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Personal trainer at NMC, Dedenbach pushes himself to learn more, has goal set on master's degree from GVSU
November 02, 2022
Much like he pushes the clients he trains in the gym, Isaac Dedenbach pushes himself to learn more and find a path to a career he will be passionate about. Dedenbach is a personal trainer at the fitness facility at Northwestern Michigan College. The Leland Public School graduate enrolled at NMC after earning the Commitment Scholarship, which focuses on first-generation students who show academic promise and have financial need. “The scholarship allowed me time to explore a lot of different classes to find my interests,” he said. Dedenbach worked as a resident assistant at NMC, which he said helped his communications skills and served as a boost on his resume. After earning an associate degree, Dedenbach took his passion for physical fitness to the next level and studied to become a certified trainer. He worked at a gym in the Detroit area and found his clients would ask questions about health and nutrition that he wasn’t prepared for. “It made me want to go back and educate myself so I could educate others, in a public health role. And that was at the start of the pandemic when most people were stuck in their homes and not able to get out as much to exercise, so I wanted to be able to help,” he said.
Dedenbach moved back to Traverse City and enrolled at Grand Valley State University’s Traverse City Regional Center. In April, he earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies with an emphasis in public health.
“I liked the smaller class sizes and I had a good relationship with the professors,” he said. Dedenbach was involved in a class project that helped him better understand the role of a public health educator. “For a team project we worked with the Northern Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness and it’s similar to what I’d like to do with my degree,” he said. “We created educational materials and welcome home baskets to give people a good start once they get into a home.” He has his next goal set: a master’s degree in public health from Grand Valley, which he hopes to begin in fall 2023.
By Michele Coffill