MCC Partners with MACTC on Award-Winning Program

Left to Right: Patty Cantu, Michigan Department of Education Director of the Office of Career and Technical Education; Dave Stradal Muskegon Community College Business Department Chair and Entrepreneurial Studies Program Coordinator; Cheryl Peters Generation E Institute; Sandy Goodrich MACTC Business Careers Instructor; Kathy Andrews MACTC Health Science Academy Instructor; and Dr. John Severson Superintendent for Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (Photo courtesy - MACTC)

Left to Right: Patty Cantu, Michigan Department of Education Director of the Office of Career and Technical Education; Dave Stradal Muskegon Community College Business Department Chair and Entrepreneurial Studies Program Coordinator; Cheryl Peters Generation E Institute; Sandy Goodrich MACTC Business Careers Instructor; Kathy Andrews MACTC Health Science Academy Instructor; and Dr. John Severson Superintendent for Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (Photo courtesy - MACTC)

MCC’s David Stradal joined Muskegon Area Career Tech Center (MACTC) Instructors Kathy Andrews and Sandy Goodrich as they received a 2015 College & Career Readiness Initiative Excellence in Practice Award on Feb. 2 at the Michigan Career Education Conference in Grand Rapids.

The award, presented by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, recognizes successful exemplary state-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that demonstrate outstanding outcomes, produce measurable results, and lead to documented success in employment or postsecondary education/training.

Andrews and Goodrich were honored for their partnership with Muskegon Community College and the Generation E Institute for Building Pipelines to College: Infusing Entrepreneurship into Career & Technical Education

Stradal, who chairs the MCC Business Department and Entrepreneurial Studies Program, piloted the BUS131 Entrepreneurship class one day per week at the MACTC last year. The program helped 77 high school students start more than 20 businesses while generating 39 dual enrollment credit hours in entrepreneur education. This year, 70 students are participating in the program.

“MCC is continually seeking to build cooperative pathways with other career tech centers and area high schools,” said Stradal, who is currently working with centers in Fremont and Holland to offer direct credit opportunities at those schools.

“I am pleased to see that MACTC students who participated in last year’s pilot program are now enrolled in MCC’s entrepreneur program. Their career goals of creating their own local businesses will have a positive impact on the future of our region.”