07/31/2026
For this Foundation Friday, we are honored to share a story of courage and stepping into the unknown.
From emergency healthcare to hands-on problem-solving, one Kirtland Community College student is demonstrating that stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to a deeply rewarding new path. After six years in healthcare, Ann Marie Hall made the bold decision to pivot her career and enroll in Kirtland’s Electrical Technology program while completing an electrical apprenticeship. Driven by a desire for work that offers new challenges every day, Hall now takes immense pride in building tangible solutions that keep homes, businesses, and local communities running safely.
Balancing full-time work and higher education is no small feat, but support from the Michigan Reconnect Program and a Kirtland Foundation Scholarship has helped ease the financial strain. For Hall, this generous investment is more than just financial relief—it is a powerful reminder that her community believes in non-traditional students and the vital role of skilled tradespeople. Hall credits her success to the unwavering encouragement of her family, friends, instructors, and mentors who supported her through every step of her transition.
Looking ahead, Hall’s ultimate goal is to earn her journeyman electrician’s license, eventually progress to a master’s license, and use her journey to inspire others to consider careers in the skilled trades. Beyond her professional ambitions, Hall hopes to pay the support she received forward by mentoring future students and giving back to the community that invested in her education. For anyone considering a fresh start in the trades, Ann Marie Hall’s journey proves that real growth happens when you have the courage to step into the unknown.
