South Christian’s lethal combination of Carson Vis and Jake Vermaas combined for 50 points to give the Sailors a 71-56 win over visiting Byron Center.
Vis led with 28 points, while Vermaas added 22.
“That was pretty special,” said South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson, whose team improved to 4-2 overall. “They’re our 1-2 punch.”
The pair also helped South Christian win a D-4 state championship in football this year.
“It was just a great team effort in a packed house, standing room only,” Johnson continued. “It was fun to see. I want to thank the fans for coming out after the holiday; both visitors and home fans.”
Byron Center was undefeated at 4-0 heading into the contest, coming off a win over Hudsonville.
The Sailors trailed by 12 points to end the first quarter and then grabbed the lead 37-33 at the half.
“It was a big win tonight for us to get to 4-2,” said Johnson, in his first year at South Christian.
Senior center also impactful
Johnson said Senior Sam Medendorp, a 6-foot-6 center, “was huge for us tonight, with tons of blocked shots and rebounds.
“He’s a tall, thin, shot-blocking athletic player who’s very unselfish. He does a great job of finding ways to impact the game defensively, and just does all the little things that help you win the game.”
Johnson said Medendorp has scholarship offers from Cleary University, Olivet College, Aquinas College and Grand Rapids Community College.
The Sailors open OK Gold conference play at Forest Hills Eastern on Friday.
Coach Johnson: a GVSU history and former state champion
Johnson previously was an assistant coach and interim head coach at Grand Valley State University, and played for Kalamazoo Christian during their 2008 Class C state championship.
While the big news of the day is that Grand Rapids City High Middle School ranked No. 1 in Michigan on the U.S. News & World Report’s annual high school rankings, a school in the Kentwood area landed in the top one percent of those same rankings.
West Michigan Aviation Academy, located the Gerald R. Ford International Airport at 5363 44th St. SE, was ranked 26th in Michigan. According to the U.S. News & World Report, schools are ranked on performance on state required tests, graduation and how well the schools prepare students for college. For West Michigan Aviation Academy, it was noted the school offers Advanced Placement course work and participation in AP courses was about 68 percent.
Also landing in the top one percent were East Grand Rapids High School, which was ranked No. 13; Forest Hills Northern High School, which was ranked No. 21; Byron Center High School, which was ranked No. 24; and Forest Hills Central High School, which was ranked No. 28.
Of course, the big news from the report was that City High Middle School took the top spot for Michigan schools along with ranking No. 18 in the nation. According to the U.S. News & World Report, students have the opportunity to take International Baccalaureate coursework and exams. The IB participation rate at City High Middle School is 100%. City High Middle School was the first school in the area to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programme.
“We could not be prouder of our scholars, staff, district, and community for this achievement,” said City High Middle School Principal Ryan Huppert. “The inspiration that this accomplishment provides is worth so much to our community right now.
“These rankings reflect all the hard work that scholars and staff put forth to succeed here
. Seeing those efforts translate into such a high level of success and recognition means the world to our school.”
There is around 1,700 high schools in Michigan. Of those schools, 660 Michigan schools made the U.S. News & World Report rankings. For a Michigan high school to be ranked it much complete the three-part Michigan Merit Exam in 11th grade. It includes the SAT college entrance exam, the ACT WorkKeys assessment, as well as online assessments via the Michigan Student Test of Education Progress in science and social studies, accord to the Michigan Department of Education. For a school to receive a state ranking, it must have earned a national silver or gold award.
Editor’s Note:Karoline Lehmann lives in Aalborg, Denmark, which is the country’s fourth largest city located in the northern part of Denmark. Karoline was an exchange student at Byron Center High School for the 2015-2016 school year.
Karoline Lehmann
The first reported case of COVID-19 in Denmark was made on Feb. 27. As of April 3, the country had 3,672 reported cases, 139 deaths, and 1,193 people have recovered. By invitation, Karoline wrote this piece about what she was seeing and experiencing in her country. This was written on March 31.
Twenty days ago, our prime minister closed the country down. Twenty days ago our whole world was turned upside down and our normal day-to-day life was put on hold. At first people went crazy. The pictures from the grocery stores all over the country was shocking and the exact opposite of what Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had told people to do. People were hoarding and it all looked like a bad case of Black Friday on steroids. Frederiksen told us to calm down because even though the country was closing our schools, restaurants, borders, etc. we wouldn’t be closing the grocery stores or pharmacies and we would still allow trucks with supplies and groceries to cross the border.
