Wyandotte's Ryan Finn Is Named Student of the Year

The Biotechnology Program at has named Wyandotte's Ryan Finn as its 2012 Outstanding Biotechnology Student of the Year.

He also is the third student to graduate with an associate's degree from the program, which began in 2009.

Finn successfully completely a full-time, paid internship with Ash Stevens, a Detroit-based company that is a world leader in chemical process development, as well as the development, manufacture and registration of small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients. He is slated to return to Ash Stevens for another internship this summer.

In the fall, he will continue his education at the , where he will study forensics.

“The Biotech Program is really a good program with excellent hands-on experience," Finn said. "Dr. Jolie Stepaniak (lead instructor of the Biotechnology Program) played a big part in my opportunity at Ash Stevens. I learned so much there, met a lot of great people, and picked up a lot of new skills, such as gas chromatography."

Stepaniak had equally as praising thoughts on Finn.

“Ryan is a dedicated, hard-working student," she said. "He set an example for his peers and his instructors. I am very impressed by his accomplishments."

The Biotechnology Program is expected to open a brand new, state-of-the-art laboratory and tissue culture facility in the fall. At that time, it will be the only community college in Michigan to have such a facility.

“The Biotechnology Program is a very cutting-edge program at the college," said Lisa Jones-Harris, vice president for student affairs. It’s an extraordinary creative program overall and unique among any community college in Michigan."