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.

Math whiz, student surveyor, star-gazer

Forest Hills Morgan Jarema

This Eastern High School sophomore developed a survey this year to learn what areas her peers struggle with most. Programs to address what she found have already started...

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Peacocks, goats, Legos: this fifth-grade farmer does it all

Cedar Springs Beth Heinen Bell

Not many fifth-graders can say that they live on an exotic peafowl and pheasant farm. But to Cole, life on the farm is hard to describe because it’s just… life...

Three-dimensional thinker

Meet the Future Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

She’s designing her life, from the roof trusses to her dream home to how she will impact others...

Poet uses words to empower others, inspire change

Meet the Future Alexis Stark

Senior Thang Lian’s award-winning poetry tells his story. His activism shows his passion for his home country and making a difference...

No blueprints required for this handy problem-solver

Meet the Future Charles Honey

Whether helping rebuild a car’s front end or custom-making a cabinet for the school’s front office, this high school senior has a special talent for coming up with designs and putting them together...

The sky’s the limit (or is it?) for this accomplished model builder

Meet the Future Erin Albanese

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

Filmmaker, engineer, future rocket-builder: it’s all about creativity

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema

Xiangyu Chen says his twin passions -- filmmaking and all things science, technology, engineering and math-related -- draw upon similar principles...

Musical prodigy, international performer, fourth-grader

Byron Center Erin Albanese

When Cameron Renshaw was in kindergarten he kept asking his mom, Tina Renshaw, about the cello in her closet...

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Meet the Future Janice Holst

Sparta High School senior credited with multiple advances in school’s technology programming...

‘One person can change so much for so many’

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema

'I think people need to recognize there’s something greater than themselves at stake'...

He mixes melodies, scratches records, creates digital music

Cedar Springs Cris Greer

Cedar Springs junior and DJ Martin Yakes plans for a career in music...

He loves welding, building new things & fixing older things

Meet the Future Charles Honey

As a child he loved building things with Legos and wood, but as he got older he found working with metal to be even cooler...

‘Unity is always important’

Meet the Future Morgan Jarema

Sharing about his Hindu faith with his peers and others is important to this high school freshman, who has plenty more going on...

Plant whisperer, reptile rescuer, amphibian aficionado

Meet the Future Morgan Jarema

Creative, innovative, imaginative ... Many of today's students are all that and more in a vast variety of interest areas. This series features students with exceptional and unusual gifts...

Trio of peers cast in Civic Theatre production of ‘Frozen Jr.’

Meet the Future Erin Albanese

Byron Center High School students and friends Alexa Wollney, Xavier Turner and Abbie Westers all landed major roles in the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre musical ‘Frozen Jr.’ ...

This musician’s swan song is sure to be just his start

Meet the Future Erin Albanese

After embracing cello instruction, East Kentwood High School senior passes huge music milestones, looks ahead to college...

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School News NetworkA Window into Your Public Schools

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.

A 2,200-mile change in location made all the difference for this grad

Teacher, minister, heart-attack survivor: the many lives of Aberdeen’s new principal

‘Books make me so happy’

She found her sense of wonder in elementary education

‘The PIT’ stop: Lab offers space for innovation, creation

Career day all about discovering future opportunities

‘Very freeing’: Students sound off during poetry slam

‘Lemonade wars’ teaches students lessons in economics

Vietnamese students write family narratives, contribute to local history

Are you feeling the effects of political polarization at your school?

What’s in a name? Podcast explores nuances of America

Commentary: Are teachers really appreciated, or under ‘anti-woke’ attack?

Meet the Future

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