Four NHA Schools Awarded GVSU’s Impact 30 Grant
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Four National Heritage Academies® (NHA®) schools recently won grant money to implement student-centered initiatives with the goal of improving learning experiences.
Canton Preparatory High School, Detroit Merit Charter Academy, Detroit Premier Academy, and South Canton Scholars each won grants from Grand Valley State University. These schools earned the awards as part of the Impact 30 program, which enables GVSU-authorized charter schools and university partners to start innovative projects that positively impact charter schools.
Thanks to this program, these four NHA schools will offer students unique educational experiences, support their development, and inspire them to try something new.
Congratulations, Canton Prep, Detroit Merit, Detroit Premier, and South Canton! Read more about each school’s plans below:
Canton Prep was awarded a $15,000 grant for a new student-led podcasting program. The money will go to building an audio recording studio where students will record, edit, and distribute their own podcasts.
Principal Carlos Hall said the idea is meant to engage students in something they’re interested in that will also build skills they can use after they graduate. He added that teaching students responsibility when using technology is another point of emphasis.
“When we look at where the world and the workplace is going, everything is computer-generated and we see the increase in AI use,” Hall said. “The more they know about technology and how to use it responsibly, the better they’ll be set up to succeed.”
The Impact 30 grants require initiatives to be led by students, and this podcasting project will give students creative freedom. Hall said it’s important to let students control the process because they’ll be more invested and engaged.
“We want to give them structure around that, but we want them to lead it with their ideas,” Hall said. “They’re producing it, we aren’t telling them what to do. But they’re going to cover things they’re interested in, things their age group finds value in. But we’re going to help them do it in a positive, respectful way.”
Detroit Merit earned a $5,000 award from GVSU, and the school plans to take seventh- and eighth-grade students on a career shadowing event to ARaymond, a global fastening and assembly business.
Principal Sandra Terry-Martin said the opportunity came about thanks to a School Board member who works at ARaymond. The experience is going to show students the entire process of inventing something. From an idea to a prototype, students will get a front-row seat at innovation in action.
The school also plans on implementing engineering curriculum leading up to and following the field experience, ensuring students connect with what they see at ARaymond. Experts in the field will also answer student questions and show what their daily life at the company looks like.
Terry-Martin said showing students what is possible after school is one of the reasons she’s excited for this trip.
“We want to expose students to the whole manufacturing process because there’s multiple careers within this one field trip,” Terry-Martin said. “I don’t think our kids understand how something gets in our hands. Science and math are really involved, so it brings relevance to what they’re doing in school.”
She said that once students return, they’re going to participate in a month-long project where they produce something from scratch. Students will lead the way, generating ideas for products, assembling a tangible prototype, and presenting it to their peers.
Terry-Martin said she was excited for the experience and hopes it opens students eyes to new career paths.
“I’m excited because it means we can do something special for our students,” Terry-Martin said. “I’m also excited to give them this opportunity, to fill in some of the gaps, and hopefully inspire them to want a STEM career.”
Detroit Premier was awarded $15,000 to implement a program aiming to teach students about safe and effective AI use.
Principal Michael Johnson said the initiative was designed to prioritize student agency, empower teachers, and actively engage families, while creating a replicable blueprint for AI integration. This education will come through weekly hands-on learning sessions, giving students direct experience with these tools.
Johnson said it was also important for students to learn how to use AI appropriately and develop important life skills.
“Students will not only learn how to use AI responsibly, but also how to evaluate outputs critically and create original work using AI as a collaborative partner,” Johnson said. “This approach promotes critical thinking, ethical awareness, and real-world application of emerging technologies.”
This initiative extends beyond Detroit Premier’s student population. The school is getting staff and parents involved, as well.
Professional learning communities for staff will be one feature of the program. Johnson said the group will build confidence and competence in integrating AI into core academic instruction. With this investment in staff, Detroit Premier is deepening its knowledge on AI, allowing staff engagement to go beyond a one-time professional development.
Parents will also be invited to monthly workshops connecting them with AI learning of their own. Johnson said these sessions will build understanding, transparency, and trust, while equipping parents with practical tools to support their children in navigating AI responsibly at home.
Through this experience, Detroit Premier hopes to increase AI literacy and equity in their own school and build a framework for AI education that other schools can use.
South Canton was awarded $15,000 for their STEM Tech and Broadcast Innovation Station, a new tool for students to explore STEM through hands-on learning.
The expansion of South Canton’s stellar Outdoor Education program includes a new weather station, which will feature drones and equipment to put on a broadcast and weather report. This approach is not only teaching students about weather, it’s also challenging them to present their data in a fast-paced environment.
With flying cages, students will have the opportunity to practice flying drones before they explore the weather outside. Principal Dana Gurganus was excited the experience will also show students something new.
“I am most excited to show our students how drone technology could lead them into an amazing career field,” Gurganus said. “It isn’t typically a career you think of, but there is so much work being done with drones right now that it would be an amazing learning opportunity for them to explore.”
South Canton students will lead the way, controlling drones as they research the weather and produce broadcasts. This engaging, hands-on experience will help them broaden their horizons and give them advanced STEM knowledge as they head into high school.
Gurganus said she is grateful to receive the grant and partner with GVSU.
“We were super excited to hear that our project had been chosen for the Impact 30 grant from GVSU,” Gurganus said. “GVSU has been a trusted partner for us as we started our outdoor education program, so we were thrilled to be able to partner with them again as we expand our outdoor education and STEM programming.”
