(ceremonious brass music)
(mic cuts out)
>> Good morning and welcome
to the convocation ceremony
that will ring in
the 100th anniversary
of Grand Rapids
Community College.
We would like to invite
Professor Kevin Dobreff
to lead us in the singing
of the national anthem.
We ask that you all rise and,
gentlemen, to remove your caps.
>> (all singing)
♪ Oh say can you see ♪
By the dawn's
early light
What so proudly
we hailed
At the twilight's
last gleaming
Whose broad stripes
and bright stars
Thru the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts
we watched
Were so gallantly
streaming
And the rocket's
red glare
The bombs
bursting in air
Gave proof
through the night
That our flag
was still there
Oh say does that
star-spangled banner
Yet wave
O'er the land
of the free
And the home
Of the brave
(applause)
>> Please, be seated.
Thank you, Kevin.
Fellow colleagues, it
is my pleasure to serve
alongside Steve Abid in
the role and responsibilities
of Master and Mistress
of Ceremonies
at this memorable start to our
100th anniversary celebration.
I'm a faculty member in
the biological sciences,
and I am responsible for
teaching Honors Biology
and General
Biology Survey.
>> Good morning.
Thank you, Laurie.
I am Steve Abid from the
Social Sciences department,
where I teach
economics.
I am honored to serve in the
role of Master of Ceremonies,
along with
Laurie Foster.
We hope to get this
100 year celebration
off to a grand start
with today's festivities
as befitting an institution with
the word "grand" in the name.
Before getting
too far along,
I would like to ask
you to please join us
in a moment of silence as we
reflect on the past members
of our institution
no longer with us
and all of those who
have contributed
to the rich history
of GRCC.
Thank you.
At this time, we would like
to take the time to recognize
some of our
important guests.
Please stand and be recognized
when I say your name.
First, our Board
of Trustees--
Chair Mr. Bert Bleke,
Vice Chair
Mr. Richard Verburg,
Treasurer
Miss Ellen James,
Secretary
Miss Margo Anderson
joining us today
on her 73rd birthday.
>> (audience)
Oh!
(scattered chuckling)
(applause)
>> And Trustees
Miss Deb Bailey,
Dr. Richard Ryskamp, and
Dr. Richard Stewart.
(applause)
We also have with us today
some of our past leaders.
Again, please rise
to be recognized.
Past presidents--
Dr. Pat Pulliam,
Dr. Juan Olivarez,
and of course our current
president, Dr. Steve Ender.
Thank you for
being here today.
(applause)
We are happy that some of
our highest academic leaders
and former Provosts are
able to join us as well...
Dr. Corky Eringaard,
Dr. Don Boyer,
Dr. Gilda Gely.
(applause)
And our current
Interim Provost,
Miss Patti Trepkowski.
(applause)
Thank you all
for joining us
and nice job with
the mace, Patti.
(audience laughing)
We invited our former
GRCC Board of Trustees
and we have here today
Miss Terri Handlin
and Miss Jan Maggini.
(applause)
Thank you both for
celebrating with us,
and Jan, a personal "thank you"
for all your efforts
on the 100th anniversary
team, especially this one.
(audience chuckling)
We invited our neighbor
and partner higher
education institutions
to send a representative
to the convocation,
and we are pleased that several
were able to be here today.
Please join me in welcoming
from Ferris State University,
Dr. David Eisler.
(applause)
From Grand Valley
State University,
Assistant Vice President
for Academic Affairs,
Dr. Maria Cimitile.
(applause)
From the Van Andel
Institute Graduate School,
we are pleased to welcome
Dr. Steven Triezenberg.
(applause)
And from Aquinas College,
once again, Dr. Juan Olivarez.
(applause)
Thank you again.
(applause)
I would also like
to acknowledge
our GRCC Foundation Board
members present today...
Mr. Dave Custer,
Mr. Derek Rummel,
and Mr. Mike Despres.
(applause)
(applause)
Now, as they say,
"on with the festivities."
I am pleased to introduce
our first speaker,
a Richmond
Virginia native.
Steve Ender holds
a bachelor's degree
in Business
Management from Virginia
Commonwealth University,
master's and doctoral
degrees in education
from the University
of Georgia,
and he has completed
postdoctoral studies
at the Snowmass Institute
in Snowmass, Colorado,
and Harvard University.
During his more than
30 years in higher education,
Dr. Ender has held numerous
teaching, counseling,
administrative
positions.
His former position
prior to coming here
was President of Westmoreland
Community College.
Among his honors
and achievements,
Dr. Ender was named to the
National Advisory Board
for "Helping Teens Succeed,"
a college transition program,
and received the
Pennsylvania Association
for Developmental
Educators Award
for Research
and Publication,
and the Award
of Excellence
from the Manchester Craftsmen's
Guild of Pittsburgh.
As a young man, he achieved
Eagle Scout status.
Quite an accomplishment.
In Grand Rapids, Dr. Ender
serves on several boards
including the Spectrum
Health System Board,
the YMCA
corporate board,
The Right Place Economic
Development Board,
and the West Michigan Center
for Arts and Technology
board of directors.
At the state level,
Dr. Ender is actively involved
in the Michigan Community
College Association,
serving on the
strategic planning
and legislative
committees.
And of course,
in May 2009,
Dr. Steven Ender
joined us here
when he became
the ninth president
of Grand Rapids
Community College.
It gives me great
pleasure to introduce
our first keynote
speaker this morning,
Grand Rapids Community
College's ninth president,
Dr. Steven C. Ender.
(applause)
>> Thank you,
and good morning.
I don't know about
all of you here today
and what you're thinking,
but I must say that to be part
of the group that is associated
with the college today, 2014,
that gets to share in
the glory and the history
of this phenomenal institution
is something that humbles me
and, I would assume,
most of us in the room.
And even though this is a
somber and special occasion,
you're going to
have to indulge me.
I mean, we're
100 years old.
We're going to sing
"Happy Birthday"
before we get too long
into this program.
(audience laughing)
And we're going to
sing "Happy Birthday"
to "Grand Rapids Community
College," not "GRCC."
Victoria, are
you in the room?
(audience laughing)
Where is my
lead singer?
>> (Victoria singing)
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
>> There we go.
>> (all singing)
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday dear Grand
Rapids Community College ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
>> (Ender singing)
♪ And many more ♪
I love that part.
(applause)
The award-winning American
author, Madeleine L'Engle,
wrote, "The great thing
about getting older
"is that you don't lose all
the other ages you've been."
I believe this is true for both
individuals and institutions.
We are a great
institution today
because of all of the faculty,
staff, and administrators
who have come
before us.
