Grand Rapids, Mich – Fifteen Grand Rapids Community College student-athletes earned NJCAA All-Academic awards following the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year, more than doubling the number of student-athletes who have earned those same awards in each of the past 10 years from Grand Rapids Community College. 

Freshman Setter Lauren Helsen of Coopersville, Michigan earned the NJCAA's top honor, All-Academic First Team, with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Eight Raiders—Bruce Buurstra, Hailey DeKorte, Kirk Brown, Makayla Beld, Peyton Helsen, Rylee Storms and Zachary Pangborn--earned All-Academic Second Team honors with GPA's between 3.80 and 3.99. 

Sophomore cross country runner Kirk Dickson's second team All-Academic award is his second straight, having competed for both years of his career at GRCC and will take his considerable talent to the University of Michigan this fall.

Six more Raiders—Danielle Schutte, Emily Farwell, Hannah Stearns, Jacqueline Jernigan, Kennedy Potts and Maddie Albert—earned All-Academic Third Team honors with GPA's between 3.60 and 3.79.

In addition to the NJCAA All-Academic Awards, 41 Grand Rapids Community College Student Athletes earned MCCAA Academic All-Conference Awards (3.0 or higher), with 34 earning Academic All-MCCAA honors (3.2 or higher).

Congratulations are due to each student athlete who was recognized for their academic achievements this past season, exemplifying what it means to be an outstanding student-athlete.
 
Academic All-MCCAA Award Winners

Lauren Helsen		Volleyball
Jessica Quist		Women's Cross Country
Hailey DeKorte		Volleyball
Payton Helsen		Volleyball
Kirk Dickson		Men's Cross Country
Kirk Brown		Baseball
Rylee Storms		Volleyball
Makayla Beld		Women's Basketball
Zachary Pangborn		Men's Basketball
Bruce Buurstra		Baseball, Men's Cross Country
Madison Albert		Women's Basketball
Jacqueline Jernigan		Women's Cross Country
Emily Farwell		Volleyball
Danielle Schutte		Softball
Kennedy Potts		Volleyball
Hannah Stearns		Volleyball
Delanie King		Women's Basketball, Softball
John Corey		Baseball
Kyle Lamos		Men's Cross Country
Maylynn Kapteyn		Softball
Lucas Reimink		Baseball
Samantha Forner		Volleyball
Janie Bunge		Volleyball
Cameron Brayman		Baseball
Josie Manion		Women's Basketball
Claire Flewelling		Women's Basketball
Nathanael Edwards		Men's Cross Country
Toryanna Deyoung		Volleyball
Philip Apol		Men's Golf
Joshua Robbins		Baseball
Hannah Tanis		Softball
Sam Cunningham		Baseball
Olivia Reams		Volleyball
Lauren Wieber		Volleyball

 
MCCAA Academic All-Conference

Lauren Helsen		Volleyball
Jessica Quist		Women's Cross Country
Hailey DeKorte		Volleyball
Payton Helsen		Volleyball
Kirk Dickson		Men's Cross Country
Kirk Brown		Baseball
Rylee Storms		Volleyball
Makayla Beld		Women's Basketball
Zachary Pangborn		Men's Basketball
Bruce Buurstra		Baseball, Men's Cross Country
Madison Albert		Women's Basketball
Jacqueline Jernigan		Women's Cross Country
Emily Farwell		Volleyball
Danielle Schutte		Softball
Kennedy Potts		Volleyball
Hannah Stearns		Volleyball
Delanie King		Women's Basketball, Softball
John Corey		Baseball
Kyle Lamos		Men's Cross Country
Maylynn Kapteyn		Softball
Lucas Reimink		Baseball
Samantha Forner		Volleyball
Janie Bunge		Volleyball
Cameron Brayman		Baseball
Josie Manion		Women's Basketball
Claire Flewelling		Women's Basketball
Nathanael Edwards		Men's Cross Country
Toryanna Deyoung		Volleyball
Philip Apol		Men's Golf
Joshua Robbins		Baseball
Hannah Tanis		Softball
Sam Cunningham		Baseball
Olivia Reams		Volleyball
Lauren Wieber		Volleyball
Jackson Shaver		Baseball
Brett Slayton		Men's Cross Country
Brian Cappiello		Baseball
Lena Thompson		Volleyball
Devin Capron		Men's Golf
Cameron Dekuiper		Men's Golf
Andrew Johnson		Men's Cross Country