- Sponsorship -
HomeProfiles of Students, Staff, TeachersGrads with Grit

Grads with Grit

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum is a proud sponsor of SNN

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 grad finds her way from life-altering earthquake to success

Grads with Grit Janice Holst
Coming to U.S. from Haiti just two years ago, Roodflore Winkels has accomplished much and is reaching for new heights...

Coming from struggle, Somali student wants to ‘change someone’s life’

Grads with Grit Morgan Jarema
A Forest Hills Northern High School graduate born in war-torn Somalia plans to leverage the opportunities he has been given in this country to help children and families adjust to the U.S. and its culture...

‘You can’t rely on other people to build you up’

Grads with Grit Morgan Jarema
Shane Brewer admits he once did “the bare minimum” in school. “I just scraped along. It’s not that I’m not smart. I just didn’t see the point.” Until he did...

Undaunted by Disease, Staying the Course

Grads with Grit School News Network
Standing in a hall of Sparta High School, Steven Sevarns wore a smile that might suggest he wasn't headed to class that day. He...

A ‘Battler’ who Wouldn’t Settle for Less

Caledonia School News Network
Brittney Schnicke's first thought as she stared at her limp, badly damaged fingers was not whether she would be able to keep them, or...

Shooting for the Top

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese
Donnie Alford owns his past with a perspective on where he comes from, where he is today and why it all matters that seems...

Diploma: ‘I Feel Like it Changed My Life’

Grads with Grit Charles Honey
Tyler Zahnke sat down at his musical instrument – aka, his Toshiba laptop  – and proceeded to open a wonder-box of sounds. He called...

Drawing a Path to Her Future

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese
Katie Bork's drawings explode with imagination. Scenes in black ink reveal a world right out of her brain. Faceless people go about their daily...

Unbreakable Spirit

Grads with Grit Linda Odette
A recent district grad who's lived his life with serious health problems is on his way to Harvard, an accomplishment that surprised even him. Justin...

‘A Better Life, a Safe Life, a Good Future’

Grads with Grit Charles Honey
In a swirling sea of students in red and white caps and gowns who were hugging family members and being photographed, Abdulhadi Aljazaeri stood...

Future Takes Flight: ‘I Will Do Whatever It Takes’

Grads with Grit Charles Honey
Nolte Cunningham’s first experience on a plane was really bad. He was about 6 years old, on a flight taking his sister to the...

Determination over Depression: Future Trooper Found New Home and Career Calling

Grads with Grit Charles Honey
Editor’s note: This is the last of our “Grads with Grit” series about students who have overcome unusual challenges and hardships to graduate this...

From Genocide to College, Rwandan Refugee Student Keeps Faith Strong

Grads with Grit Charles Honey
Editor's note: This is the seventh of a series about students who have had to overcome unusual challenges and hardships to graduate this spring. Moses Kabandana...

Through Homelessness and Hardship, Northview Graduate Did What He Had to Do

Grads with Grit Charles Honey
Editor's note: This is the sixth of a series about students who have had to overcome unusual challenges and hardships to graduate this spring. Randy McCant...

Student Graduates after Riding Train of Death through Mexico

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese
Editor's note: This is the fifth of a series about students who have had to overcome unusual challenges and hardships to graduate this spring. During...

Cerebral Palsy and Learning Disability Haven’t Stopped EGR Grad

East Grand Rapids Erin Albanese
Editor's note: This is the fourth of a series about students who have had to overcome unusual challenges and hardships to graduate this spring. East...
1...567Page 6 of 7
- Sponsorship -
- Sponsorship -

GET OUR HEADLINES IN YOUR EMAIL

SUSTAINING SPONSORS

Dean Transportation SET SEG GRCC West Michigan Health Insurance Pool Kent District Library
Join these sponsors
- Sponsorship -

MEDIA PARTNERS

Maranda Where You Live WGVU

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.

Contact us: snn@kentisd.org

FOLLOW US

OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Byron Center   Caledonia    Cedar Springs    Comstock Park    East Grand Rapids    Forest Hills    Godfrey-Lee    Godwin Heights    Grand Rapids    Grandville    Kelloggsville    Kenowa Hills    Kent City    Kent ISD    Kentwood    Lowell    Northview    Rockford   
Sparta    Thornapple Kellogg    Wyoming

© Kent ISD | 2930 Knapp NE | Grand Rapids MI 49525

Privacy Policy