And we do stand on
their shoulders.
Celebrating a milestone event
almost inherently results
in individuals and
institutions adopting
a historical perspective
in their work.
Over the next 12 months, we
will have many opportunities
to reflect upon and honor
the work of the last 100 years,
but this morning I would
like to frame my remarks
around our most recent
history and our future.
By all accounts, 2013-'14
was a remarkable year
for Grand Rapids
Community College.
After a thorough review of
seemingly countless materials
we provided
and after a comprehensive
three-day site visit
this past April,
a team of reviewers from
the Higher Learning Commission
wrote an impressive report
in praise of our institution,
the quality
of our work,
and the dedication and
professionalism of our faculty,
staff, and
administrators.
The team determined that
GRCC provides evidence
that it meets all of the
criteria for accreditation,
identified no issues that
required follow-up from us,
and offered this
overall assessment--
"Two major factors
which contribute to
the effective operation
"of an organization are
the structures adopted
"and the quality of the people
involved in those structures.
"Grand Rapids can
look with pride
"at how well its teams
operate and the achievements
"those teams are
generating.
"The College is fully committed
to continual improvement
"and its people are making that
happen in exemplary fashion."
I believe we should all
take great pride in the role
of our individual day-to-day
work as it impacts the success
and vitality of our students
and our institution.
I congratulate you all for
this wonderful recognition
by the visiting team,
and I offer a special and
heart-felt "thank you"
to former Provost
Gilda Gely.
I know,
unequivocally,
that her seven years
of Academic and Student
Affairs executive leadership
positioned
our College
to receive this outstanding
appraisal from the review team.
The team's report now
becomes part of GRCC's
case for re-accreditation,
the result of which we expect
to know in the spring of 2015.
Join me in thanking
Provost Gely.
(applause)
With the ratification
of our Faculty Contract
in March of 2013,
all of us at GRCC conduct
our day-to-day work
from the perspective of an
individual performance plan
linked to the College's
Strategic Plan
and then to our
compensation packages.
Now, I know this cultural
shift has not come about
without some degree of
concern and consternation.
However, I believe that this is
an institutional accomplishment
in which we should all take
great pride and satisfaction.
That we have performance systems
across all of our work groups
says a lot about who
we are as an institution
and what we
believe in.
It says that accountability
and personal ownership
are not structures
that intimidate us.
It says that we believe
in stretching ourselves
to be the very best
that we can be.
It says that we believe the
sum is greater than the parts
and that we all work in our
respective areas to advance
the Ends and Strategic Plan
of our great institution.
It says that we honor the
Academy and the privilege
of recognition as we advance
through the academic ranks--
a hallmark of
higher education
and an indication of the
excellence of our faculty.
This distinguished
college deserves no less.
Our students
deserve no less.
I am extremely proud
of this transformation
within our
college culture.
We are also
transforming our culture
as we bring 52 new
tenure-track faculty positions
into our
organization.
You know, this
means that 25%
of all of our full-time
teaching faculty positions
will be filled by newcomers
to the tenure-track.
What an achievement
and what an opportunity
for this great
institution.
We are a student
success-driven college,
and I appeal to
all of us to share
and model this
institutional value
with our new
faculty colleagues.
They represent the future of
Grand Rapids Community College.
As we think about this
infusion of new faculty,
we are also searching
for our next Provost
and Vice President for
Academic and Student Affairs.
A faculty-led search committee,
co-chaired by Jennifer Batten,
Department Head of Physical
Sciences, and Nikki Banks,
Department Head
of Criminal Justice,
was convened late last
spring to bring the process,
and consultants from the-- to
begin the process, I'm sorry--
and consultants from the
Academic Governing Board
have assisted the team
this summer to develop
a position description
and profile
and they have launched
our national search.
It is my hope
that the committee
will begin to review
candidate files soon
with the goal of
selecting a new Provost
by the middle
of fall term.
If the right person
is not in this pool,
we will extend
the search.
Ideally, someone would come
on board by winter semester,
but we are fortunate to have
wise and capable leadership
from Interim Provost
Patti Trepkowski,
and a July 2015 start is
not out of the question.
When you see Patti, please thank
her for her important service
during this time
of transition.
The leadership of our--
(applause)
thank you.
(applause)
The leadership of our campus
also was enhanced this summer
with the naming of
Mr. David Anderson
to become our new Chief
Technology Officer.
I was delighted to
make this appointment.
David has been a strong member
of the IT team for years
and had provided
excellent leadership
in the six-month
period
following Kevin O'Halla's
sad passing.
David is widely respected
across our campus
and within the
IT department.
He is uniquely qualified
to lead our IT team,
and we are fortunate to
have him in this new role.
Please congratulate
David when you see him.
David.
(applause)
You know, literally
hundreds of campus
and community members
have worked this past year
to develop, refine,
and implement
our Centennial year agenda
of programs and activities.
Starting with
today's convocation
and concluding in May with
commencement at Van Andel Arena,
we will have many occasions
to celebrate our legacy
and pay tribute to those
who created that legacy.
There will be
a community picnic,
a visit by former
President Jimmy Carter
and his wife, Rosalynn,
the Gala event,
and a musical written by
members of the GRCC family
and performed by
students and staff,
to name just a few highlights
of our year-long celebration--
a celebration which allows us
to shine a bright spotlight
on our college and to
strengthen our reputation
within the higher
education community.
We must and will continue
to highlight our excellence,
our affordability,
and our student
success-oriented approach.
We are a first-choice
institution,
and more and more of
our community members
need to be informed
of our unique ability
to offer the
first two years
of a university-level
education
with a community
college philosophy
of individual
attention and support.
Inextricably woven into
GRCC's legacy of excellence
is its legacy of service
not only to students,
but to the community.
It is only fitting, then,
that our tradition of service
is also woven into
our 100th year celebration.
Our Foundation,
led by Don MacKenzie,
is striving to raise a million
dollars in student scholarships
before the college's anniversary
gala on October 14th.
As of today, we are
within $250,000
of reaching this
ambitious goal.
(applause)
Also, to commemorate
our centennial,
GRCC's faculty and staff
have devised 100 ways
to give back to
our community.
Throughout the
coming year,
activities will take place to
collect donations of items
and to provide
hours of service
that are much-needed by
various community members
and organizations.
Beyond hosting
accreditation visits,
implementing new
evaluation systems,
hiring new faculty
and staff,
and planning the
Centennial celebration,
other important initiatives
have come to a conclusion
this past year or are soon
to come to a conclusion.
These initiatives are
significant as we consider
the future of
our institution,
and they include the work of
the Strategic Leadership Team,
the Academic
Program Reviews,
the Budget Review
Implementation Team,
and our ongoing
Facilities Renovation.
