colombia, has been one of Latin America’s most vibrant events. Grand Valley State University’s Latino Student Union (LSU) will bring some of the events famous flair to one of its bi-annual dinner-dances taking place Friday, March 24.

… In addition, two singers will perform songs in Spanish, followed by a semi-formal dinner and then traditional Mexican and Colombian dancing. Students from the Grand Rapids Community College’s Hispanic Student Organization will also participate.

GRCC In the News, 1-10-17

Grand Rapids latest to offer 5 years of high school to earn college degree

Jan. 10, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Public Schools is the latest school district in Kent and Ottawa counties to offer students the chance to earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree through the five-year Early/Middle College high school program.

The district is currently registering up to 50 eligible Ottawa Hills High School sophomores for the program set to launch next school year through a partnership with Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC).

The USA’s training program to win the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie

Jan. 5, 2017; So Good

USA is one of the Top 7 Countries which, having registered the highest scores in the last three editions of the Coupe du Monde of the Pâtisserie, has a direct ticket to the final this January in Lyon. “We will compete side by side teams with more resources and more favorable training environments, but we still believe we have a chance to shine brightly with a new training program. We hope to have planted the seeds for future participants,” say Gilles Renusson and Anthony Valla, president and vice president of the Club Coupe du Monde USA respectively.

… It has been a long preparation process in which everyone involved has invested time and effort. The first meetings and brainstorming took place at the end of 2015 at Midwest Import in a suburb of Chicago, and they began to look for the best original ways to represent the idea of acrobats in all aspects of the competition. The team was guided again by their loyal group of advisors. Nick Antonakis and Robin Van Rooyen from Grand Rapids Community College Art Department contributed their precious graphic and design expertise. Randy Finch and Luba Petrash were with Victor when planning his ice carving. Sylvain Leroy was again driving the tastings, and Roy, Christophe, and Ewald Notter provided directions about the chocolate and sugar sculptures.

Beer Month GR 2017: An Essential Guide

Jan. 9, 2017; experiencegr.com

Momentum in Beer City USA shows no signs of slowing down. Because of unquestionable demand and the abundance of beer-related activities, what was once lovingly referred to as Beer Week could no longer be contained to just 7 days (well, we might’ve stretched a week by a day or two, give or take).

… The current edition, which started being distributed in the fall of 2016, has a grey cover. To all those new breweries included that have opened their doors since the original edition was published, welcome to the party in Grand Rapids: Atwater GR, Bier Distillery (yep, they brew, too), Creston Brewery, Elk Brewing (Comstock Park), Greyline Brewing Co., New Holland Brewings The Knickerbocker Brewpub & Distillery, Schmohz Brewing Co. (new to the passport, not new to the GR beer scene) and Fountain Hill Brewery (at Grand Rapids Community College) the country’s only federal and state licensed brewpub owned and operated on a college/university campus.

GRCC In the News, 12-8-16

Founders Brewing gets $500,000 state loan as part of training program

Dec. 7, 2016; beerpulse.com

The Grand Rapids brewing company, in partnership with Grand Rapids Community College, is getting $500,000 over the next six years through the Michigan New Jobs Training Program to train 85 new workers.

GRCC In the News, 12-1-16

Tourism exec wins national award

Nov. 30, 2016; Grand Rapids Business Journal

A tourism exec in town is considered one of the top twenty-something professionals in the country by an industry association.

… (Nichole) Steele is also an employee of The Mitten Brewing Co., and she will begin a role as an adjunct professor at Grand Rapids Community College in January, teaching craft brewery taproom management.

GRCC In the News, 11-22-16

GRCC chooses new president

Nov. 21, 2016; FOX 17

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Community College has a new president.

MSU to help increase student success in Grand Rapids

Nov. 21, 2016; MSU Today

Michigan State University has joined a Grand Rapids-area community initiative to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups entering and graduating from Michigan colleges.

… In addition to MSU, other higher education institutions partnering with TCTC are: Aquinas College, Calvin College, Cornerstone University, Davenport University, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Northwood University and Western Michigan University.

Combing through Michigan’s pollinator planning efforts

Nov. 21, 2016; Michigan State University Extension

In response to concerns about pollinator health, Michigan agencies and legislators are gearing up with big plans and programs for pollinators in our state. Given their importance to our agricultural economy and natural lands, Michigan is taking part in the nationwide movement to protect the insects that pollinate our fruits, vegetables and native plants. In this article we outline, explain and provide updates on the different pollinator plans in Michigan (as of the end of 2016), providing links for more resources and ways you can get involved and receive updates as these plans progress.

… MDNR, along with numerous partners, hosted a Monarch and Wild Pollinator Summit in September 2016. The goals of the summit were to gather key conservation partners from across the state to initiate development of a statewide strategy to conserve habitat for the Monarch butterfly and wild pollinators, and develop a collaborative initiative to attract people and resources to help conserve habitat for monarchs and wild pollinators. A steering committee was created to help develop and organize this Summit that included the following organizations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Farm Bureau, National Wildlife Federation, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan State University Extension, MSU Entomology Department, Michigan Pollinator Initiative and Grand Rapids Community College. The steering committee invited a diverse group of organizations to attend the summit, which included 32 different organizations.

Experience GR launches renovated Beer City Passport

Nov. 21, 2016; FOX 17

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Beer lovers have the chance to become a “Brewsader” with the newly renovated beer city passport.

… Below is some of the other breweries featured:

… Fountain Hill Brewery at GRCC