Grand Rapids Community College and Kent Intermediate School District’s partnership earns 2025 Michigan Adult Education Program Partnership of the Year award

Grand Rapids Community College and Kent Intermediate School District have earned an award that recognizes the powerful collaboration that comes from their partnership. The two entities were awarded the 2025 Michigan Adult Education Program Partnership of the Year award for their decision to bring their separate adult education programs under the same roof to provide complementary services and bolster adult education opportunities.

According to an article on Grand Rapids Community College’s website, David Selmon, who serves as the college’s dean of strategic outreach, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “Our partnership creates an equal gain for the students in both programs. A good partnership is built for the future. Students have access to state-of-the-art technology as well as top-notch counseling every step of the way. Since we’re on the bus line, the worry of transportation for some students is no longer an issue. They can be dropped off right at the front door. For students who need food assistance, or those who have limited time because they’re balancing work and school, they can come and eat before or after class with our cafeteria services. These are just a few examples of the benefits of the partnership. As a team, under one roof, we can better help students find the pathway that fits their individual needs.”

The partnership between the college and the school district stemmed from a conversation that recognized the organizations’ complementary strengths, and quickly, the school district moved its adult education program from an elementary school building to the same building in which GRCC hosts their own adult education programming, allowing the two organizations to combine their programs and bolster the strength of their offerings. 

Both organizations offer their Adult Education programs on GRCC's campus in Sneden Hall. Additionally, Kent Intermediate School District offers classes at its location in Wyoming, Michigan and at Crossroads High School in Kentwood, Michigan. The types of courses offered by both organizations include English as a Second Language, career coaching, a National Career Readiness Certificate, and more.

Selmon said, “The state wanted to make sure we weren’t being redundant in our offerings. Students can transition easily between spaces. We showed how we complemented one another. It just made sense.”

Elino Cortes Figuereo, who is the manager of GRCC’s Adult Education program, noted that GRCC does not offer GEDs anymore, but the school district does, and that that is one example of the strength of combining the adult education programs under one roof.

Figuereo also has personal experience with the program himself, having come to the United States in 2012 to learn English. Once he completed the program in 2014, he became a GRCC staff member.

Speaking of his experience, Figuereo said, “When I moved here, everything was by recommendation from other people. When I heard about the GRCC Adult Education program, I was excited. I wanted to have a place where I could grow. A place I could learn how the education system works here in the US. It’s completely different from my home country. GRCC was a place I could ask questions freely and without judgement. I met a lot of people going through the same thing as me — wanting to learn English and grow in their education. It’s encouraging to see we can relate to one another while also having different pathways. My time in the program helped develop my passion for education. Now, I’ve been working with GRCC since 2014. It’s a dream being a part of the support system I once relied on when I was a student.”

He added of the adult education program, “I know a lot of things are uncertain right now, but we’re offering a safe space today. That makes a big difference for tomorrow. I always see challenges as an opportunity to grow and learn. That’s one of things I love about what I do — helping empower someone to pursue the dream they have for themselves is an amazing privilege.”

For more information about Grand Rapids Community College, visit the school’s website.