Laker Accelerated Talent Link For Employers
Through our strong liberal arts education, Grand Valley graduates are equipped with the foundational human-centered skills, critical analysis competencies, and business acumen required to excel in the technology and innovation industry.
This program will be a collaborative, accelerated work & learning program up to 12 months in length, which will include:
Employer-sponsored scholarship to support tuition costs for students
A paid on-site internship for a 20-hour/week with your organization
Co-curricular cohort focused on vocation, leadership development, financial literacy, and life skills
Employer Partners
Acrisure Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO Greg Williams
Josh Hulst, managing partner, Michigan Software Labs
We are addressing labor-shortage concerns and creating a positive impact on the business community. This program will highlight Grand Valley students’ human-centered skills and deep knowledge of their disciplines, and the companies will benefit from well-prepared employees.
As a company that is renowned for its growth in the insurance brokerage industry, one of our biggest challenges is filling open roles at a rate that keeps pace with our ambitious targets.We’re thrilled to be partnering with Grand Valley to help bring young talent into the fintech and financial services space and create a pipeline of candidates for Acrisure.
Through the Laker Accelerated Talent Link program, we are addressing the industry’s labor shortage concerns and creating a positive impact on the business community. We are proud to be part of a program that not only helps our business but also provides a path for students to have a bright future in software. This program will help to provide our company with well-prepared team members through our Associate program. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Grand Valley State University and other partners to equip the next generation of professionals for the workforce.
Kenyatta Brame, executive vice president of Cascade Engineering
Jason Joseph, chief digital and information officer for Corewell Health
As Cascade Engineering celebrates 50 years as a business in West Michigan, we are exhilarated by the opportunity to work with and source talent from Grand Valley through this initiative. We’ve been invested in community from day one and view this as a means of emphasizing our Triple Bottom Line and our commitment to Grand Rapids,” said Kenyatta Brame, executive vice president of Cascade Engineering.
We appreciate GVSU’s innovative commitment to preparing students for the modern digital workplace and we look forward to participating in the LATL program.
- Domingo Muñoz, Interim Chief Operating Officer, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Becki Postma, Chief Impact Officer, Heart of West Michigan United Way
Employer Financial Model
Talent Link Program is a $10,000 per-student commitment from employer partners. That amount includes:
- $8,000 scholarship awarded directly to the student ($4,000/semester)
- $2,000 infrastructure support for Talent Link program operations
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS)
With over 8,400 total students, including more than 3,000 nearing graduation, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a wide selection of programs such as Communications, Statistics, Biology, Psychology, and English. Core preparation for CLAS students emphasizes developing a holistic understanding of the entry-level skills required in today’s workforce, including critical and creative thinking, qualitative analysis, problem-solving, ethical reasoning, and collaborative teamwork.
GVSU students reflect our nation's evolving workforce
In Fall 2025, Grand Valley State University enrolled 22,035 students, marking a 1% increase from the previous year. Among them were 4,400 first-year students—the second largest entering class in the university’s history. GVSU continues to be recognized nationally for its commitment to student success, achieving Gold-level status for its support of veterans, earning a Five-Star rating for its support of undocumented students, and standing as one of only six institutions to receive the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2022 from Excelencia in Education.
Rising Technical Focus
In 2025, a growing percentage of Grand Valley State University students pursuing CLAS degrees are complementing their studies with minors or concentrations in high-demand technical fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Applied Data Analytics, Computer Science, and Information Technology. This trend reflects both the momentum of West Michigan’s Tech Week spearheaded by The Right Place and GVSU’s innovative Blue Dot initiative, which highlights the university’s commitment to preparing students with the technical skills needed to thrive in an evolving workforce.
Interested in partnering with us? Contact us today to learn how we can work together.
(616) 331-2495