May 12, 2026 How many of us have wished something in our lives would change? GRCC alumna Tara Huskey will tell you that wishing is not the answer. “Nothing is going to change unless you challenge yourself,” Huskey said. Huskey graduated from GRCC in 2024 with an Associate of Arts in Pre-Exercise Science . She was also a TRIO participant , scholarship winner and successful transfer student, so she knows what she’s talking about. “My dream is to be an athletic trainer for football, either at a D1 school or in the NFL,” Huskey said. “I wanted to attend the University of West Florida to finish my bachelor’s degree and get out of the cold weather!” During her time at GRCC, she connected with Evan Macklin and the TRIO program. He was able to help Huskey formulate a plan. “I had received a lot of aid coming to GRCC, so I wasn’t sure how to make the financial side work if I transferred to West Florida,” Huskey said. “Evan and I talked at length about how to accomplish this goal without accumulating a mountain of debt. Since out-of-state tuition in Florida was going to be three times more than in-state tuition, I faced the prospect of a gap year while I established residency.” Through Macklin, Huskey found out about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship . They worked on the application together, tying in Huskey’s passion for health with the Foundation’s pillars. And miraculously, Huskey received one of the 60 coveted full-ride scholarships. That threw open the door of possibility, but also of change.  Learning to Thrive in a New Community “I know people say this all the time, but that scholarship literally changed my life,” Huskey said. “I could move to Florida and attend the school of my choice with zero financial worry. The scholarship paid for my tuition, books, food, lodging and transportation. I could throw myself into learning without any financial pressure.” That’s not to say the move has been easy. “I picked up and moved 1,000 miles away from home with no family, no friends and no connections,” Huskey said. “It hasn’t been easy. In fact, there have been many times when it’s been downright lonely. I’ve had to adjust my mindset and accept the growing pains. This is a time in life where education comes first. I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone and I’ve been blessed with the resources to do it.” Huskey will earn her Bachelor of Science in exercise science this spring. After that, she will move to Tampa to attend the University of South Florida and earn a master’s degree in athletic training. Huskey applied for and received a Cooke Graduate Scholarship to fund this portion of her education as well.  Building On the GRCC Foundation  Huskey says that GRCC helped prepare her for future education and a career in significant ways. “I participated in a lot of organizations and activities at GRCC, which was good practice for me,” Huskey said. “I helped create clubs, got involved in student government, and joined the honors program. I was able to leverage that experience when I moved to Florida. It’s harder to get involved in a larger university, but my experience at GRCC helped me build connections more quickly.” Huskey also spent seven weeks in the Upper Peninsula during her time at GRCC.  As part of the Michigan College/University Partnership Program (MiCUP), she engaged in a research project related to her chosen field of study. “Working with other students on the campus of Michigan Tech, I was able to analyze the deep tendon reflexes of athletes as compared to non-athletes,” Huskey said. “Although I don’t plan to do research myself, I am working in what is very much an evidence-based field. Learning how research is done was extremely valuable. That seven weeks away from home also allowed me to build some skills for living on my own, which I have had to use here in Florida.”   Future Dreams  Huskey says that for her, being an athletic trainer represents a lifetime of opportunity. “Athletic trainers are both preventive and reactive,” Huskey said. “We spend a lot of time working with the coaches, incorporating nutrition, exercise programs, stretching and more to help athletes reach peak performance. We’re also the first people on the field when there’s an injury. As a woman who hopes to break into a men’s sport, I want to excel. This scholarship allows me to focus on learning everything I can soak up in order to be the best I can be.” Through all of it, Huskey has embraced the need for continuous growth.   “In my field, we talk about the fact that the body doesn’t adapt unless it’s through force,” Huskey said. “Getting out of my comfort zone, first at GRCC and now at UWF, has forced me to grow. I’ve had an impact on campus. I’ve learned how to reframe loneliness as solitude, enjoying the silence and taking time to decompress. Through all of it, I have learned to become independent. I am blessed and grateful.” This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.

