Jace Mendoza, a 2026 graduate of Achieve Charter Academy, is a rising star in speed skating, racking up accolades at every competition. In April, he traveled to Germany to compete in the prestigious Arena Geisingen International where he set a track record and became the first skater in his age group to complete the 200-meter Dobbins Sprint in under 15 seconds.
One activity sparked Jace’s passion at a young age. The six-time national champion said he first learned about skating of any kind at an Achieve party when he was kindergarten student.
“I did not like it at first,” Jace shared. “We bought new skates and we went back to the rink, and I just kept rolling and rolling, and I started to love it.”
This excitement inspired him to hit the ice and try figure skating. Jace and his family saw a sign for speed skating during a figure skating lesson, and the sport has been in his life ever since.
With only ice speed skating sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, Jace said his aim to compete on the ice at the highest level. He added that Moral Focus™ virtues will help him as he rises through the speed skating ranks.
“I use wisdom a lot because you have to learn from your previous races and mistakes,” Jace said. “Respect is always part of it; you have to respect your competition. Integrity, if you make a mistake, you’ve got to admit it, be coachable, and learn from it.”
Thanks to nine years at Achieve, these virtues will come naturally to Jace in the moments that matter most. Support from the school went well beyond Moral Focus™. Achieve’s staff was there to help Jace as he navigated balancing school and skating.
“My seventh-grade ELA teacher Mr. (Justin) Micallef helped me out a lot and supported me through a lot of struggles I had, especially in school,” Jace said.
This support is one of the many reasons Achieve was ranked third among K-8 public schools in the Detroit area, according to Niche, an organization that specializes in school rankings.
As Jace enters high school, he continues to train five days per week with about 10 teammates. He’s planning to attend a virtual high school so he can compete more internationally.
Through hard work and perseverance, Jace turned an activity he didn’t like into an Olympic dream.
Congrats, Jace! Best of luck!
About Achieve Charter Academy
Achieve Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Canton, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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