HomeProfiles of Students, Staff, TeachersGrads with Grit

Grads with Grit

A series about students who have had to overcome unusual challenges and hardships to graduate.

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...

Setting out with a camera to change the world for the better

Grads with Grit Charles Honey

Mariah Barrera, who has already made her mark with several award-winning short films, plans to pursue her passion at Columbia University in New York City...

‘Following a map and the sky’

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Adjy Jean spent years as an unaccompanied youth, displaced and moving from country to country. Now, after three years settled in Michigan, he will graduate from East Kentwood High School...

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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.

She’s ready for the heavy lift, then onto baking

Her passion: advocating for ‘that one kid’

‘Be here, be present’: Grad reflects on loss of her mom

Not even facial reconstruction can stop this senior’s smile

Kelloggsville band ready to ‘soar’ on national stage

Gaining real-world experience through work-based learning

Helping students see what’s possible through arts careers

Bridging the tech gap for older adults

Hope Squad making school safe & welcoming to all

Peers build relationships, practice social skills

SEALS: Where the tiniest hands reach for the biggest hearts

‘Blast Off!’: Finding focus & fun on sensory path

Grads with Grit

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