Genzman is the IT guy at Northwood HS

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NORTHWOOD — Nick Genzman has been interning in the technology department of his home school and hopes to continue once graduating.

Genzman, who graduated this month from Northwood High School, had been enrolled in the Information Technology Academy at Penta Career Center.

He chose Penta because he already knew what he wanted his career to be, and Penta gave him the option to do it.

“I’ve always had a thing for information technology, and I wanted to learn more,” he said.

Information technology includes cybersecurity, ethical hacking and IT support.

He has been doing IT work at Northwood since January. He now works there four days a week for about 12 hours.

“If I’m not here, I’m over at Penta,” he said.

Brad Lindquist, technology director at Northwood, said Genzman was hired because he’s one of their students.

When told the senior was interested in seeing how IT was handled at the school, he said sure.

“It’s just another educational opportunity,” Lindquist said.

He had Genzman doing IT support, which includes working on printers, small computer problems that arise, and getting devices ready for student and staff use.

“He’s been working on that stuff since he got here in January,” Lindquist said.

“I’m enjoying it,” Genzman said.

He hopes to get a full-time job with Northwood schools or in IT service or the cybersecurity field elsewhere.

“We’ve been talking amongst ourselves about offering him something part time (when he graduates),” Lindquist said about Genzman. “He’s shown a lot of good work since he’s been here and frankly, we could use a little bit of help.

“But, too, it’s good to be able to offer him an extended educational opportunity,” he said.

Either way he will leave with a stellar resume, Lindquist said.

Genzman plans to attend Owens Community College and get a degree in information technology.

At Penta, he participates in Business Professionals of America. He made it to the state level this year with his computer security project.

Genzman has earned multiple certifications including Pc pro, IT fundamentals pro, compTIA IT fundamentals, WinCRC certificate and ethical hacker.

He was in the pep band at Northwood, playing trumpet.

He is on a swim team in Temperance, Michigan, and also works as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA in Oregon.

He is the son of Fred and Michelle Genzman, Northwood.

Lindquist added that during COVID, Genzman spent time at home making approximately 150 face shields with his 3D printer and donating them to front-line workers at Mercy Health – St. Anne Hospital in Toledo.

He now makes a little trophy for the Northwood Police Department, where his father works, for everyone who gets off work probation.

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