Gateway Technical College Landscape Horticulture graduate Ulysses Sanchez says Gateway provided him with a solid education to help his family’s business grow — as well as his career. He’s working in the career field and says the skills he gained at the college continue to help him with his career goals.
“Gateway helped me decide what I wanted to do in my future — and then provided the training to help me do that.”
— Ulysses Sanchez, Landscape Horticulture graduate
Ulysses Sanchez began taking Gateway Technical College classes in high school through the college’s dual credit program. He was looking to earn some college credits but also experience different careers to see what he liked best.
He started out in business, but realized that wasn’t the right fit for him. Ironically, it was a business — specifically, his family’s business — that helped Sanchez realize the right fit for him to grow and bloom in a career was right in front of him the whole time.
“I wanted to do something that would help the family business, to help it grow even more than it was,” Sanchez said. “My thought was, ‘Where can I go to get that training to help me to do this?’ I knew Gateway offered classes and a degree and knew that would help me. It definitely has.”
Sanchez’s family owns the Walworth-based Greenscapes Landscaping, a company that provides design, installation and maintenance landscape services. He earned his associate degree in Landscape Horticulture and it’s beginning to pay dividends for his career.
“I’ve already begun to work on landscape design. That’s what I really like and what I wanted to do,” says Sanchez.
Ulysses Sanchez
“Gateway helped me prepare for what was to come in my career. I had already worked in the family business and had that experience, but my instructors challenged me to look at things differently, to look at parts of the job I hadn’t considered before. My Gateway experience definitely provided me with different ideas on how to succeed in my career. I now have that knowledge and perspective.”
Courtney Greve, Gateway Horticulture instructor and program chairperson, said Sanchez is a gifted landscape designer.
“He came in with a drive and passion to be successful, and his instructors challenged him to take his knowledge and skill to the next level,” said Greve. “He had some eye-opening moments, specifically in design and project management, and I feel he is well prepared to be a leader in this industry.”
Sanchez said the college’s instructors are a strong selling point for Gateway. He said they bring real-world experience to the classroom, guiding students on the proper techniques and mindset needed to succeed in their careers.
“The instructors were always willing to help you with anything,” he said. “They all were amazing. If you were struggling with something, they would try different ways to help you think about it. They encouraged you to use your brain to realize the answer. And, if you were still struggling, they were always ready to help you go in the correct direction to get it right.”
Sanchez says Gateway provided him with a solid education to help his family’s business grow — as well as his career.
“Gateway helped me decide what I wanted to do in my future — and then provided the training to help me do that,” says Sanchez. “I have what I need to help the family business grow and keep going.”
Gateway’s training has given Sanchez a great springboard to his career and he feels optimistic about his future in the industry: “I know I still have a lot of work to do to get to that position of being an owner, but Gateway gave me the skills and perspective to get there.”
For more: Horticulture Technician
