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Student Leaders

A series dedicated to students that go above and beyond to serve their school, peers and community.

Leading the band, on field and off

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Carlos Soto-Castillo encourages students to take advantage of the opportunities at school to discover who they are...

‘I’m comfortable with who I am’

Northview Morgan Jarema

The Northview High senior is just fine being looked at as the proverbial poster girl for positivity...

Leading with enthusiasm, energy and a lot of positivity

Comstock Park Karen Gentry

Warren Cody’s positive approach to life carries through school to how he hopes to help others after graduating...

Leader in school ready for new challenge

Thornapple Kellogg Alexis Stark

Thornapple Kellogg grad, scholar and athlete Matthew Middleton will attend the U.S. Naval Academy this summer...

Leading the leaders

Byron Center Erin Albanese

When it comes to helping students learn to be leaders, a group of student ambassadors are leading the way at Brown Elementary School...

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A superior performance

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

High school senior Fernando Bresso brings the highest mark in a decade for Godwin’s band program...

Once quiet, now the leader of the pack

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Student council president, G Club member, actor, Edith Juarez Rodriquez is happy to give back to Godwin Heights High School...

‘Take what you need’: students offer messages of goodwill

Wyoming Erin Albanese

Nearly 50 Wyoming Intermediate students have made it a mission to cheer on their peers...

Senior taps into family for inspiration, works to inspire peers

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Read how this Godwin Heights High student went from having a so-so freshman year to being a positive role model to others...

Natural leader embodies adage ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity’

Kelloggsville Phil de Haan

High-school powerhouse may be headed to a human resources department near you...

He’s a leader who is always learning

Student Leaders Morgan Jarema

Kent ISD’s interpreter program, now in its second year, is helping ESL students find purpose in their new country using gifts they honed in their native countries...

Showing leadership, one opened milk carton at a time

Comstock Park Karen Gentry

This second-grader sets an example by dispensing straws, opening milk cartons, and reading to younger students...

‘Committed to everything he tries’

Kent City Janice Holst

Between school work, a job, marching band and theater, this student steps up to provide warm clothing to community agricultural workers...

CTE changed his life – he wants more students to benefit

Kent City Morgan Jarema

He went to Washington D.C. to plead the case to lawmakers for more career and technical ed program funding...

Senior leads with calm & confidence

Comstock Park Karen Gentry

He’s involved in soccer, jazz band and Student Council. The future engineer leads his class academically and is a positive influence...

Determined leader sprints past K-12 finish line, pushed by her little ‘star’

Godfrey-Lee Beth Heinen Bell

Growing up, DaJa West always knew she was going to graduate from high school. But when she became pregnant, “some people doubted me,” she said. They shouldn’t have...

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