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 this spring.

‘Your worst situation … can make you the best person that you can be’

Grads with Grit Bridie Bereza

Self-reliant since early childhood, Tiana Studebaker’s path to graduation was filled with instability. At commencement, she tipped her hat to her alternative school classmates for their perseverance...

‘Surround yourself with people who care about you’

Grads with Grit Morgan Jarema

Aubrey Robinson had a tough go before switching to Northview from another district. But once she did, she soared...

‘I didn’t give myself any other option’

Grads with Grit Morgan Jarema

When Don Zandbergen was suspended from school the second semester of his junior year, he knew he could just not go back. That thought lasted about a second...

Diagnosis, robotics shape her confidence, drive & compassion

Grads with Grit Hannah Lentz

Senior Ellie Clark keeps herself busy helping run her organization, Ellie’s Elephants, which has raised more than $350,000 for diabetes research since 2004. She was diagnosed with the condition when she was 4...

The world is now the stage for graduate who overcame behavioral issues

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Shamar is known as a jokester, a fun-loving, energetic student. He dreams of becoming a professional actor. But he spent several years constantly in trouble and struggling to find his way...

Blessed and grateful: challenges faced with positive attitude

Caledonia Hannah Lentz

Senior Cayleigh Constance has overcome challenges from family illness to mental health. After a four-month hiatus, she’s on track to graduate this year...

Passion for dance, hometown values will follow this grad to college and beyond

Grads with Grit Janice Holst

Coping with loss, yet this graduate heads to college with confidence and hometown values...

‘No matter what life throws at us, we grow, like flowers’

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema

Said counselor Elle Burgess of Elizabeth Walski’s positivity in the face of numerous challenges, 'If anyone has shown they have grit, it’s her'

‘He’s ready for the world’

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Byron Center High School senior Nik Ursiny will graduate May 23 after learning to manage and overcome physical and mental conditions -- taking hold of his own story and advocating for himself...

She’s come so far

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Farhiya realized her self-created predicament was sad, but she also knew she could get herself out of it...

Running the good race, from refugee camp to top student-athlete

Grads with Grit Charles Honey

Jama Jafari Jama has been through rough times, but he says nothing will stop him in the long journey now before him, starting with a scholarship at Aquinas College...

MySchool@Kent students overcome obstacles to get to graduation

Grads with Grit Janice Holst

Students choose online high school for a variety of reasons. Here, a few of this year’s graduates reflect...

Strong faith, desire to help pushes her to be healing force through song

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Despite tremendous loss, and mental and physical ailments, MacKenzie Van Dorp is off to the country music capital to pursue a career in music...

Family and friends pushed her to excel, grad says

Grads with Grit Janice Holst

To some, using a wheelchair might mean marching band was out, but not for Sarah Abma...

If you give a kid a 3D printer he will want to be a NASA engineer

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Graduate Bryan Rosello Lizardo overcame challenges and struggles, and is headed to the University of Michigan...

Toughing it out through troubled times, she sets her sights on college

Grads with Grit Morgan Jarema

Before coming to the district, Ivy and her two brothers -- one older, one younger -- had lived in 16 different homes and been in and out of a half-dozen schools as a result...

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School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent County, which enroll more than 90,000 students. Founded in 2013, we are an editorially independent news site funded by Kent ISD, local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and photojournalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues that enhance or discourage student success, and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

‘You can do anything and everything’

His heart is in the health care field

Northview grad is a future forest mapper

Teacher’s latest book focuses on motivation in education

Book battle promotes literacy, teamwork

Future health care pros sample multiple career focuses

Young readers follow the recipe for perfect pound cake

Young engineers turn paper into a wild ride

Basketball team unites students, promotes inclusion

Diving into social-emotional learning

‘The journey’s not over’: High-schoolers showcase Black history

Art contest celebrates kindness, compassion and community

Grads with Grit

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