Pastor and community member Rev. Jerry Bishop was honored as the 2024 GIANT Among Giants during the 41st GIANT Awards Ceremony on Feb. 3 at Devos Place. Bishop is the founder and pastor of LifeQuest Church, a ministry that aims to aid the spiritual needs of people in the Grand Rapids community, particularly those who are “disconnected from the faith community” according to their website
“I’m elated,” Bishop said after the ceremony. “I’m more motivated now, humbled and reenergized.”.
The GIANT Awards is an annual awards ceremony hosted by Grand Rapids Community College that recognizes Black leaders who have helped shape the history, culture and quality of life of the Grand Rapids Community. As stated by GRCC, each award is named after someone who has demonstrated excellence and serves as a perpetual memorial to those contributions.
Here are this year’s recipients:
- Valissa Armstead, senior director of diversity and inclusion at Corewell Health – the Raymond Tardy Community Service Award.
- Debra Bates, owner and administrator for Choice Business Systems Inc. and owner of MeMe’s Foundation Boutique – the Milo Brown Business Award.
- George Bayard III, artist, owner of Bayard Gallery of Fine African American Art & Books, and executive director of the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives – Ethel Coe Humanities Award.
- Tasha Blackmon, president and CEO of Cherry Health – the Eugene Browning Medical Service Award.
- Jimmy Carter, former head coach for East Kentwood High School’s girls basketball team – Walter Coe Public Service Award.
- Jamie Gordon, executive director of human resources for Kentwood Public Schools – the Phyllis Scott Activist Award.
- Rep. Kristian Grant, the first African American woman to represent Grand Rapids in the state House – William Glenn Trailblazer Award.
- Rev. Charles Hudson III, president and CEO of C.H. Hudson Outreach Ministries – the H.C. Toliver Religious Life Award.
- Latesha Lipscomb, JD, director of engagement and relationships at Amplify GR – Floyd Skinner Justice Award.
- Inez Smith, retired teacher – Hattie Beverly Education Award.
- Bobby Springer, director of GEAR UP at Grand Valley State University – the W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award.
The event started with a reception for attendees to meet with coworkers, friends and family followed by a welcome speech by GRCC President Charles Lepper and GIANT Awards Committee Chairperson Tempy Mann.
“This is such an energizing and exciting time for the community and Grand Rapids Community College and I’m very full of energy and excitement and glad we get to be part of this and get to host it,” said Lepper when asked about his thoughts on the evening. “Erin Van Edgmond and our foundation team really did a lot of great work with the official (GIANT Awards) committee. I was there in a support role and it was an honor to do that and get to know so many folks in our community and it was really fulfilling to be part of that.”
The evening’s dinner consisted of salad, Jalapeno cornbread, chicken with a sweet soy glaze, braised greens, or a vegan option of Szechuan stir fry with chickpeas and tofu. During the meal, attendees enjoyed live music by singer Avalon Cutts-Jones.
The program resumed after dinner with the presentation of this year’s Junior Giant and Milo Brown Scholarships which were awarded to a number of both high school and college students.
The Milo Brown Scholarship was awarded to Kyle Greer and McKenzye Sterk, both nursing students at GRCC. The Cedric Ward Leadership Scholarship was awarded to Grand Rapids Christian High School student Caebre Baty and Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy student Nas Brooks. Lastly, Western Michigan University Student and GRCC Alumnus Rallah Cobbins was awarded the Dr. Patricia Pulliam College Leadership Scholarship
All of the proceeds from the GIANT Awards fund these scholarships for the following year.