The Strategic Leadership Team
has been instrumental
in monitoring
the success
of the 2011 through 2014
GRCC Strategic Plan.
This past year,
this work culminated
in significant
positive changes
among 22 of the
27 independent indicators
we use to judge
our success
as compared to both national
and state benchmarks.
The fact that we have seen
significant improvements
on over 80% of our
indicators is strong evidence
of the quality of the work we
do and our collective impact
on students' success.
Further evidence of
our quality and impact
can be found in our ongoing
Academic Program Reviews.
This past year, our academic
departments completed year three
of an ongoing
four-year cycle.
External accreditation, state
and national benchmarking,
and internal reviews all
support one conclusion--
GRCC is an exemplary
institution of higher learning.
However, even the most
exemplary institutions
face daunting
challenges.
In our case, our enrollments
have, in recent years,
been declining
dramatically,
resulting
in budgetary challenges
that must be addressed,
given that 57% of our revenues
now come from tuition and fees.
Over the past
three years,
the Budget Review
Implementation Team
has studied many aspects
of the financial state
of all of our instructional and
non-instructional programs.
Because enrollments
continue to decline--
and because we face potential
budget shortfalls in 2015-'16
of between $2 million
and $5 million--
the findings of this team
will be considered by
and incorporated into the work
of an Ad Hoc Budget Committee
commissioned
this past summer.
This new team,
comprised of faculty,
staff, and
administrators,
will bring both
revenue enhancement
and budget reduction
recommendations to me
and the leadership team prior to
our December holiday shutdown.
This work will be transparent,
inclusive, data-driven,
and difficult.
The recommendations and
subsequent budget decisions
will be shared with
the campus community
early in the
winter term.
I appeal to all of us to
work with this campus group
if they need additional
information from our areas,
departments,
or programs.
Another challenge we have
all faced over recent years,
and perhaps most
significantly, this past year,
has been our
facilities renovation.
As we engage with our students
in our next 100 years,
we must provide facilities
that are safe, comfortable,
and designed to facilitate
teaching and learning.
We have made tremendous
strides to update
and renovate our physical
plant, and more are planned.
The efforts of our maintenance,
facilities and IT staff
over the past months
have been Herculean,
as has been the patience
and good humor
of all of the rest of
the faculty and staff
who have had to temporarily move
or be otherwise inconvenienced.
Everyone involved or
impacted by these renovations
and dislocations has my
sincerest appreciation.
The resilience and adaptability
of GRCC faculty, staff,
and administrators in
the face of continued change
continues to inspire
and amaze me,
and it gives me great
hope for the future
of this remarkable
institution.
Higher education is
constantly evolving,
but we know that
evolution and progress
are not always
the same thing.
Student choices for higher
education opportunities
and skill development
are expanding rapidly.
We are experiencing
an explosion
of post-secondary education
providers and modes of delivery.
We are also witnessing
significant pressure
from traditional
providers,
as we all recruit a dwindling
number of high school graduates.
Right now, I would imagine
that some in this audience
are wondering why the content
of this speech has evolved
from achievements
to challenges,
why the tone has shifted
a bit from one of triumph
to one of struggle.
It is because in order
to evolve and progress,
we must not, in the words of
noted evolutionary biologist
and MacArthur Fellow,
Stephen Jay Gould,
"be tempted to equate
transient domination
"with either intrinsic
superiority
"or prospects for an
extended survival."
If our colleagues of
the past 100 years,
whom we honored earlier,
had ignored their challenges,
we would not
be here today.
For the sake of our colleagues
of the next 100 years,
we cannot ignore our
challenges either.
When Professor Abid
invited me
to deliver this
convocation address,
he requested that
I focus some of my remarks
on my vision
for GRCC.
I will honestly say that I am
not sure that the vision
for GRCC-- or for higher
education in general--
has changed that
dramatically over the years.
We are here first and foremost
to foster the success
of our students and the
greater good of our society.
I am not sure that GRCC's first
President, Jesse Buttrick Davis,
felt differently,
and I am not sure that whoever
delivers this same address,
in whatever format it
takes 100 years from now
will feel
differently.
The future of our institution
depends on all of us
focusing our time and
energy daily on students
and their success.
They are the center of
the universe of our work,
and daily decision-making
should zero in
on the fundamental
question--
"What is best
for the student?"
The college's new
Strategic Plan,
formulated by the
70-plus members
of our Strategic
Leadership Team,
working in conjunction with
the rest of the campus,
the local community,
and our Board of Trustees,
targets the institution's work
more strongly than ever
on the student.
The new Ends are simple
and they're direct.
We will focus on Student
Success, Work-Force Pathways,
and Transfer Pathways.
These Ends require
us individually
and collectively to devote our
time, energy, and resources
to these priorities,
above all others.
Not only do I believe that the
vision of student success does,
or at least should, unite
all of higher education,
but I also believe that
the means and methods we use
to best serve
students
are what are constantly
changing over time,
and I will share how I believe
they may evolve at GRCC
for the betterment
of our students
for today and
for the future.
My comments will center
on three main areas--
Recruitment,
Teaching, and Support,
all with the goal
of helping students
to persist in and
complete their studies.
To hold and expand
our market share,
we must be in the recruitment
business as a college
and across all of our
educational programs.
I believe we must reach out
in all ways possible--
electronic
and human--
to ensure that new students
have a great experience
with admissions,
financial aid, orientation,
and student enrollment.
A successful
start is essential
to student matriculation
and success.
All elements of our system must
be seamless and transparent.
Road blocks
must be removed.
All students
must be embraced.
It is the work
of all of us.
As we move
into our future,
I believe all of our
academic departments
must consider their role in the
student recruitment process.
Outreach to develop
relationships
with high school principals,
faculty, and counselors
must extend beyond the work
of our admissions staff.
Bringing high school students
to our campus to meet faculty,
explore program offerings
and visit our labs
will only enhance
our recruitment
and matriculation
processes.
I believe that we
must strengthen
and scale our approaches with
students in the high schools
across our
service region.
Dual enrollment,
early college,
and fast track and on-track
programs have proven
to be quite successful
in our work thus far,
and expansion of all
of these programs
must be a priority in
our work going forward.
In the five years that
I have been at GRCC,
we have significantly
expanded our course offerings
through both online and
hybrid approaches.
I believe in the future
we must do even more.
The Higher Learning
Commission
has authorized our
institution to offer
up to 20% of our programs
in an online environment.
I am hopeful that
many departments
will consider developing their
programs for this delivery mode.
The core of our work, however,
is what we offer to our students
when they are here--
teaching and learning.
