Education

The soaring cost of college has been a big barrier to post-high school education for a generation of students. Grand Rapids school and civic officials lowered that barrier in a big way with the Grand Rapids Promise, providing full scholarships to Grand Rapids Community College for graduates of the 22 public and private high schools in the city of Grand Rapids.

On a historic day for the city of Grand Rapids and its schools, Pedro Gutierrez and Hedy Cardenas suddenly felt more confident about their futures.

In a recent Forbes Magazine report, Grand Valley State University was named along with Notre Dame and University of Minnesota as schools offering Encore Career programs.

“Encore Careers are really an opportunity to see your career shift over time and, you know, can be done at many different times of life.”

That’s Dr. Philomena Mantella, President of Grand Valley State University.

In what education officials are calling a “game changer,” Grand Rapids Community College announced Monday that students who live and attend a high school within the city limits will receive free tuition. As part of an effort to ensure that every high schooler in the city has the chance to attend college, education officials on Monday launched the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship, which provides students the opportunity to attend Grand Rapids Community College and earn an Associate Degree or get certification training…free of charge.

It's Christmas Eve. We ring in the holiday with the Mona Shores High School Choir and Orchestra's celebration of the 35th season of America's Tallest Singing Christmas Tree ffrom the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon.  

Employees and members of Fit Body Boot Camps raised money for its annual event, The Big Give. They gathered inside the Knapp Corner Meijer in Grand Rapids purchasing gifts and necessities benefiting children and families in need living in 10 area school districts.

Students in Sparta are designing and creating 3D printed items, thanks to a donation from a local foundation and innovative teaching.

Seventh grader Annabelle doesn’t plan to become a design engineer, but finds the new design class at Sparta Middle School useful for her intended career in interior design. “I love moving furniture around and figuring out what should go where,” she said.

The class - made possible by Sparta Education Foundation’s purchase of a 3D printer -- isn’t just for fun; it is teaching real life skills.

Comstock Park third graders had the chance to hear how 40 percussion instruments can come together in harmony. The musical zoo was courtesy of the Grand Rapids Symphony.

About 140 third graders from Comstock Park’s Pine Island Elementary School visited Celebration Cinema North recently to watch a live performance by Bill Vits, principal percussionist with the Grand Rapids Symphony.

Grand Valley State’s new President hopes to make the school a “breakout university” and a “21st century education leader” in the state of Michigan with the announcement of two, new initiatives. The announcement came during Philomena Mantella's investiture, a symbolic ceremony that unofficially began her reign as Grand Valley State University’s fifth president. Mantella announced two new initiatives during her speech on Friday, calling them an “investment in the future during a time when the landscape of higher education is changing.”