Luckily that helped and people slowed down. As I said before, we are now on our twentieth day of lockdown. It still isn’t a full lockdown like in Italy or France. We are still allowed to go outside in smaller groups. At the moment we are allowed to be up to 10 people at once, but we are advised not to, just as we are advised to stay around 10 feet away from people and meet outside instead of inside someone’s house.
And we are doing okay. We are still on the green graph (low end), especially in the north of Denmark, where there have not been very many cases and not a lot of people in the hospitals. It’s a different story in our capital, but still on the green graph. The reason for that is definitely because people are listening to the government. They are staying inside and aren’t going to others houses. And we are helping each other! Even though Danes have a reputation that they like to keep to themselves and mind their own business, people are really coming together and helping their neighbors with everything from grocery shopping to walking their dog or bringing cakes to their doorsteps. It’s amazing to see how we can stand together in crisis times like these.
Karoline Lehmann (center) was a student at Byron Center High School. (Supplied)
With that being said it is still a weird time for everyone. The city is almost ghost-like with no people and closed stores. Queen Margarthe II even gave a speech, which is normally only something she does on New Year’s, and no regent has done since World War II. On Instagram you see videos of fitness instructors who do classes outside big residential buildings so people can join in from their balconies and on Facebook you read appreciation posts of both our government and prime minister and our workers in all the critical jobs ranging from healthcare and social workers to truck drivers and the people working in the grocery stores.
Twenty days have gone by since we closed down due to this virus. It has been 20 days with fear, panic and uncertainty, but also 20 days where both the people in Denmark but also everywhere else in the world have shown adaptability, kindness and hope. We have survived the first 20 days, we can do 20 more, and 20 more after that, if that is what is needed of us to fight this pandemic.
When Kentwood resident Micah Hamstra saw that the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s Summer Repertory program was going to include “Alice In Wonderland,” he just knew he had to audition.
“The story has been a very big part of my life,” said Hamstra, who will attend Caledonia High School in the fall. “It really showed me how you could just be who you are.”
So Hamstra prepared by “knocking out” his musical audition followed by “blowing up” his script reading. Needless to say, he landed the role of Tweedledum and Humpty Dumpty in the upcoming “Alice In Wonderland” production.
The show along with “All Shook Up” wraps up the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s 2018-2019 season. The shows run during the same week, July 26 – Aug. 4, with the productions alternating performance dates. “All Shook Up” is July 26, 27 (afternoon), Aug. 1, 3 (evening), 4, and “Alice In Wonderland” performances are July 27 (evening), 28, 31, Aug. 2, and 3 (afternoon).
“It’s Elvis,” said Wyoming resident and Byron Center High School student Xavier Turner when asked why he auditioned for “All Shook Up.” “Who wouldn’t want to be involved in a show about Elvis?”
Wyoming resident Xavier Turner is in “All Shook Up.” (GRCT)
“All Shook Up” combines the songs of Elvis Presley with Shakespeare, being loosely based on the “Twelfth Night.”
“I knew of the show,” said Turner who plays the young, quirky, aspiring dentist, Dennis, “ I love that show so, I knew I wanted to get involved.”
This is Turner’s first time participating with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and specifically selected the Summer Repertory program because of the classes tied to the production as well as the chance to be involved on the stage and behind it. Through the Summer Repertory program, each production has its own cast with the cast members of the opposite show serving as the back stage crew. For Turner, he will be helping with wardrobe and the fly rail for “Alice In Wonderland.” Hamstra will be helping with wardrobe for “All Shook Up.”
“Through this program you learn a lot more about theater,” said Hamstra, who said that “Alice” is his third production with Civic Theatre. “You really get the opportunity to learn everything that there is to do back stage along with being in the front.”
Both teenagers said that while they have enjoyed learned about the other aspects of the theater, their hearts are really in performance.
“I know I want to make a profession out of this and for me, I can sing,” said Turner, who has won several awards for his singing performances. “I knew the classes would be really helpful and that it is important to start now.”