Canton Preparatory High School, Detroit Merit Charter Academy, Detroit Premier Academy, and South Canton Scholars each won grants from Grand Valley State University. These schools earned the awards as part of the Impact 30 program, which enables GVSU-authorized charter schools and university partners to start innovative projects that positively impact charter schools.
Thanks to this program, these four NHA schools will offer students unique educational experiences, support their development, and inspire them to try something new.
Congratulations, Canton Prep, Detroit Merit, Detroit Premier, and South Canton! Read more about each school’s plans below:
Canton Prep
Canton Prep was awarded a $15,000 grant for a new student-led podcasting program. The money will go to building an audio recording studio where students will record, edit, and distribute their own podcasts.Principal Carlos Hall said the idea is meant to engage students in something they’re interested in that will also build skills they can use after they graduate. He added that teaching students responsibility when using technology is another point of emphasis.
“When we look at where the world and the workplace is going, everything is computer-generated and we see the increase in AI use,” Hall said. “The more they know about technology and how to use it responsibly, the better they’ll be set up to succeed.”
The Impact 30 grants require initiatives to be led by students, and this podcasting project will give students creative freedom. Hall said it’s important to let students control the process because they’ll be more invested and engaged.
“We want to give them structure around that, but we want them to lead it with their ideas,” Hall said. “They’re producing it, we aren’t telling them what to do. But they’re going to cover things they’re interested in, things their age group finds value in. But we’re going to help them do it in a positive, respectful way.”
Detroit Merit
Detroit Merit earned a $5,000 award from GVSU, and the school plans to take seventh- and eighth-grade students on a career shadowing event to ARaymond, a global fastening and assembly business.Principal Sandra Terry-Martin said the opportunity came about thanks to a School Board member who works at ARaymond. The experience is going to show students the entire process of inventing something. From an idea to a prototype, students will get a front-row seat at innovation in action.
The school also plans on implementing engineering curriculum leading up to and following the field experience, ensuring students connect with what they see at ARaymond. Experts in the field will also answer student questions and show what their daily life at the company looks like.
Terry-Martin said showing students what is possible after school is one of the reasons she’s excited for this trip.
“We want to expose students to the whole manufacturing process because there’s multiple careers within this one field trip,” Terry-Martin said. “I don’t think our kids understand how something gets in our hands. Science and math are really involved, so it brings relevance to what they’re doing in school.”
She said that once students return, they’re going to participate in a month-long project where they produce something from scratch. Students will lead the way, generating ideas for products, assembling a tangible prototype, and presenting it to their peers.
Terry-Martin said she was excited for the experience and hopes it opens students eyes to new career paths.
“I’m excited because it means we can do something special for our students,” Terry-Martin said. “I’m also excited to give them this opportunity, to fill in some of the gaps, and hopefully inspire them to want a STEM career.”
Detroit Premier
Detroit Premier was awarded $15,000 to implement a program aiming to teach students about safe and effective AI use.Principal Michael Johnson said the initiative was designed to prioritize student agency, empower teachers, and actively engage families, while creating a replicable blueprint for AI integration. This education will come through weekly hands-on learning sessions, giving students direct experience with these tools.
Johnson said it was also important for students to learn how to use AI appropriately and develop important life skills.
“Students will not only learn how to use AI responsibly, but also how to evaluate outputs critically and create original work using AI as a collaborative partner,” Johnson said. “This approach promotes critical thinking, ethical awareness, and real-world application of emerging technologies.”
This initiative extends beyond Detroit Premier’s student population. The school is getting staff and parents involved, as well.
Professional learning communities for staff will be one feature of the program. Johnson said the group will build confidence and competence in integrating AI into core academic instruction. With this investment in staff, Detroit Premier is deepening its knowledge on AI, allowing staff engagement to go beyond a one-time professional development.
Parents will also be invited to monthly workshops connecting them with AI learning of their own. Johnson said these sessions will build understanding, transparency, and trust, while equipping parents with practical tools to support their children in navigating AI responsibly at home.
Through this experience, Detroit Premier hopes to increase AI literacy and equity in their own school and build a framework for AI education that other schools can use.
South Canton
South Canton was awarded $15,000 for their STEM Tech and Broadcast Innovation Station, a new tool for students to explore STEM through hands-on learning.The expansion of South Canton’s stellar Outdoor Education program includes a new weather station, which will feature drones and equipment to put on a broadcast and weather report. This approach is not only teaching students about weather, it’s also challenging them to present their data in a fast-paced environment.
With flying cages, students will have the opportunity to practice flying drones before they explore the weather outside. Principal Dana Gurganus was excited the experience will also show students something new.
“I am most excited to show our students how drone technology could lead them into an amazing career field,” Gurganus said. “It isn’t typically a career you think of, but there is so much work being done with drones right now that it would be an amazing learning opportunity for them to explore.”
South Canton students will lead the way, controlling drones as they research the weather and produce broadcasts. This engaging, hands-on experience will help them broaden their horizons and give them advanced STEM knowledge as they head into high school.
Gurganus said she is grateful to receive the grant and partner with GVSU.
“We were super excited to hear that our project had been chosen for the Impact 30 grant from GVSU,” Gurganus said. “GVSU has been a trusted partner for us as we started our outdoor education program, so we were thrilled to be able to partner with them again as we expand our outdoor education and STEM programming.”
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 103 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 67,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.