Quality, rigor, and
supportive relationships
are vital in any
learning experience.
Teachers must use all
means at their disposal--
creativity, experiential
activities, and technology,
to name a few-- to engage
and motivate students.
New methods and
modalities must continue
to be explored by faculty and
supported by administration.
I believe a key component
of great teaching is advising.
Early in my career, I spent
considerable time researching,
thinking, and writing in
the area of academic advising
for college students.
I am convinced that
the relationship
between a student and his
or her academic advisor
can be quite powerful and
impactful in regards
to student persistence,
graduation, and transfer.
At GRCC, we must expand
our thinking and practice
in this arena.
My vision for the future
disaggregates our students
from the perspective of
their advising needs.
Academic faculty working in
workforce development programs
that lead immediately
to a career
would be providing academic
advising for students
enrolled in
those programs.
Arts and Sciences faculty would
focus their advising efforts
with students enrolled
in associate of arts
and sciences
transfer programs.
Counselors would focus
their advising work
on undecided and
developmental students.
As those students
declare majors
and move off the
developmental track,
they would then move to
departmental faculty.
These steps would allow all
of us to use our advising
and counseling expertise
with those students
who most closely match our
skills in the advising arena.
I believe the role
of faculty at GRCC
will continue to change
over the next several years.
Our tenured and
tenure-track faculty
will become involved in areas
of student recruitment,
student advising,
mentoring of adjuncts,
developing and
revising curriculum,
determining and developing
performance measures
for all students in multiple
sections of a course,
filling administrative positions
on an acting or interim basis
as needs arise and
faculty show interest,
and teaching students at times
perhaps more conducive
to the student's lives
rather than our own.
We all must continue to put the
students' needs for support
at the center of
our daily work,
and this most certainly also
applies to administration
and staff.
If we are to remain
competitive and thrive
as an educational
provider, we must adapt
and change not only
how we do our business
but when we
conduct that work.
Students support services
must be provided in ways
and at times that go beyond
the traditional 8-5 day.
Many of our most
important services
including deans' offices,
financial aid, admissions,
counseling and advising,
tutorial labs, and others
must expand their
accessibility to students,
both literally
and figuratively.
This may mean staggered
and shifting schedules
for administrators
and staff.
This may also mean expanded
electronic resources
for our students.
Our service must be based
on accommodating the needs
of students.
Refining an institutional
vision by examining the means
and methods by which
it is carried out
is especially difficult
in the ever-evolving field
of higher education.
I am completely
confident in predicting
that we can expect
change in our future,
but I am also
equally as confident
in predicting GRCC's
ability to adapt to change
and to grow even stronger
in its commitment
to inspire students to meet
the needs of the community
and of the world.
As we do today, I believe that
our colleagues in 2114-2115
will look back with pride
on the legacy that all of us
have created and with a hope
for a remarkable future.
As we do here today in
Fountain Street Church,
they will sit somewhere and
they will appreciate the role
they have played
in history--
institutionally
and individually.
Like us, they will
reflect on the individuals
whose lives they've guided,
molded, and mentored.
Today, I hope that you all
feel a profound sense of pride
and satisfaction in the
vocation you have chosen.
I want to leave you with a quote
from American poet and novelist,
Marge Piercy-- "Never doubt
that you can change history.
"You already have."
Thank you.
(applause)
>> Thank you for
your poignant update
on our institution,
Dr. Ender.
Thank you for giving us
a glimpse of your vision
and for providing us with
the spirit of leadership
to guide our efforts as we
enter into this next century.
It is my honor now to
introduce Dr. Gilda Gely,
who received her bachelor's
degree in radio/TV and Spanish
at Kansas State
University.
Her master's degree is
from Middlebury College
with a Spanish
concentration,
and she earned
her PhD in Spanish
at the University
of Illinois.
Dr. Gely is an academic
leader with broad experience
in private and
public institutions
in Puerto Rico
and Michigan.
She began her career
on her island homeland,
first as a teacher, then
as a Director of Languages,
advancing to
a Vice Chancellor
and Interim Dean
before coming to GRCC,
where she has served our
institution as Provost
and Executive Vice President
for Academic and Student Affairs
for the past
seven years.
She is now the provost
at our sister institution,
Aquinas College.
Her list of
accolades are many.
A few include these--
she has received the
Distinguished Woman
in Higher Education
Leadership Award
by the Michigan
ACE Network.
She served as President
of the evaluating teams
for the Puerto Rican Council
on Higher Education.
She received the
Award of Commitment
to Excellence
in Education
at the Academia Bautista
de Puerto Nuevo--
best I can.
(giggling)
Clearly, Dr. Gilda Gely
provides a shining example
of effort, dedication, and
commitment to achievement
in all she does.
Please join me in welcoming
her to share her thoughts
on celebrating
our past.
Dr. Gely?
(applause)
>> (with Puerto Rican accent)
When we remember,
we call to mind.
When we record,
we stir the heart.
Good morning.
Presidents Ender,
Olivarez, Pulliam.
trustees, invited guests,
faculty, and staff.
A centennial,
especially of a college,
is a celebration
of minds and hearts.
To reminisce, to remember,
goes to the root of our minds,
or "mens" in Latin.
To remember is to pass
through the mind again.
The word "remember" in
my native Spanish, however,
is "recordar"
which comes from the
Latin "cordis," or "heart,"
the metaphoric
seat of memory,
as in the phrase
"to learn by heart."
To "record" is really to pass
through your heart again.
To remember,
to record.
Our centennial provides
us opportunities
to pass through
our minds and hearts
once more the many stories
that make up the history
of Grand Rapids
Community College.
And who tells the story
of a people, of a city,
of a college?
Homer, before re-telling
the adventures of Odysseus
would ask for inspiration
from the muses,
and from one in
particular, Mnemosne,
so that he would tell
the story of the Odyssey
with precision,
passion, and poetry.
"Speak Memory,
Speak Immortal One,
"And tell the tale
one more in our time."
Homer, one storyteller,
invites the muse Mnemosne
to speak through him, to use
him as a fiat, a vehicle,
once again, to help him to
remember and tell the epic
of the people that,
once recorded,
would become one of the
foundational pillars
in literature.
How many storytellers to tell
the epic history of a college?
How many muses invoked
in the recounting
of the many adventures
experienced by the community
of Grand Rapids in the
course of 100 years?
What is the story that each one
of you tell about the college?
How rich, indeed,
is the history possessed
by those present
here today.
And as we sit in
this sacred space,
with its own unique and
towering place in the history
of this city, and pass through
our hearts and minds again
those colleagues who once
sat with us and now are gone.
