The Women’s Club went on a field trip on Thursday to Kent Career Technical Center (KCTC) in Grand Rapids. KCTC is a program of Kent ISD open to any 11th or 12th grader throughout Kent ISD, public, private, homeschool, or charter school students. Students can enroll through their school counselor, choosing between nearly 30 programs in Health Sciences, Human Services, Arts and Communication, Engineering Manufacturing and Industrial Technology, and Natural Resources and Agriscience.

Students can earn high school, college, or tech school credit as well as industry certifications. Most amazingly of all, it is free to students! Current enrollment is around 2,500 students.

We began the day in the Culinary Cafe with coffee and water as we enjoyed a presentation by Principal Joe Lienesch. With slides, a short movie, and time for questions we learned all about the programs and the fantastic resources of KCTC.

Arts and Communication area, screen printing machine

Community and Parent Liaison, Ryan Graham, led us on a tour of some of the facilities. Our first stop was to Health Sciences where students were intently learning how to suture using a banana!

Our next stop was in the Arts and Communication area where we were amazed by the technology available and the quality print materials students are creating. Our last stop was in the Mechatronics area. The machinery and technology there is truly state-of-the-art.

Back in the Culinary Cafe we were served an excellent lunch of salad, rolls, rosemary salmon, honey chicken, roasted new potatoes, asparagus, and dessert. All of the food was delicious and the student servers were delightful!

Ryan Graham explains the Mechatronics area

The whole experience was fantastic. We’re excited to learn that there is renovation and expansion happening now and in the future. We’d love to go back again! Are we too old to attend KCTCl? Maybe, but never too old to learn and explore new things!