Both Hamstra and Turner said they have found a community of family and friends through the production which has made being a part of it even more special.
“It sounds a little cliche but being part of a family has really made coming to this so much fun,” Turner said. “ The opportunity to see something come to life with this group of people has given me the realization of how much I look forward to coming here to do this everyday.”
Hamstra added that those bonds between the actors is what makes the shows fun which in turn makes the production even more exciting to the audience.
“It is just a lot of fun,” Hamstra said. “You have so many very talented people up there on stage just giving it their all.”
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m Saturday and Sunday with all shows at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave. Tickets are $10 – $16. For more information, visit grct.org or call 616-222-6650.
Alphonso Horne with the Byron Center Jazz Orchestra. Horne performs with the group on Friday.
The Van Singel Fine Arts Center finishes its 2017-2018 season with two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne in “Cool Jazz” on Friday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. Horne played and recorded with Marcus Roberts and has performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, and Michael Feinstein. He’ll be joined by Edye Evans Hyde and Max Colley III, along with the nationally recognized Byron Center Jazz Ensembles. The performance is underwritten by Owen-Ames-Kimball, Inc and TowerPinkster Architects.
The Byron Center Jazz Orchestra, directed by Marc Townley, has competed at the Swing Central Jazz Festival in Savannah, Georgia every spring since 2014. The Jazz Orchestra has also competed at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition and Festival at Lincoln Center in New York.
Reserved seats are $18.50 for adults and $11.50 for students. Reserve tickets in person at the Van Singel box office or by calling (616) 878-6800, Monday through Friday, 12 noon to 5 pm. Tickets are also available at www.vsfac.com.
The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is located at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex, at 8500 Burlingame SW (84th Street and Burlingame SW) in Byron Center, just 1.5 miles west of US-131. The Van Singel features free, easy parking and curbside handicap parking is available.
Let’s talk about a glaring example of the disconnect between the workforce and the pipeline of students who will soon enter it.
Last spring, Kent ISD, in partnership with local school districts, area manufacturing representatives, and Grand Rapids Community College, started advertising Launch U. That’s an early middle-college program that puts students directly into training for jobs in manufacturing with local businesses, allowing them to earn a free associate degree and credentials in the field.
AutoCam training director Steve Heethuis talks to Byron Center students about the plant’s operations
One snafu in planning was that partner companies didn’t want to promise to hold off hiring until students completed the program. Take a moment to consider that: The company representatives wanted to be able to hire the students, potentially before they completed the program.
Now consider this: Not enough students enrolled in two of the Launch U programs, precision machining and industrial maintenance, for those programs to start as scheduled in late August.
“We couldn’t get 24 students to sign up,” said Bill Smith, assistant superintendent of instructional services for Kent ISD. The plan is to reintroduce the programs next fall.
Smith said he believes many students aren’t getting the message that there are quicker and more affordable routes than a four-year degree into industries where they can thrive and make high wages. “The system that markets to the kids is still leaning toward ‘every kid of value should go to a four-year institution,'” Smith said.
“Until we change that mindset we are going to have these types of jobs sitting open. This is free education, a free associate’s, free workplace-recognized credentials in fields where you are going to get a job and that job is going to pay $80 K.”
AutoCam machinist Richard Tobias shows a part to students including, from left, sophomores Carter hickson and Spencer Julien.
Jobs are Unfilled
Smith was recently part of a group that met with Gov. Rick Snyder and U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta to talk about the gap between skilled workers and in-demand jobs, known as the “talent gap.” According to Snyder, 120,000 available jobs in Michigan are unfilled. Many are in the areas of manufacturing, engineering, information technology and hybrids of these fields.
“There is a need to have stackable credentials, and that need is greater than a college degree,” Smith said. “These jobs don’t go unfilled because people are unavailable; it’s because the talent isn’t aligned to get the job. We have to import workers when we really shouldn’t have to.”
Some companies have long vacancy lists of jobs, he added: “It’s almost impossible to fathom that we have that many jobs open and we can’t connect the unemployed to those jobs.”
With careers rapidly changing and college costs skyrocketing, it’s time for students to become exposed to the fact that there are post-secondary education and training options besides a four-year degree, he said.
Still, about 70 percent of all jobs require some kind of post-secondary education: technical certification, an apprenticeship, an associate or four-year degree.