Do you recall
their stories?
A story you
shared with them?
A connection that
you have with them
because of your time
at the college?
Have you told
that story?
Has that story
been recorded?
As we contemplate this morning
our own personal connections
to those who worked
and studied here,
and their connections
to previous generations
who lived and moved
through these streets
and the buildings--
so many muses--
we are moved to a
spirit of gratitude.
And, "Gratitude is the
memory of the heart."
We are grateful to celebrate
GRCC's Centennial,
to look through the timelines,
grateful to see the photographs,
to get a sense
of days gone by,
grateful to comprehend
what advances
and steps were
made along the way
to develop programs
and services,
to understand the evolution
of buildings and structures
that make up
campuses.
We are grateful for
the opportunity
to gather
more stories.
We understand how
hearts and minds
are deeply moved through
listening to the humanity
of diverse voices.
This language that we speak,
our unique timbre and cadence,
the phrases that we use,
our laugh, our accents,
identifies each
one of us.
Future generations,
because of audio
and video
technologies,
will have perhaps a greater
connection with us
because of the stories of
GRCC that we tell today.
So I invite you to record--
to remember with the heart--
your unique story
about this college,
and hereby contribute to this
precious historical legacy.
Through storytelling, we
preserve our identities
as individuals
and institutions.
A convocation is
"a calling together,"
a "joining of voices"
of faculty
at the start of
the academic year.
This centennial convocation
is inviting voices
beyond the college to
the broader community,
beyond the "here and now"
to those individuals
who once shared
this breath of life,
and those
yet to come--
students and staff
who will come together
to learn and work
during the next century.
Ours today is a convocation
to remember and record,
to honor the
school's history,
to preserve it
for posterity.
In writing the college's
official history
to record a century of
service of Grand Rapids,
Professor
Walter Lockwood
interviewed present and past
teachers and administrators
to capture what they remember
as significant moments
for the college.
Would Professor Lockwood
please stand to be recognized?
(applause)
You have to
get this book.
(audience chuckling)
Because his work joins
together many voices
from this
institution's past--
voices of triumph
and tribulation,
voices of advocacy and support,
voices of innovation and risk,
voices of courage.
These voices who have guided our
individual and collective pasts,
they all join our
convocation here today.
Our Clio, the muse of history,
our Erato, the muse of poetry.
As faculty, think of
the individual lives
you have touched
through teaching,
counseling,
and support.
Wonder at the seeds
you have planted
in young hearts
and minds.
Ponder how generations
of students have stories
they tell about how
you made a difference,
how you inspired a
life-changing career decision.
Marvel at how awesome and
humbling and maybe even scary
it must be to have your
voice linger in the memory
of a former
GRCC student.
As you do for others, as
others have done for you,
you honor this
powerful vocation,
you honor the legacy of
this institution's founders,
you honor your voice and
your unique role as faculty.
And what lingers in the memory
isn't just words of our faculty,
but also
our actions.
They create lasting images that
become carved on our memories.
As teachers, we become creative
to help students understand
and remember.
The voices of our mentors
and guides-- our muses--
become voices from the past
encouraging our steps today,
reminding us that
sometimes we must leap,
we must find new ways,
we must take risks.
Indeed, Trailblazing is
part of this college's DNA.
So many voices.
Voices of healing--
during the first great war,
the need for nurses moved
the Junior College to work
with local hospitals
to provide training.
This college has a long
history of excellence
in the preparation
of nursing students.
After the second great war,
enrollments climbed,
more faculty were hired
and they began to voice
the need for greater participation
in the decision-making
of the college.
Voices of concern--
in the 1960s,
staff wondered if vocational
training might challenge
the school's
academic tradition.
Liberal Arts faculty would
raise the same concern
amidst celebration of the
new M-TEC center in 2002,
when occupational
training students
more than doubled
the number
of liberal arts
transfer students.
A voice of protest--
a language arts teacher painted
an orange stripe the
length of a corridor
"in protest of the
deadening sameness
"of the building's
beige color scheme."
(audience laughing)
A Coordinator for the Arts
drew large audiences
to the Ford Fieldhouse
to see celebrities
as part of a fund-raising
lecture series
called the "Great
American Talk Festival,"
celebrating the diversity,
the richness,
the greatness of
talented voices.
Voices for others--
through the years,
faculty advocated for
students in many ways--
creating a Women's
Resource Center,
a Council for Minority Concerns,
a Student Life Board.
By 2006, the result
of several years
of focused,
college-wide efforts,
GRCC became the first
college in the state
to win the Michigan Quality
Leadership Award--
voices of
celebration!
A coming together of voices
through the century.
And as we consider
the tremendous legacy
we share as faculty and
members of the GRCC community,
as we reflect on so many
voices through the years,
as we remember
the anecdotes,
the record of so
many achievements,
we ask ourselves, "How can
we honor this history?"
The muses were captured in
Greek architecture in mosaics.
The word "museum" means
"shrine to the muses."
And while we may
not use mosaics
in contemporary
campus architecture,
we do have museums
and libraries,
and we do pay tribute to
distinguished faculty,
as well as benefactors,
in the naming of the halls.
At the University of Illinois,
where I studied,
students and visitors often
stop to take pictures
of a statue entitled
"Alma Mater."
They are snapped into a
comforting sense of history
when they read
the inscription--
"To thy happy children
of the future,
"those of the past
send greetings."
Inscription on fountains,
names on buildings,
as we walk through
our downtown campus,
we move in the
presence of the past.
The role of faculty, looking
at the next century,
is to ask the
hard questions.
What questions are we
willing to ask each other
to improve teaching
and learning?
What actions are
we willing to take
to better serve Grand Rapids
and Kent County?
Do we have so much invested
in the way things are
that silence and inaction
seem like the better course?
What do these voices of
history say to you today?
How are these muses passing
through your minds
and hearts again?
Your stories, our story, the
history of GRCC continues--
there is so much
more to record.
So today, the convocation
of faculty and community,
privileged to draw breath and
experience this milestone
in the life of
this institution--
Grand Rapids Community College,
in this sacred space,
we say to the voices of
the past who join us--
"Thank you!
"Bless you!
"Peace to you!"
And to the voices of
today here present,
it was a privilege and
an honor to serve with you
as your provost.
Memories of the work
will pass through my mind,
but those of the people
will pass again and again
through my heart.
And to the voices
of GRCC's future,
who will walk and work
and study and sing,
we present you a
legacy of achievement.
Continue building and adding
to this school's tradition
in service to this
wonderful city.
Here's to the next century--
may it be filled with voices
of courage, conviction,
and much celebration.
Thank you.
