FutureSolve25 Expands Opportunities and College Credit for High School Students
Kent ISD, BAMF Health and Ferris State University partner for six-week summer internship program
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 9, 2025 – Kent ISD, BAMF Health and Ferris State University are partnering to give 27 high school students hands-on, real-world experience and college credit in FutureSolve25.
Now in its second year, FutureSolve25 is a six-week internship program where students gain real-world exposure to science, engineering, technology and marketing. All students who complete the program receive transferrable college credits from Ferris State plus a stipend while they are attending.
The program aims to immerse students in real-world experiences and challenges them to use design-thinking principles to solve problems. During students’ time at Ferris State’s Kendall College of Art and Design, they will learn more about design-thinking principles and marketing and will collaborate to solve business problems proposed by BAMF Health. This exposes students to an exciting and innovative company in their community and allows them to work within their field of interest to make a real impact.
“I am inspired to work with a new group of students as we embark on the second year of this program,” said Andy McLean, Manager of External Relations with BAMF Health. “This transformative event empowers high schoolers to explore diverse career paths in healthcare, marketing and IT, fostering the next generation of innovators by bridging education and industry. Last year ignited a passion for precision medicine in the rising seniors who participated, and I fully anticipate the same for this year’s group!”
Participating students are from Kentwood, Grand Rapids, Rockford, Kelloggsville, East Grand Rapids Public Schools, Catholic Central and Kent Career Tech Center.
“FutureSolve25 is an exciting opportunity for collaboration between K-12 education, higher education, and local business that provides high school students with invaluable experience and exposure to the real world of work in an innovative way,” said Ryan Graham, Director of Workforce Development at Kent ISD.
“Here in West Michigan, we have an extraordinary opportunity to connect students to industries and organizations that are shaping our region, our state, and our world,” said KCAD professor and Collaborative Design program chair Gayle DeBruyn. “We’re excited to grow our partnership with BAMF and continue to provide experiential learning opportunities that inspire young people to be the collaborators, innovators, and leaders of the future.”
FutureSolve25 is a strategic partnership between Kent ISD, BAMF Health and Ferris State University in line with CareerPrep 2030 goals to engage more students in opportunities to expand their connections to real-world career experiences while in high school and beyond. Students will share what they have been learning at a presentation and celebration event at The Collaborative Lab in Comstock Park on Thursday, July 17 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Contacts:
Joy Walczak
Communications Specialist
Kent ISD
joywalczak@kentisd.org
906-632-6290
Christine VanTimmeren
Marketing and Communications Manager
BAMF Health
Christine.vantimmeren@bamfhealth.com
616.550.2562
David Murray
Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications
Ferris State University/Kendall College of Art and Design
DavidAMurray@ferris.edu
616-747-1940
