Sept. 18, 2025 Three months ago, Lee Hillman began a unique internship through FutureTech Careers, applying welding skills to an ArtPrize entry for GRCC graduate and artist Luis Fernandez. As that work draws to a close and ArtPrize begins, both Lee and Luis offered up their thoughts on the benefits of this collaboration. Lee began working with Meta4mat , a local fabrication company, in June of this year. The challenge was to integrate welding skills within the broader context of fabrication and project management. The end result, La Voz de Mi Gente, is a three-piece installation on display outside Grand Rapids Public Museum during ArtPrize. ( Entry #69339 ) Luis didn’t know about FutureTech Careers when he started the conversation with GRCC. However, he had a reason for wanting to engage. “This is my first entry into ArtPrize,” Fernandez said. “I wanted the piece to involve places that were part of my story. Since I am a GRCC graduate, it made sense to include them in some way.” La Voz de Mi Gente is a set of three welded frame cubes with integrated light strips. Each side holds a photograph of a Puerto Rican artist, along with a brief synopsis of that person’s story.   “Art is the backbone of a culture,” Fernandez said. “I came to the United States from Puerto Rico when I was young. I found myself losing the connection to my native culture as I grew up. So I went back to Puerto Rico for three months to seek out artists and stories that would reconnect me. My goal was to bring those stories back and share my native culture here in Grand Rapids.” With ArtPrize opening on September 18, Lee has finished up the internship. That has led to some thoughtful reflection and learnings. “I tend to work independently, and that’s often fine,” Hillman said. “But for this project, I quickly learned that there were times when I needed to ask for help and it was okay to admit that.”   Time management skills also played a role. “I discovered that there are always more steps involved than you anticipate,” Hillman said. "My welding instructor, Nate Haney, asked me to guess how much time I would spend fabricating, and I honestly didn't know. I guessed somewhere around 40 hours, and it ended up being closer to four times that. I spent most of my time problem-solving, and I adapted my welding technique in ways I never had before. Learning to expect the unexpected was part of the lesson for me.” In addition to acquiring specific work skills, Lee now possesses self-knowledge that will guide the job search process. “This kind of work requires tremendous collaboration,” Hillman said. “You're checking on supplies, timelines, and everyone who's involved. The project management aspect of this work-study was eye-opening. I learned that while I'm capable of handling these responsibilities, I’m not sure I want to be a project manager. I thrive when working independently or with a small team. Knowing that about myself and my skills will definitely help shape my job search going forward.” Everything Lee learned will help make the transition from school to work easier. That is precisely the purpose of FutureTech Careers . “This is a perfect example of what FutureTech Careers is designed to do,” said David Pridmore, program manager. “We want to connect students with real employers in real environments. This helps build relationships between industry and education, while bridging students into careers.” Luis thinks the FutureTech experience will shift the way students see opportunities open in front of them. “When I was a student, I had the chance to take part in a paid internship, creating a website for a nonprofit,” Fernandez said. “I have to say that I failed at it, but that was okay because I was in a space where I was still learning. Failure was part of that learning. I want to help create opportunities for students to grow and learn. Lee did an excellent job, but also has discovered areas for growth. To me, that means the experience was a success.” Lee says that the opportunity was absolutely worthwhile. “This internship, building upon my job training program, is a great way to transition from education to the workforce,” Hillman said. “I applied and expanded my welding skills for a fabrication project, which feels different than welding plates for practice. But I also developed my time management and problem solving skills. This experience taught me what fabrication and project management are about. I now have a more well-rounded understanding of how my skills fit in the workplace.” Learn more about FutureTech Careers at GRCC