Feb. 25, 2026 When you hear the words, “Carnegie Hall,” what comes to mind? Many of us visualize a grand hall filled with tuxedo-clad musicians, creating gorgeous and seemingly effortless music to thunderous applause.  That magic does happen, so the images are not wrong. But have you ever wondered how those talented people reach the stage in the first place? The Carnegie Hall stage is not open to just anyone. What were their journeys like? GRCC is pleased and proud to announce that our very own  Dr. Libor Ondras , associate professor of strings and director of orchestras, will be returning to perform and make his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall on June 8. He will lead the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra of Petoskey as they perform works by Dvorak, Bruch, Daugherty and Milhaud. Dr. Ondras knows firsthand that the appearance and the applause are neither effortless nor automatic.  “My musical beginnings in Czechoslovakia were anything but smooth” he said. “I started lessons with a beat-up violin and a teacher who sometimes showed up, sometimes did not. Even when he showed up, he talked more than he taught. I probably did not have a normal lesson my entire first year.”  Ondras’ parents found him a new teacher, but with one rather large catch. He had to commute 25 miles there and back two times per week — using public transportation — as a 9-year-old. And that was just the beginning. “My journey was full of peaks and valleys,” Ondras said. “I would grow for two or three years, then struggle. More growth would come, followed by more challenges. It was never a steady course. I realized that I had to take charge of my own learning if I wanted to succeed. But through it all, I had teachers who inspired me to work hard and get to where I needed to be.”   Dr. Ondras learned, through experience, about the power of experiences and mentors to shape a career trajectory.  “My early Conservatory education included ensemble participation,” he said. “During choir, the teacher asked me to assist with directing rehearsals. Suddenly, I had this whole new perspective on music. Instead of looking at it horizontally — understanding my linear role as a violin player — I was viewing music vertically. I had to read a complete score, deal with the harmonies, and understand how the voices fit together.”  Thanks to that experience, Dr. Ondras found himself exploring conducting more seriously.  “In Prague, I studied with a viola teacher who was also a world-renowned conductor,” Ondras said. “Many of my viola lessons ended up at the piano with a discussion of scores! When I came to the United States to complete my doctorate in viola studies, I chose conducting as my secondary focus. By the time I completed my doctorate, I was auditioning for orchestras, but knew I wanted to direct as my primary job.”  Dr. Ondras came to Michigan because it offered him a way to fulfill many of his professional aspirations. He teaches at GRCC, directs the community members of the  Kent Philharmonic Orchestra and leads the professional musicians of the  Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra .  As the maestro of Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, he once again had to engage in strategic, patient development that would qualify the group for something as monumental as Carnegie Hall.  “Over the last 10 years, we have raised the bar,” he said. “We doubled our season and created outreach opportunities for students. We performed a European tour, and we earned an award from the League of American Orchestras. We performed with wonderful soloists from the United States and abroad. All of these experiences created a scaffold of success that allowed our musicians to rise higher than they dreamed possible. Our performance at Carnegie Hall will be a milestone upon which to build the next decade of excellence.” All of these experiences have shaped Dr. Ondras into the kind of teacher who can relate to GRCC students.  “I would have loved a straight road for my musical journey, but that’s not how it happened,” Ondras said. “And when I meet and talk with students at GRCC, I realize they are not all on smooth paths, either. I want to be the mentor who makes a difference for them. Students come here with hopes and dreams, as well as with challenges and baggage. I hold high expectations but I never give up on them. And it’s wonderful to see things come full circle, as those students go on to earn four-year degrees, teach, perform and succeed. Three of my former students are even coming to Carnegie Hall with me — this time as my colleagues.” Dr. Ondras steadfastly maintains that having a strategy, being persistent, and holding yourself accountable are the keys to success. “I try to meet my students where they are, and help them evaluate where they want to go,” he said. “I can help them acknowledge the realities and create a holistic view of what is required. But then we also create a roadmap that gives the student ownership and holds them accountable, while keeping the dream alive. That is empowering. When I hear a student say, ‘I never thought I could accomplish so much in two years,’ I know my work is worthwhile. I am humbled when I see that I am making the impact I hoped to have.” Learn more about the  GRCC Music Department  and its programs. This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.

