Nonprofit celebrates trailblazers in tech, art, and entrepreneurship

Feb 20

From left to right: Corinn Mapp, Stacia Mason, Arick Davis
Photo courtesy of WMCAT

West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) will recognize three outstanding individuals who embody innovation, imagination, and inspiration at its iBall event. This year’s honorees include a cybersecurity professional breaking barriers in tech, an artist using her voice to create belonging, and an entrepreneur redefining community impact. iBall takes place on March 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at GLC Live at 20 Monroe.

“WMCAT is proud to be honoring three outstanding alumni at iBall 2025. Continuing to amplify the beauty, brilliance, and lived experience of students is one of the many ways we’re celebrating 20 years of impact,” said Jamon Alexander, President and CEO, West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology

Stacia Mason, a graduate of the WMCAT Adult Career Training Program’s inaugural Cybersecurity class, will receive the WMCAT Award for Innovation. Now a Governance, Risk, and Compliance Analyst at Acrisure, Stacia proudly shares the story of her tech journey, aiming to make the industry more accessible and inclusive. By creating social capital in the community, building confidence in herself and others, and embracing personal and professional development, Stacia is investing in the success of current and future students. The WMCAT Award for Innovation is sponsored by Acrisure.

Recognized for her ability to create belonging and purpose through art, Corinn Mapp will receive the WMCAT Award for Imagination. A graduate of Step Year at WMCAT, Corinn is elevating her voice and art as a keynote speaker to nationwide audiences and as an ArtPrize artist. Corinn represents the spirit of Step Year, embracing self-discovery and new experiences while inviting others to do the same. The WMCAT Award for Imagination is sponsored by Steelcase.

Honoring the late Jim Welch, WMCAT’s founding board chair, the WMCAT Award for Inspiration will be presented to Arick Davis. A student in WMCAT’s first Teen Arts + Tech Program class, Arick gained the confidence, creative ambition, and community connection as a teen that manifests in his life today. Co-founder and CEO of Last Mile Cafe, a Black-and-woman-owned coffee shop in Grand Rapids, Arick is shifting the narrative on what business can do, donating revenue to local organizations, prioritizing ethical and sustainable practices, and leading with a vision for a more equitable community.

Tickets are $150 and include dinner, an open bar, live entertainment, and WMCAT activities. For more information, visit https://wmcat.org/iball-2025/.