Kent ISD Adult Education at GRCC Awarded Program Partnership of the Year
“As one of the largest adult education programs in Michigan, it is a goal to model how to best serve adult learner."
GRAND RAPIDS - On May 7, 2025, Kent ISD Adult Education at Grand Rapids Community College was awarded the Adult Education Program Partnership of the Year by Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development. The award was aligned with the theme “Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges” at this year’s Michigan Adult Education and Training Conference held at Soaring Eagle Conference Center in Mt. Pleasant. The award recognizes programs that have built impactful partnerships with businesses, community organizations, or other stakeholders that benefit adult learners by removing barriers faced by students.
The award was accepted jointly by Kent ISD Adult ED and GRCC for their partnership. The collaboration between Kent ISD and GRCC’s adult education programs does not duplicate services. Instead, the programs work together to fill in gaps between the respective programs, refer students between the programs and remove barriers for adult learners to not only obtain their GEDs but also admission to GRCC. The award positions Kent ISD Adult Ed and GRCC Adult Ed as leaders and role models in the state for this work.
“As one of the largest adult education programs in Michigan, it is a goal to model how to best serve adult learner,” said Gerry Verwey, Director of Adult Education at Kent ISD. “We are proud to receive this award in partnership with GRCC and look forward to helping many adult learners achieve their GED and prepare for higher education through this collaboration.”
Registration for new and returning students for the 2025-26 school year is open August 18 – 21 with fall classes officially starting on August 25, 2025. For more information, visit the Kent ISD Adult Education page.
In the photo, left to right: Elino Cortes Figuereo, GRCC Adult Ed Program Manager; Dave Selmon, GRCC Dean of Strategic Outreach; Shanna Hogan, Kent ISD Adult Ed Community Outreach Coordinator, Gerry Verwey, Kent ISD Adult Ed Director
