HomeProfiles of Students, Staff, TeachersMeet the Future

Meet the Future

Creative, innovative, imaginative … Many of today’s students are all that and more in a vast variety of interest areas. Meet the Future features students with exceptional and unusual gifts.

Teen uses 3D-printing business to help others

Forest Hills Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Brady Ashcroft puts his 3D-printing skills to work, creating products for customers while using his business to support causes in his community and beyond.

The auditorium is his 600-seat domain

Cedar Springs Riley Kelley

He’s the student behind the scenes of Cedar Springs High School productions.

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

Lowell Erin Albanese

After starting powerlifting two years ago, this Lowell High School sophomore is a national junior varsity champion.

Sixth-grader auditions for ‘America’s Got Talent’

Wyoming Erin Albanese

With dreams of singing professionally, Wyoming Intermediate School sixth-grader Easton VanDyke recently auditioned for “America’s Got Talent.”

Succession of classes leads to mechanical engineering path

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Forest Hills Central senior Marek Ripmaster plans to turn a passion for making things work into a career in mechanical engineering.

A passion & a career could come into alignment

Kelloggsville Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Kelloggsville High senior Yar Deng has used her passion for multimedia design to connect with her school and peers. Next stop: college and the dentist’s chair.

His secret to music success? ‘Don’t let perfect get in the way of better’

Cedar Springs Riley Kelley

This Cedar Springs eighth-grader is a nine-instrument musical marvel.

Nashville is next for high school pedal steel prodigy

Cedar Springs Riley Kelley

This Cedar Springs High School senior plans to move to Nashville to pursue a career in country music.

Young music pro on track to bring the beats

Northview Beth Heinen Bell

This middle-school DJ has been making a name for himself in Grand Rapids since he was 6 years old.

Gymnast vaults his way to bronze, eyes even more metal

Lowell Erin Albanese

Lowell High School sophomore Tate Outman has competed five times at the national level, and hopes to compete in the Olympics.

Tech Center student’s trajectory: sparks and arcs

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Welding has become more than just a hobby for this senior.

Shop class, summer jobs pave the way for construction career

Cedar Springs Riley Kelley

Construction management is this Cedar Springs senior’s passion.

‘Books make me so happy’

Lowell Erin Albanese

Fifth-grader Adia Wideman is working on seven books, as she hones her craft toward becoming a published author. And perhaps a horse-riding instructor.