(applause)
>> Thank you to
Dr. Gely for proving
that the past does
indeed guide our future
and for us to be mindful of
listening to those voices
of the past.
They truly are a part
of who we are today.
We thank you for your
insights and past leadership,
and that will continue
to influence our endeavors
I am quite certain
for the professoriate
as we strive toward
academic excellence
at Grand Rapids
Community College.
So now, we're
going to transition
and move on to our
academic awards.
The purpose of the
Emeritus Faculty Award
is to recognize and
confer emeritus status
to a retired
faculty member.
The criteria
for the award
include having taught
seven years or more at GRCC,
having been recognized
by colleagues
as an outstanding
instructor,
having brought distinction
to his or her field
through activities of
both inside and outside
the classroom,
and having served
as a role model
to aspiring
instructors.
At our 2014
commencement,
this honor was bestowed
to our colleague
Professor
Paul Chardoul.
We'd like to ask now that
all emeritus faculty members
that are in
attendance today,
please rise and let us
give our thanks to you.
(applause)
Our second award is the
Excellence in Education Award
that was established in 1989
to honor an individual
of Grand Rapids Community
College employee
for his or her contributions
to the college, higher education,
and the community.
Nominees are evaluated
by a selection committee
based on how well they
exemplify our core values.
These include Excellence,
Diversity, Responsiveness,
Innovation, Accountability,
Sustainability, and Respect.
Last year, the past
recipients of this award
had a chance
to gather--
of which I'm included
in that group--
and had a wonderful
opportunity to discuss
and to think
about our work
and what drives us
each and every day
to aspire to
continue this career.
In doing so, it brought
such great pride to hear
of the commitment to
teaching and amazing endeavors
that take place every day
at our institution by faculty.
I am so proud of this award
and what it represents,
and I'm eager to see
this honor bestowed
upon one of our
colleagues here today.
>> I cannot put into words
what it meant to receive
the Excellence in Education
Award back in 2010.
To this day, I am still humbled,
honored, and overwhelmed
that I was presented
with that distinction.
It is fitting, as we
celebrate our history,
that we have a number of
our retired past recipients
of the Excellence in
Education Award here today.
We ask all that are in
attendance to please stand
so that we can acknowledge
them one more time
for having received
this award.
(applause)
For a complete list of
all of the award winners,
please refer
to your program.
Now, we have reached the moment
to learn of our newest honorees.
At this time, I would like
to invite President Ender
back to the podium to
lead us in recognizing
the Excellence in
Education recipients
for the 2014-'15 year.
>> This year's
Excellence in Education
Faculty Award recipient
exemplifies the college
values by being...
Excellence-- few instructors
embody the passion
that drives
this professor.
From the moment this professor
introduces THEMself--
I'm just not going to
give you any tips here
as we work through this.
(audience laughing)
On the first
day of class,
students know this
is a professor
who is truly excited to
share their knowledge,
their kindness, and
their sense of wonder.
This is a professor
that puts extra time
into planning their lectures
and always comes to class
prepared with answers
to student questions
from the previous
lecture.
Most professors want students
to do well in their class--
this professor
wants more.
They want students
to learn.
Diversity-- while teaching
students course material,
this professor makes them
feel valued and respected.
This professor's excitement and
profound well-rounded knowledge
inspires students' desire to
learn more about each topic.
This professor
supports a classroom
in which every question is
welcome to ensure each student
feels comfortable, and course
material is fully understood.
This professor understands
that our students
have complex lives
that often interfere
with their
best plans.
This professor values
our students' potential
and sees that, with an
occasional bit of extra support,
students can achieve their
highest levels of success.
Responsiveness-- this professor
exemplifies the characteristics
of responsiveness because they
do more than just anticipate
the needs of
their students.
They know them before
the students do.
Above and beyond is nothing
out of the ordinary
for this profoundly
gifted professor.
This professor will come in
early and stay much later
than a class is
actually scheduled
to give students every
opportunity to succeed.
This professor has been
known to come in on days off
if it would help
accommodate a student
with a scheduling
conflict.
Innovation-- this
professor uses examples
that are theoretical
but practical.
Lectures include YouTube
technology, activities,
and different websites that
are available for students
to practice the skills
that are learned in class.
This professor doesn't rely
on these outside sources
to teach students
material.
Rather, they offer them to
students to use as tools
to provide better
understand the lesson.
This professor's ability to
innovate unique examples
is just as effective
as their ability
to create
challenging problems
that relate to
their teachings.
There are times when students
are expected to read the text
and complete the
challenging problems
at the end of
the chapter.
This professor always
provides time in class
dedicated to solving problems
on the board to assist students
with the most
difficult problems.
Accountability-- this professor
demonstrates a true sense
of accountability,
holding themself not only
to their personal standards
but to those of
the college as well.
They are always stepping
up to substitute teach
at last minute because
they realize that GRCC
has a duty to provide the
education for which students
have paid.
This professor is a key
part of first assessing
of the student's
ability to write
for their discipline's
purposes,
then implementing changes
in teaching methods
and assignments,
and finally measuring the
improvement in student writing.
Their ideas and dedication
to the project work
are a key factor in both
the project's success
and the measurable improvement
in student writing.
Sustainability-- not only is
this professor sustainable
with resources provided
by the college,
but they also understand
the economic difficulties
of our students.
This professor
requires that students
only buy the necessary
classroom materials.
Rather than requiring
a subscription
to an online
homework site,
this professor created
their own homework sets
and utilizes problems
given in the textbook.
Everybody is trying
to guess now.
(audience chuckling)
The professor
instills in students
the cost of both classroom
materials and equipment
and encourages students
not to be wasteful
and to recycle
whenever possible.
This professor is concerned
about the environment,
and has often
worked with students
on independent
study projects
that have an
environmental aspect.
Respect-- it's hard to imagine
a more respectful professor.
There have been
times when students
have brought up inflammatory
topics and opinions,
but never once did this
professor give an indication
that those opinions
weren't valid
or deserving
of discussion.
This professor respects their
students and colleagues,
in that they are always
willing to help them out.
This professor is always
willing to volunteer
for new initiatives
and gives 100%.
They respect their colleagues'
time by completing their portion
of the project in
a timely manner
and with exceptional
quality.
Integrity-- this professor
displays integrity
by acting on the values
that are important to them,
such as community service.
In addition to being a faculty
member who offer students
the opportunity to
serve in the community
through academic
service learning,
this professor also seeks out
partnerships in the community
so that students can bring
education to children and teens
who do not always have
their educational needs met.
This professor treats each
and every student fairly.
They stand by their syllabus
and ensure that students read
and fully understand
the expectations
and what they should
expect from the professor.