May 8, 2026 Grand Rapids Community College’s (GRCC) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program has achieved a milestone for the third consecutive year: every student who took the national certification exam passed, qualifying them for credentialing and licensure in all 50 states. The result reflects a program built on hands-on learning, real-world experience and a focus on developing clinical reasoning. Faculty say that approach equips students not only to pass the exam, but to enter the workforce with confidence. Hands-on Training Drives Success The program emphasizes experiential learning from the start. Students complete five fieldwork experiences across a range of practice settings, reinforcing classroom instruction with direct patient care. “I think a lot of the success for our students when it comes to the board exam is they have five different fieldwork experiences and they’re in a wide variety of different practice settings,” said Matthew Mekkes, OTA program director. “By the time our students are taking the board exam, they have what they need to do well.” Mekkes said the combination of lab-based instruction and diverse clinical placements prepares students for both the exam and professional practice. A Legacy Of Mentorship Established in 1979, the program benefits from a long-standing network of alumni working in the field. Many graduates now serve as clinical supervisors, creating a built-in mentorship pipeline for current students. “We have over 75 clinical contracts in place,” Mekkes said. “Being able to place our current students with our former students is hugely helpful.” Some alumni have spent decades in the profession and understand the program’s expectations, he said. That familiarity helps bridge the transition from student to practitioner. Faculty Rooted In the Profession Program faculty continue to work as occupational therapy practitioners, bringing current industry experience into the classroom. “We’re not teaching about something we used to do years ago,” Mekkes said. “We all have active practices where we’re working within our specialties.” That perspective shapes a curriculum focused on real-world application. In addition to required fieldwork, students complete projects with clients before entering clinical placements — an approach Mekkes said is uncommon. Learning To Think, Not Memorize   The program prioritizes competency-based education, emphasizing skill demonstration over traditional academic assignments. “It’s one thing to write about what you know and another to demonstrate it when you have someone in front of you,” Mekkes said. Students progressively build independence as they move through the program, supported by structured practice and feedback. By the time they reach the certification exam, faculty say, they are relying less on memorization and more on clinical judgment. “You can’t really study for the exam,” Mekkes said. “You review what you’ve learned along the way. It’s less about memorizing information and more about a way of thinking.” He described the exam as a test of higher-level cognitive skills — evaluating whether students can determine appropriate actions in real-world scenarios. Support Inside And Outside The Classroom The college provides additional resources to support student success, including free tutoring from a program graduate who is a licensed OTA. Faculty also emphasize collaboration among students, whose varied backgrounds contribute to the learning environment. “The diversity of our students, both in age and experience, is a strength,” Mekkes said. “Students have the opportunity to learn from others in different life stages and circumstances.” That diversity, he said, helps create a more dynamic and supportive classroom experience. A Culture Focused On Growth The program intentionally fosters an environment where students can build confidence over time, even if they begin the program uncertain of their abilities. “We work really hard as a faculty group to create a culture where it’s OK to feel unprepared at first,” Mekkes said. He encourages students to view challenges as part of the learning process, reframing failure as an early step toward mastery. “It’s about becoming comfortable with the power of ‘not yet,’” he said. “We talk about failing being your first attempt at learning. It’s about normalizing it and staying in that growth zone when you encounter something hard. We want students to learn to lean into that discomfort. That’s when learning occurs. We’re here to support you in that space. We're here to provide feedback that is helpful and also encouraging.” Strong Outcomes And Open Access   GRCC’s OTA program is open enrollment, with no waitlist or competitive admissions process. Students who meet the requirements are eligible to enroll. About 85% of students who begin the program complete it, with many securing employment before graduation. With continued demand for occupational therapy assistants, graduates are well-positioned to enter the field. “The job market continues to be strong,” Mekkes said. “There are opportunities to immediately get into the program and immediately get to work once you complete it.” Preparing Students — And Future Practitioners The program’s emphasis on critical thinking and supportive learning reflects the profession’s focus on helping patients regain independence. Faculty at GRCC model that same approach, combining clinical reasoning with a sense of optimism that occupational therapy assistants bring to patient care. In doing so, they prepare students not only to serve others, but to understand the value of that support firsthand. As a result, graduates enter the field ready to provide intentional, patient-centered care — backed by a perfect pass rate. With a third consecutive year of 100% exam results, the program continues to show that its approach — grounded in experience, mentorship and clinical reasoning — produces graduates ready to succeed. Visit the Occupational Therapy Assistant program web page to learn more about courses and admission requirements. This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell.