At the age of 32, Chris Galan was ready to take his career in construction to the next level.

“After high school, I went straight to work in the skilled trades. Years later, I was married, had three children and was ready to advance my career,” Chris said. “A lot of companies seek out candidates with degrees, so an associate’s degree was the next step for me.”

As he researched schools, Delta College kept coming up. He looked into it and decided he could make it work. So he enrolled in the residential construction program and said it was the best decision.

“Delta was a good fit because I could take classes at night and online, so I could work around my work schedule,” he said. “It allowed me to do both without sacrificing either.”  

Chris started taking classes in 2019, but he didn’t stop there. He noticed a need for more skilled labor in the local workforce, so he established a student chapter of the Home Builders Association. A highlight, he said, was building an addition to the facility that houses the Mustard Seed Shelter for Women and Children in Saginaw.

In spring 2021, Chris received the Robert and Joyce Hetzler Award for Service and Leadership, one of the highest honors a Delta student can receive.

“Delta is the best place to go for skilled trades because the college is heavily connected to the community,” he said. “When I started, I came expecting to just do book work, but they really drive the hands-on experience.”  

‘Just take the leap’

As a new student, Chris was apprehensive about starting his college education later in life. He said his advisors at Delta were very helpful at getting him started successfully.

“I wasn’t sure how to structure my schedule and I had so many questions, so my advisor worked with me to lay out a road map of classes that would work with my schedule,” he said.

As Chris eased into the residential construction program, he made friends and established relationships with his instructors – it was a support system for success.

 

“My advice for any incoming student is to trust your instructors. I can’t count how many times I’ve needed to know something while I was at work and reached out to an instructor and said, ‘Hey, can I ask you a question?’ The support is huge and it goes beyond the classroom,” said Chris.

His advice for those on the ropes about attending college?

“Just take the leap,” he said. “It may seem scary, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the amount of opportunity and benefits Delta has for you.”

Are you interested in attending Delta for residential construction? Delta is the perfect place to start. Apply now.