Some of the letters of support
for this exemplary individual
include the
following comments--
"This instructor truly
possesses all of the qualities
"that colleague strive for
and students seek
"in an outstanding
professor."
"A genuinely courteous
and considerate professor
"who is constantly looking for
ways to help those around them
"achieve excellence,
academically or otherwise."
"One of the most dedicated
educators that I know.
"Committed to the
education and well-being
"of all of our
students."
"This professor continually
works to encourage
"their students' success,
support their colleagues
"and their work, and reach
out to the community."
It is now my pleasure
to name this year's
Excellence in Education
Faculty Award recipient...
Chemistry professor,
Tom Neils.
Tom?
(applause)
Beautiful.
Congratulations.
We have some people
here to see you.
(applause)
It's all yours.
(chuckling)
>> Thank you.
Um...
I guess if I'm able
to do my job well,
it's because I get to work with
all of you here at the college
and because I have the love
and support of my family,
and a lot of patience
on their part, too.
(chuckling)
Thank you.
>> And these
are for you.
(applause)
Congratulations.
Wonderful.
(applause)
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> Oh, sorry.
Sorry, just to let you
know who's up here--
this is my dad,
who is an engineer,
and my mom, who is an
elementary school teacher,
which is why I
teach science,
I think when you
put them together.
(applause)
And then, my son Matthew
and my daughter Ruth,
and my wife Stephanie, who
is also a chemistry teacher
and she gives me
all my good ideas.
(audience laughing)
(applause)
>> Thank you, Tom.
>> (indistinct speaking).
(applause)
>> Now, our 2014
Staff Award.
This year's Excellence in
Education Staff Award winner
exemplifies the Raider
values by being...
Excellence-- with over 30 years
of higher education experience,
this person possesses an
excellent understanding
of their area
of expertise.
The professionalism
and thoroughness
that this person gives to each
student and staff member
creates a feeling of
confidence of a job well done.
Diversity-- this person
has a long track record
of sensitivity to and
mindfulness of diversity
and multiculturalism,
treating others with respect
and interest, regardless of
demographical characteristics.
Responsiveness-- with over
three decades of experience,
this person is able to
anticipate a student's need
and respectively delves
beneath surface questions
to address the heart of
the student's concern.
There has never been a time
in which this person
has not come through quickly
to effectively meet the needs
and answer questions,
or even tracked down the
necessary information
in order to respond
to a student need.
Innovation-- in the world
of higher education,
federal guidelines are
continually changing.
Often, these changes increase
administrative burden
and increase
student confusion.
This person sees
this as a challenge
and creates solutions
for students
by thinking outside the box to
accommodate their needs
with accomplishing the
tasks set before them.
Accountability-- this person
understands the need
to follow federal, state,
and institutional guidelines,
along with the importance of
making sure students understand
as well.
With a sense of
humor and energy,
you do not hesitate
to exert your authority
and make sure students
understand the predicament
they've gotten
themselves into,
along with presenting
a solution.
Sustainability-- this person
makes it a point to work hard
to educate students that might
have unusual circumstances
or crises which could cause
them to either drop out
or lose their
eligibility.
You ensure we aren't
burning through
the college's most
valuable resources--
the students
themselves.
Respectfulness-- known
as the "go to" person
of the department,
there is not any
situation or crisis
you are not able to
take on and deal with
while showing tremendous dignity,
compassion, and humor
to all of
those involved.
Integrity-- you take pride
and personal responsibility
in your work.
It is not only a profession but
a passion, acting as a mentor,
teacher, motivator, and
inspiration to those around you.
Some of the letters of support
for this exemplary Raider
include the following
statements--
"Reviews student information
without judgment."
"Exudes an aura of
excellence in their work."
"Consistently goes
the extra mile."
"Sees it as a personal
duty to pay it forward."
It is now my pleasure
to name this year's
Excellence in Education
Staff Award winner...
Mary Kay Bethune.
Mary Kay?
(applause, cheering)
(applause)
>> (indistinct speaking).
(laughing)
(applause)
>> Who do we have here?
>> Oh, my god!
Oh, my god!
(laughing)
(applause)
Oh, my god--
and a little new baby!
(glass breaking?)
>> We'll get through that.
We're fine.
>> This is Lydia--
she's only five days old!
>> (audience)
Awww...
>> Oh, my god-- I can't--
Diane, oh, my god!
(audience laughing)
Oh, thank you.
>> You see some of that energy
at play here, I believe.
(audience laughing)
>> Oh, my goodness!
Oh, my gosh.
>> Okay, Mary Kay.
>> I'm not even
put together!
>> I know, but you
have the stage.
>> Oh, my gosh.
I just love
our students.
(on verge of crying)
I call them my
"little cherubs"...
(audience laughing)
because everybody
deserves the opportunity
to have an education,
and it's so important.
My mother is 99, and from
the time I was a little child,
she said that, "You need
an education, Mary Kay,
"because you need it
always in your lifetime."
And my best friend Christine
and I went to school together
since we were
five years old...
and we had a pistol
at a time.
I wasn't always
the best student.
She was.
(audience laughing)
However, we did
accomplish many things
and although I don't have
the highest of educations,
serving students at
multiple institutions
has been a true honor for me,
and I love to help students
go from the
nothing
to accomplishing the
first-generation graduation,
contacting me after they
go to a graduate program,
and yesterday, a young lady
I met when she was 18 years old
in the hospital and she came
to my former institution,
called me and she
said, "Mary Kay,
"I just got promoted
again thanks to you."
So you all know those
students who call you
and say, "Thank you,
thank you, thank you,"
and I just want that to
continue for all of you
because it has been a huge,
huge story in my life
and I love all of you
and our counselors
and our staff
and GRCC
and all of the colleagues I've
served with so many years
at all the colleges
I've worked at.
Thank you so much.
This is truly
a wonderful honor.
(applause)
>> Would you like to
introduce your family?
>> Oh, my gosh,
my lovely family.
(applause)
My husband, Craig, who does
many of the same things I do
in our
community.
He's a physician serving
a huge population
of Medicaid patients who
are frail and elderly.
My beautiful and only
wonderful child Corrine,
who had a baby five days
ago-- bless her heart.
(audience laughing)
(applause)
Her fabulous husband, John, and
my first grandbaby, Lydia Marie.
My dearest friend,
Christine,
who we have been truly best
friends for a lot of years.
I think this
is year...
help me...
62 years?
I know we don't look it.
(audience laughing)
Sorry!
Her wonderful
daughter, Angela.
My dearest friend,
Diane Ellobistol.
Christine's
husband, Russ.
They have been
lifelong friends.
