HomeProfiles of Students, Staff, TeachersGrads with Grit

Grads with Grit

A series proudly sponsored by Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, about students who have had to overcome unusual challenges and hardships to graduate this spring.

Determined leader sprints past K-12 finish line, pushed by her little ‘star’

Godfrey-Lee Beth Heinen Bell

Growing up, DaJa West always knew she was going to graduate from high school. But when she became pregnant, “some people doubted me,” she said. They shouldn’t have...

From regular trouble to focused & mature

Comstock Park Karen Gentry

This potential future corrections officer knows what it takes to turn things around...

For once-homeless mother and daughter graduates, ‘dreams do come true’

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Ayjia Jones and her mother, Monique Williams, are both graduates of the Class of 2021. Their accomplishment comes after two years living in motels, searching for housing and pathways to stability...

‘Her deafness does not define her’

Kent City Janice Holst

This grad hopes to learn scuba diving and to fly an airplane, but highest on her agenda is to aid in the fight for her right to join the armed forces...

Writing through the grief

Caledonia Alexis Stark

Approaching the end of her senior year, she is learning to grieve with grace and share her emotions through writing, after the death of her older sister in 2016...

‘God gives me hope’: a refugee student’s hard journey to graduation

Kelloggsville Phil de Haan

On a journey from the Congo to Grand Rapids, faith, and the people placed in his path, have helped a Kelloggsville senior deal with some tough circumstances...

Journey of survival, hard work, inspires him to inspire others

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Six years ago hewas in an Indonesian detention center. Today he is a recipient of Western Michigan University’s most prestigious merit-based scholarship...

‘I want to do that’

Grads with Grit Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The encouragement of co-workers helped her discover Kent ISD adult education and its career and technical ed programs...

With his eye on the goal

Grads with Grit Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Godwin’s Ru’Quan Buckley was not going to let anything -- including a pandemic -- stop him from achieving his goal...

Turning pain into motivation

Grads with Grit Cris Greer

An abusive relationship could not deter this university-bound senior from excelling...

Dad helped daughter succeed through his actions

Grads with Grit Cris Greer

Larica Brown and her father, Lorenzo, worked hard to make a better life for themselves in the United States...

While embracing her roots, student leader steps forward

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

The daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Quyen Tran was instrumental in elevating the work of the Asian Student Union at East Kentwood High School. She is now headed to Harvard with a sense of purpose and humanitarian goals...

‘There’s no replacing Milton’

Grads with Grit Bridie Bereza

This student went from principal’s office regular to class leader and role model...

‘Father figure’ uses positivity to succeed

Grads with Grit Cris Greer

Next stop: Michigan State University...

A father’s love, a son’s devotion, a school success

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Arec Winright used his memory of his father as motivation to do well in school and work hard toward graduation...

‘So many doors have opened’

Grads with Grit Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

With the aid of Kent ISD’s Project NorthStar, a new father made a choice that led him to not only graduate, but to do so early...

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ABOUT US

School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Her career path was laid in first grade

She helps students develop language, read, write & grow

Not just a volunteer, but ‘a piece of the library’

He is demonstrating how important English is in business

Partnership pairs high-schoolers with scientists for real-world research

Simulated crime ties science, critical thinking & data analysis

Opportunities abound at first in-house career fair

Partnership with Black-founded nonprofit brings dedicated learning space

Learning life skills ‘where life happens’

State of the Student tackles four big topics

High-schoolers talk mental health with education leaders, legislators

Student news crew interviews state superintendent

Grads with Grit

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