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Grace Strauss (Fallsburg, NY) did not find satisfaction in the career that she initially pursued but has found her studies in radiologic technology at ��Ӱֱ�� State igniting a passion to help others in the healthcare field.

Grace earned a degree in early childhood studies from another college but still had the desire to work in healthcare. “I graduated and got into the field, and I just really had that passion for healthcare. I decided it was now or never if I was going to change.”

That desire led her to ��Ӱֱ�� State where she was drawn to the area and the small class sizes. “��Ӱֱ�� gave that small town feel and I just really wanted to go somewhere with limited numbers in classes and a place it would feel like a family within the classroom.”

Getting hands-on right away has been key to Grace, “I have loved getting to go to clinicals right off the bat and not having to wait. Having our live labs has been great in helping understand the material.”

Grace feels supported by her classmates and her professors. “The professors have all been helpful and kind. They are not sitting there telling you to figure it out on your own. They are willing to give you that extra support and go the extra mile to help you in and out of the classroom.”

The number of opportunities in the field excites Grace. “You can go into so many different modalities and just keep training on the job. There's also great job availability after (you graduate) so you will never have to worry about job security.”

Outside the classroom, Grace loves the scenery. “I really love the seasons changing and the environment around the college. Everyone is super friendly.”

Grace is glad she found her perfect fit at ��Ӱֱ�� State.

Tara Smith uses the skills and knowledge she learned at ��Ӱֱ�� State daily. She earned both an associate degree in architecture and a bachelor’s degree in construction management at ASC and currently is an Assistant Director in the Claims and Cost Review Department for the New York State Office of General Services.

“I touch many aspects of construction which requires knowledge of pretty much every facet of construction. I am involved with projects from the time that they bid to the time that they are completed. Without my degrees from ��Ӱֱ��, I would not have that foundation.”

“My favorite part of my job is the analytical part. I am a problem solver. I like to think and dive into the details to come up with resolutions.”

Estimating skills led to Tara’s first job and connections to Western New York and fellow ��Ӱֱ�� State graduates led her to her current job.

“I was recruited to the Buffalo office because the supervisor at the time knew where I came from and where I graduated from. She knew the work ethic that came out of graduates of ��Ӱֱ�� State.”

Tara and her department continue to recruit ��Ӱֱ�� State students. “The program is ACCE accredited so that gives graduates a leg up in the industry. The students are well-rounded and have a great base of knowledge going into the industry.”

Trevor Griffin has started his career in the fast lane. The ��Ӱֱ�� State motorsports graduate works for TPC racing as one of their fly-in mechanics for a Super Trofeo program, a Porsche Sprint Challenge, and a newly established SRO program with McLaren.

Trevor is still connected to the program and wants to help future students get opportunities. “There is so much love for this program. I would not be where I am at today without this program.”

Learning hands-on and getting real-life experience was key to Trevor. “Here you can put hands-on and learn things that you would not learn unless you actually physically do it. The professors here have a great connection with American Endurance Racing. It allows students to go pit marshal.”

An opportunity to pit marshal accelerated Trevor’s career path. “I volunteered at an endurance race, and I absolutely fell in love. A month later via our connections I worked for my first ever race at New Jersey Motorsports Park.”

It snowballed from there and he worked races across the Northeast traveling to tracks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, and closer to home at Watkins Glen. During his senior year at school, he worked at eighty percent of tracks in North America.

“During that time, I was being paid on the weekends by these teams. My experience and the trust with these teams grew. I am fortunate and lucky that I have the opportunities that I have gotten.”

Opportunities continued to cross his path and forced him to make a difficult decision. “I was given the opportunity to go to Laguna Seca for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series with my team on graduation day. When all my classmates were walking, I was on pit lane with my car watching it roll out for race one.”

“Being able to come off this program and work right away is honestly a great feeling.”

Trevor enjoys seeing his ��Ӱֱ�� State classmates out on the circuit. “Racing is a small world. Everyone knows everybody and the fact that I get to see people that I graduated with doing great things is awesome.”

Trevor is excited for his future and the future of the motorsports program at ��Ӱֱ�� State.