“Kids have to be graduating from high school and they have to be going on to get some kind of post-secondary training, but it’s a wide range,” said Kevin Stotts, president of Talent 2025. Representing 115 area CEOs in manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, construction, engineering and business services, Talent 2025 works to align talent with workplace needs.
But ingraining that message into K-12 schools requires a shift, Stotts said.
Byron Center students watch a robot at work
“There was such an emphasis on ‘go to college.’ That was your ticket. (But) that could mean getting a degree in a field where there was no demand for that education and training.”
The “college” message was very strong during the economic downturn a few years ago and, though job losses occurred across many industries, manufacturing got a really bad rap, he said. Young people stopped considering it as an option, but the industry has since rebounded and revolutionized.
“We have more than recovered the jobs lost in the manufacturing industry since the Great Recession,” Stotts said. “The jobs that are back are better paying, require technical knowledge and skill, they are utilizing technology and they are in cleaner environments.”
Shrinking the Gap
With the gap becoming more evident, schools and businesses are working together to prepare students for the future West Michigan workforce.
Sixty Byron Center High School students recently toured four area manufacturers to get an up-close, hands-on look at operations that put them in touch with employers in the region’s biggest industry.
Junior Harrison Kosak said he wants to work in engineering or robotics, and that it helps to see what’s out there while still in high school.
“It helps me get more in-depth with what I want to do,” Harrison said as he toured AutoCam. “I can look at these different occupations and see what I might be interested in.”
Byron Center High School teacher Lary Shoemaker, who teaches drafting, CAM/CNC classes and pre-engineering, has 10 students taking his classes — more than 10 percent of the high school’s enrollment — proving that gearing up students for high-demand jobs is possible.
“In West Michigan, the school districts recognize that 25 percent of our jobs are in the manufacturing sector,” Shoemaker said. “We have companies right in Byron Center that are direct placement for students that enter this career path. We have great companies in Grand Rapids that support a manufacturing environment at the high school level.”
AutoCam is one example. Steve Heethuis, training director for the Kentwood firm, talked to the visiting students about career-pathway opportunities right at the company: apprenticeships and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, which gives employees the opportunity to receive an associate degree for free. Many go on to get engineering degrees. AutoCam also offers internships, scholarships and is a partner in the Launch U Program.
“We are interested in them getting curious about manufacturing,” Heethuis said. “If they have an opportunity to come work for us or any other manufacturer, we feel like it’s a success because we recognize that manufacturing is absolutely vital to our long-term economic regional success. We feel like it’s our leadership position to introduce students to manufacturing.”
Two years ago, Byron Center hosted a college and career day, which included several area manufacturers who presented educational opportunities and apprentice programs.
“Anytime you can have students really talk directly to the people that are potential employers, it’s good real world experience,” Shoemaker said. “It’s almost like a pre-interview.”
Shoemaker, who worked 22 years in manufacturing before starting his teaching career, said schools need to play a role in shifting the paradigm when it comes to how skilled-trades jobs are viewed. It’s possible to receive training and degrees, paid for by companies and allowing students to finish without debt and with direct access to jobs. He’d also like more teachers to come from manufacturing backgrounds.
A Tight Market, Rising Wages
With regional unemployment below 4 percent, the job market is tight, Stotts said.
“That’s a marked change from seven years ago,” he stressed. “The unemployment rate is significantly less than even just a year ago. Employers are trying to find any available talent, so the scarcity of talent to fill open jobs is being seen across every industry and at every occupation level. … It’s tight across the board, across all industries.”
As a result, wages are projected to rise by more than 20 percent in several industries over the next 10 years.
Employers are coming together with education and workforce partners to consider education and training requirements, and how they line up with talent-development programs, Stotts said.
Working together, businesses and schools can begin exposing students to careers as early as middle school.
“The more we can expose students to the variety of industries and jobs and career pathways,” Stotts said, “the more informed those kids and their families will be about what it’s like to work in a field like manufacturing, and where they can go to get education and training.”
As he toured the manufacturing area of AutoCam Precision Components, Byron Center High School junior Devin Merchant said he’s glad to have the opportunity to get out in the field.
“I’m interested in computer hardware engineering,” Devin said. “I think exposing myself to as many opportunities as possible will be beneficial to me in the future.