Feb. 6, 2026 It’s challenging to replace someone who has done an incredible job of building a program. Fortunately for GRCC students, the college has met that challenge in the plastics program. We extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Troy Walwood for his 30 years of work, building the Plastics-Polymer Engineering program within the  School of Business and Industry . Troy will be retiring at the end of the winter semester, and his successor,  Scott Van Hoven , is excited to “take the baton” and move the program forward. Leading With Curiosity What, you might ask, draws a person into plastics? Walwood says he intended to work at a paper company, but had an allergic reaction to the chemicals while on a tour. So he got a job at Prince Manufacturing instead. “I didn’t know anything about plastics, but I knew it paid 25 cents more per hour than the paper manufacturer,” Walwood said. “My first job was to run a molding machine, making parts for the flip-up visor on a Suburban. Curiosity drove me to visit a Chevrolet dealer after work one day. I’m sure I confused the salesperson when I said I wanted to look at the visor, not buy the car. After seeing how my little part fit into the big picture, I was hooked. I had this constant desire to understand how and why the machines, the molds and the parts did or did not work.” Walwood then worked for several large firms before transitioning into education. “I used to bring a group of process techs to GRCC for classes,” he said. “After about three weeks, the professor asked me to talk to the class about injection molding tooling. Little did I know this was a pseudo-interview. By the end of the course, words like ‘adjunct professor’ had entered the conversation, and I did actually end up taking on that role. Finally, I left the industry to work full-time at GRCC. I spent 17 years in workforce development, and 13 years as a full-time professor.” Scott Van Hoven took a more traditional route to the field, earning a bachelor’s degree and then working for 30 years in engineering and technical sales. He says he has always wanted to teach because he’s excited about sharing his knowledge and getting people into the industry. “I love to teach new concepts and help people find their purpose,” he said. “Once you see how a pellet becomes a part that saves someone’s life, for example, that light bulb goes on. This is a fascinating industry with incredible potential. It’s taken me around the world and I’ve met amazing people. Most folks don’t think about those kinds of opportunities when they think about plastics.” Reflecting on the Past Mammoth changes have taken place in plastics over the last 30 years. As with many industries, automation has played a huge role in how the plastics-polymer engineering industry has evolved. “When I started, every process was manual,” Walwood said. “I had to take parts out of the mold, quality check them and pack them. I didn’t see my first automated mold changeover until I’d been working for nine years. Now, robots do virtually all the manual work. It used to be that a 3% defect rate was acceptable. Today, the standard is zero defects. From an employment standpoint, technicians need to understand the molding process, but also quality control, robotics, and automation. It’s a whole different skill set.” That’s one of the reasons Walwood worked to put the  Master Mold Builder Certification in place at GRCC. “Until a few years ago, I was a certified Master Molder Level Three Trainer,” he said. “The Master Mold Builder Program is a certification that’s recognized throughout the world. I brought the program to GRCC because it’s a wonderful way for companies to help employees gain skills and promote from within.” Walwood notes that focusing on local employer needs has also been an important part of his role, one that Van Hoven is well-equipped to carry into the future. “I have always loved working with students, especially those who are looking to upskill themselves to make a better living,” Walwood said. “I want to see both business and individuals thrive.” Anticipating the Future Van Hoven is quick to point out that plastics are emerging from the environmental cloud that once hung over them. “It’s easy to give plastics a bad name by talking about how much ends up in the landfill,” he said. “But that’s not a foregone conclusion. Plastic goes into the landfill because people put it there. Most plastic can be recycled to reduce our use of virgin natural resources. It can also help with other energy efficiency goals, such as making cars lighter for better fuel economy. No other material gives the same benefit of plastic in the places where it’s used. The industry is aware of the environmental concerns and has taken great steps to reduce them. We actually talk about this in our introductory class.” Both Walwood and Van Hoven believe that the future is bright for anyone who chooses a career in plastics. “West Michigan is full of companies that manufacture plastic parts,” Walwood said. “Our Plastics Advisory Council is always lamenting that they need employees with a higher level of skill. They rely on GRCC to fill that pipeline with qualified people.” Van Hoven also sees endless opportunities in the field. “No one wakes up wanting to be a plastics engineer,” he said. “And yet, if you look around and see all the places where plastic interacts with our lives, you realize it’s a diverse industry. A career in plastics does not mean you’re working in a dark, dingy factory. This is a highly automated industry with sophisticated systems and big data. The programs at GRCC provide the education and credentials that employers need. With an education in plastics, you can develop a financially stable career right here in West Michigan, or go anywhere in the world. Learn more about the  Plastics-Polymer Engineering Technology certificate or  associate degree . This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.