Oct. 16, 2025 Grand Rapids Community College, the City of Grand Rapids and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are partnering to install a Boot Brush Station at Aman Park on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. The station will be located at the trailhead north of the park’s northernmost parking area. It includes educational signage explaining how and why hikers should clean their footwear, helping reduce the spread of invasive species that can threaten native plants, streams, rivers and wetlands. “This project is a great example of education in action,” said John VanElst, dean of GRCC’s School of Workforce Training. “Our students are learning about water, sustainability and careers in the industry — and they’re also leaving a lasting impact on the community.” The station was constructed this summer by campers participating in GRCC’s Water Career Camps, with guidance from GRCC faculty and staff. Campers built the wood framing and assembled the brush system, while grant funding from the EPA supported the project. The station represents a hands-on outcome of the camp, which is designed to inspire the next generation of environmental and water-industry leaders.   Funded by an EPA grant, GRCC’s Water Career Camps introduce middle and high school students to the urban water cycle and the careers that ensure every drop of water is safe, sustainable and clean. For only $25 per camper, participants spend three days in hands-on, place-based learning experiences, including: Water quality testing on Lake Michigan aboard Grand Valley State University’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI)’s research vessel. Tours of the City of Grand Rapids drinking water and wastewater plants. Woodworking and welding workshops at GRCC MTEC. Activities such as building edible aquifers, invasive species tag and designing water filters. The camps are designed to empower youth with knowledge, skills and purpose while highlighting careers in engineering, water treatment and environmental science.   By constructing and donating the Boot Brush Station, campers have extended their classroom learning into a real-world project that will help preserve Aman Park’s ecosystems for years to come. Project Partners This initiative is a collaboration among: City of Grand Rapids Water & Environmental Services City of Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Grand Rapids Community College U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The station will be installed on October 21, with installation expected to take two to three hours.   

Oct. 14, 2025 Many students come to Grand Rapids Community College with a specific goal in mind. But that’s not everyone. A large number of students arrive unsure which career might fit their skills. For GRCC alumnus Erick Hernandez, that willingness to explore led to a career he loves. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school,” Hernandez said. “My parents did not finish high school and they wanted a different path for me. I knew that a degree would open more doors, but I didn’t know which doors sounded interesting.” Erick chose GRCC because it was an affordable choice and his credits would transfer to a four-year university. He started with general education courses as a stepping stone to whatever might come next. And then he discovered Introduction to Exercise Science. “I like to exercise and I thought medicine was cool,” he said. “So I took this class with Professor Laura Kennett, and suddenly the light bulb in my brain clicked on. I talked to her, and she encouraged me to start exploring careers in this field.” While browsing the options, Erick came across physical therapy and thought it sounded interesting. He went on a job shadow and suddenly found his focus. “I loved physical therapy, but I still faced some big hurdles,” Hernandez said. “Getting into a physical therapy program is not easy. Until you’re actually in, you’re not sure it’s going to happen. The day I got the email saying I had been accepted at my first choice school, I immediately called my parents. My mom was crying, and my dad couldn’t believe it happened. They were really proud of me.” A few years later, Erick holds a doctorate in physical therapy and practices at a worker’s compensation clinic, where he primarily helps people recover from on-the-job injuries. The good news is that Erick loves physical therapy as much today as when he first started. “I enjoy the process of problem solving to help my patients,” Hernandez said. “The feeling of making a positive difference in someone’s life is why I fell in love with the field and why I love it so much now. When I was a physical therapy technician, I was executing another person’s plan. Now that I’m the one managing the journey, it’s even more exciting. Learning to think critically and communicate well are important parts of the role.” Erick finds the work both challenging and rewarding, and he is already looking ahead. “My plan is to work toward a specialist certification in orthopedic surgery in the next five years, where I would focus on post-surgical recovery and musculoskeletal impairments,” Hernandez said. Learn about GRCC’s exercise science program .