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  

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