Sept. 16, 2025 Program directors and alumni of the radiologic technologist program say caring is the “secret sauce” to their success. Fifty years is a long time to do anything, much less to do it well. Approximately 50% of business start-ups fail within five years. Even Michigan roads are designed with only a 20-year lifespan! This milestone for GRCC deserves to be recognized and celebrated, not only for its sheer longevity but for the incredible number of lives it has transformed. Julie Lackscheide, who graduated from the program herself, is now the program director. She knows that having up-to-date equipment, relevant training and excellent clinical experiences are all vital. But she’s also quite clear that those are not the only important ingredients. “Students come to this program because they are choosing to do something better for themselves and their families,” Lackscheide said. “But there are so many barriers. Many of our students are adults, and often parents besides. They’re struggling to balance learning, parenting, working and all the other ‘adulting’ in their lives. Many are also right against the edge of their financial capacity, not sure if they can afford to keep going.” As a first generation college student herself, Julie understands just how hard it is to earn a degree. “I needed a lot of help because I didn’t know how to do it,” Lackscheide said. “No one in my family was a resource. But Deb Nordman (former director) and the faculty were there for me and got me through. My philosophy is that we are as much friends and counselors as we are educators. We listen and support. We connect students with resources and remove barriers, all with the goal of convincing them that they can succeed.”   Larissa Koslek, 2023 graduate, is a perfect example. “I had gone from being a stay-at-home mom to being a divorced mom with kids who had to find a career,” Koslek said. “I already had a bachelor’s degree, but working in a hospital opened my eyes to new options. The two-year rad tech program looked appealing to me. However, it’s not as easy as just ‘going back to school.’ As an adult, you need a lot more drive and desire to learn things, because you know it’s going to be harder to make it stick in your brain.” Larissa admits that in the beginning, it was tough going. “My first class in Anatomy and Physiology was difficult,” Koslek said. “But my professor was incredible. He encouraged me all the time. If I wasn’t in class, I got an email asking if everything was okay. One of my professors actually gave me her cell phone number, saying ‘Just text me if you need anything.’ They really cared about what was going on in our lives outside of class. They knew we were not teenagers and that life was complicated. That’s what made GRCC unique. They made us believe we could succeed, that it was possible.” Liliana Merida de la Cruz came to the program in a different way but with her own unique challenges. “Sometimes you can’t complete your education in a straight line because other things happen in life,” de la Cruz said. “I came to the United States from Guatemala as a teenager. I dreamed of being a doctor, but never knew there were other professionals in medicine. When I saw the GRCC program for rad techs, it looked like a better fit. I got on the waitlist for the program, but then had to go back to Guatemala to renew my visa. Then the pandemic hit and everything was on hold. After that, I had to try once again for my visa, which had been denied the first time. It took until 2024, but I finally finished my program.” While she was enrolled, Liliana found the kindness and support of the faculty to be unexpected and incredibly important. “They were always there,” de la Cruz said. “Whenever I needed to talk to them, they were always compassionate. They showed empathy. I felt listened to, and heard.” Julie’s goal is for students to graduate, pass their boards and find a job. She and her team are doing all that, at a high level , with all types of students. That effort leaves an indelible mark on those whose lives they touch. “I think of myself as a tree, and the people who have helped me on my journey are the branches,” de la Cruz said. “They have all left their mark. Because of them, I have been able to reach my goals. They will always be part of me.” Learn more about the radiologic technologist program