“There are so many opportunities out there that I didn’t even realize there were.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
The sweet sound of country is coming to the Van Singel when homegrown music artist Mallory Skilling returns to West Michigan, performing a benefit concert for the Van Singel Fine Arts Foundation. Former Byron Center native and former Cornerstone University student is set to perform with her band at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center on Thursday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m.
As a young girl, the singer/songwriter, attended Byron Center Public Schools. She studied contemporary music performance at Cornerstone University, completing her degree at the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, Tenn. During her time at Cornerstone, Skilling released her first EP, “Spitfire Heart.” Since the release of her first EP, Mallory has added several singles to her collection, which can be found on both iTunes and Spotify. Her music is inspired by many artists including Patsy Cline, Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss, The Band Perry, and the Civil Wars.
Currently, Skilling is working toward her master’s degree in elementary education at the University of Georgia and plans to graduate this December. She is, “looking forward to teaching students and sharing my love of music in the classroom.” She added, “I have many fond memories attending shows at the Van Singel as a child.” The Van Singel Fine Arts Center was the core to Skilling’s inspiration for the love of music and theater. She found that she was greatly impacted by her experiences through events presented at the center. She is thrilled to be returning to her roots and performing at there.
Skilling continues to pursue her music endeavors and has recently recorded a small EP composed of four songs that will soon be released.
Band members include former Cornerstone University student Ben Hoppe (acoustic guitarist), Cornerstone University graduate Jake Milo Partridge (drummer), Evan Profant (electric guitarist) and Daniel Schuler (Bass) from Ann Arbor.
Reserved seats are $25 and include a post-performance dessert buffet where patrons can meet the artist. Reserve tickets in person at the Van Singel box office or by calling 616-878-6800, Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are also available at www.vsfac.com.
The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is located at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex, at 8500 Burlingame SW (84th Street and Burlingame SW) in Byron Center, just 1.5 miles west of US-131. The Van Singel features free, easy parking and curbside handicap parking is available.
Eligible students cast their ballots for the presidential election and several state positions.
First-Time Voters Reflect on Presidential Election
By Erin Albanese, Charles Honey and Linda Odette
School News Network
For 18-year-old high school students, last Tuesday’s election was their first chance to cast a ballot for president. School News Network asked several students from Kent County-area public schools what their first vote for president meant to them, what they learned from it and whom they voted for. Here we share the views of three of those students, from East Kentwood, Godwin Heights and Byron Center.
Esteban Nunez
Esteban Nunez, Godwin Heights High School
“To me it was something really important, especially in society today and the way things are going. I like to show my opinion along with understanding how it feels to be part of something and knowing something I say matters,” said Estaban Nunez.
He said the electoral process was “kind of confusing at the beginning, but later on I caught on.
“I voted for Gary Johnson. Generally, I encourage the idea of moving forward instead of staying with what the Republicans and Democrats are doing.”
Gregory Perhamus (Facebook photo)
Gregory Perhamus, East Kentwood High School
“For lack of better words it was really kind of cool. My mom always took me voting with her ever since I was little. … So now, for me to add a vote to this election and to be a part in the say and do my duty as a citizen was something I found very interesting. I felt really honored and proud to be part of the population.
“My mom teaches education at Grand Valley State University, so I was always in the know, so I don’t know if I learned anything new.” He said he took time to study the local elections. “I got more education on that perspective.
“I voted for Hillary, not totally in support of Hillary, but I guess against Trump. I think a lot of people did that. It was a rough election to have as a first election. When I look back at it in 20 years and someone asks who I voted for, I won’t be proud to say either one. I don’t know if anyone will, but it is what it is. We have four years. Hopefully next election we will have someone better.”
Maria Cotts, Byron Center High School
“I really liked it because I took a government class last year and I liked how I was able to vote this year. I liked that I could get involved and exercise my right to vote after learning about it for so long.”
Maria said she felt armed with knowledge about how voting works from her Advanced Placement government class. “I know lots about it, why it works, why it was put in place. I learned about the whole voting process and how it works at the polls.”
Still, it was a new experience. “I had never seen the ballot before,” she said.
“I voted for Hillary Clinton. … It should be interesting today,” she said the day after the election.