Thank you all
so very much.
(applause)
Oy yoy.
(audience laughing)
Can I get
ready here?
Just a second.
(audience laughing)
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> Thank you.
(applause)
(applause)
>> If that doesn't put
a smile on our face,
nothing will, right?
(chuckling)
Congratulations
to our winners,
both Tom Neils
and Mary Kay.
We just are so very
happy for both of you.
And very deserved.
At this time, I would like
to thank both Dr. Ender
and Dr. Gely for their
insights and inspiration
as we begin our
new academic year.
This event would not be
complete without the help
of our music department
colleagues,
Kevin Dobreff and Mike Gillan
and his ensemble.
Thank you very much
for your help today.
(applause)
Actually, there are so many
committees and subcommittees
and sub-subcommittees
who worked diligently
to make an event,
as you can imagine,
come off like
it did today.
And there are many other
things this year to come,
so those committees are
continuing throughout the year
with their efforts--
we really do want to recognize
at this time as well--
thank you.
(applause)
Well, we have quite
a year ahead of us,
and Dr. Ender did share
a little bit of those,
but I want to reiterate a
few just to keep them fresh
in your mind and
on your radar.
Here are a few--
in September,
we're going to have
a community picnic
and it will be a wonderful
occasion to be out to celebrate
with old friends--
new and old--
and opportunities for
children to enjoy things.
There will be lots of alumni
booths for people coming back
who want to see the campus
and see your faces as well.
So that will
be in September.
In October, we have a gala,
and that will serve
as our key scholarship
fundraiser for the year.
You will want to attend if
you have an opportunity.
It's going to be
quite a splash.
In November, you're hopefully
not going to miss the play
called "The Open Door."
It will take us on
a blast through the past,
laced with music and humor and
the history of our college.
There is a perfect way
to capture our story
in the college book that
was mentioned earlier.
It was worked on by Professor--
retired Professor Walt Lockwood,
who is joining us
today as you know,
and archivist Mike Klawitter,
and their devoted team.
They spent untold hours working
on this to make it what it is,
and I think you're
going to be so amazed.
It is set to print, and is now
soon to be available to you
as an attractive coffee
table conversation piece.
It's really going
to be a "must-have."
It will be available to you
for a very nominal fee,
and announcements of that
will be forthcoming.
Our faculty and staff have
rallied in a monumental way,
as you embark on a year of
giving back to the community.
You'll soon be invited to
participate in donations
that have been designed
by our departments
in our "100 Ways to Give"
campaign.
Collection boxes will
be across the campus,
and there will
be opportunity
to join in the giving each week
from our "GRCC Today" newsletter
as well as from the
college's 100 year website.
There are some amazing efforts
that are being brought forth.
I think you'll find
it most impressive
and certainly will want to
participate to your ability.
Our last event of
the 100th anniversary
will be commencement
in May.
It will be a memory-maker
for one and all
as our graduates and all
faculty, present and past,
will process at
the Van Andel Arena.
It will include a prominent
speaker of notoriety
and is sure to be
an event to remember.
It has been my privilege today
to stand here before you
as one whose received
such personal joy
in the service
of education.
Whatever your role
is here at GRCC,
we stand side-by-side to
collectively change lives.
I can't think of anything
better than that.
So thank you
very, very much.
It's been a privilege
to work with you today.
(applause)
>> Let me extend
my congratulations
to our newest recipients
of the Excellence
in Education Award,
Tom and Mary Kay.
Congratulations.
It's a much
deserved honor.
Welcome to the club.
(audience chuckling)
I would like to thank
those without whose efforts
we would not be
enjoying this day.
I particularly want
to thank the members
of the Milestones
Committee.
I truly enjoyed working with
all of you on the convocation
and the Mixer,
and I appreciate all the
hard work you put into it.
In addition to your
department meetings
or serving
students today,
there are two more events
we hope you will attend.
First, at 3 o'clock, we
will meet on the south end
of the Plaza to take
an all-employee photo.
This will be a great way
to commemorate this day
and the 100 year
celebration.
And then, this evening
from 4 PM till 7 PM,
we will meet in the ATC
for the All-Employee Mixer
as an open house.
We'll have hors d'oeuvres
and beverages--
hopefully
some cold ones--
and a chance to catch up
with your colleagues,
present and past.
Also, the Adjunct Excellence
in Education Award
will be announced
at 5:30.
I also want to remind you to
join us immediately following
this morning's convocation
for a reception
on the Dr. Juan R. Olivarez
Student Plaza.
While enjoying
the reception,
we also invite you to take time
to walk through the first floor
of the Main Building
to see the final panel
in the historical
timeline
revealed for viewing
for the first time today.
And also, along the way
on first Main,
you'll see all the department
banners on display.
As I reflect upon our past
and the 100 years
and where we are headed,
it occurs to me
that we may be doing
things differently
and we may be doing
different things,
but our focus has been and
should always be our students,
as you so eloquently heard
so many times already today.
As we begin our 100th year,
let us keep that in mind
and remember for
many of our students,
GRCC is the first
best hope...
and for others, we are
the last best hope.
Let us help all of them to
turn that hope into reality.
We have now come to that moment
where we can officially open
the 100 year
celebration.
It is hard to believe that
it has been over three years
that teams were formed,
meetings took place,
and planning began.
I wanted to find just the right
sentiment to convey my thoughts
to you about opening
these festivities.
At first, I was considering
the world of music
and borrowing from
The Rolling Stones,
but "Start Me Up"
didn't sound quite right.
(audience laughing)
I also thought maybe
The Black Eyed Peas
could help us with their song,
"Let's Get It Started,"
but it seemed a
little less informal.
Next, I turned to literature--
Chaucer called to me,
but the only passage
I had underlined
was "The Miller's Tale."
(audience laughing)
I thought about Shakespeare,
"A Midsummer Night's Dream,"
but I was afraid I'd put too
many of you to sleep already.
I finally landed on one
of my favorite books
and one my kids always
enjoyed as well.
I think Maurice Sendak
said it best when he wrote
in "Where the Wild
Things Are,"
"Let the wild
rumpus start."
(audience laughing)
(applause)
So it is with great pride
and eager anticipation
that we hereby
announce and declare
that this is the official
opening of the 100th year
of Grand Rapids
Junior College,
now Grand Rapids
Community College.
We invite you to join in all
the activities, celebrations,
and events
throughout the year.
With that, thanks to everyone
for attending this convocation.
Please remain seated until
the platform officials,
special guests, and
faculty have recessed.
The marshals will usher
faculty out, row by row.
>> This convocation
ceremony is now concluded.
(applause)
(regal brass music)
