June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)
Article by
Michele Coffill
Christina Martinez, left, and Brady O'Brien are pictured at Holland Hospital. They both received scholarships through a partnership with the Kirkhof College of Nursing.
GVSU junior Brady O'Brien found a career before he found a discipline of study.
The Hudsonville native said he enrolled at Grand Valley as a first-year student without declaring a major. It was a job shadow program at Holland Hospital that led O'Brien to consider a career as a nurse. "Nursing combines the science skills I have with my desire to help people," he said.
O'Brien had more than a year's experience as a patient care assistant before he took his first Kirkhof College of Nursing class.
"Working at the hospital has allowed me to learn the basics and build a solid foundation in patient care," he said.
O'Brien and nursing senior Christina Martinez are the first recipients of a Holland Hospital scholarship that provides students with tuition incentives of up to $5,000 per semester for four semesters. After graduating and passing the licensure exam, students commit to working at Holland Hospital for at least two years.
Martinez earned a GVSU bachelor's degree in allied health sciences in 2021, with a minor in Spanish. She, too, started working at Holland Hospital before enrolling in KCON's accelerated second-degree program. After graduating in May and passing the licensure exam, Martinez returned to Holland Hospital to work as a nurse.
"The scholarship has helped a lot," she said. "It relieved a lot of stress and allowed me to focus on my classes and earning a degree."
KCON Dean Linda Lewandowski said: “We are so pleased to partner with Holland Hospital. This scholarship program alleviates financial burdens and provides our students with direct patient care experience that they then take to the classroom. It’s an innovative solution to a national healthcare issue.”
This article was last edited on June 15, 2026 at 1:33 p.m.
Aviation students can complete the Bachelor of Applied Science degree program in Traverse City, or online, and have tangible professional benefits within the industry.
Featured
June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)
Article by
Kate VanDerKolk
A Detroit News article centered on university governance and a Brookings article called the Thompson Scholars program a model solution for increasing access for students from middle-income families.
June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)
Now working in the Division of Enrollment Development and College Futures, Ngassa discusses how his background serves as a bridge between enrollment and academic affairs.
June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)
