“I feel an immense sense of pride to have been selected to represent our community this November. I am excited to connect and collaborate with leaders across nations and cultures as we build toward a brighter future for all of us.”
Hannah is a 2020 graduate of Grand River Preparatory High School (GRP) who is now working toward a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Oakland University and leading initiatives that empower students and strengthen communities through the Student United Way program.
Reflecting on her time at Grand River Preparatory High School, she shared: “I treasure the time I had at GRP. The school pushed me to find and take advantage of every opportunity that came my way, and my teachers were constant cheerleaders. They taught me resilience and the importance of taking pride in my work, and it is through those lessons that I continue to find success today.”
Like many students, she faced the big question in high school: “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” Classes opened doors to possibilities such as medicine, journalism, and politics, but one calling never wavered, helping people. What she didn’t know then was how wide and impactful the nonprofit world could be, but she discovered that after being hired as an Account Manager at the Heart of West Michigan United Way.
That realization inspired her to launch Student United Way, giving high school students a firsthand look at how they can make a difference whether as a volunteer, donor, advocate, or champion for neighbors in need. She went back to her roots for the first cohort and invited GRP students to participate. Soon after the program expanded to include Wellspring Preparatory High School, giving students a chance to create change in their community through programs they develop alongside United Way leadership.
“SUW offers that window to students. If not as an employee, they see how they can be a volunteer, donor, advocate, and champion for our neighbors.”
Hannah’s story is a reminder of the power of an NHA education; how nurturing resilience, pride, and opportunity in the classroom can inspire leadership that reaches across the globe.
GRP’s culture of encouragement and high expectations prepared her to step into these opportunities with confidence, and her journey continues to demonstrate how our alumni embody the values of Moral Focus™ in action.
At NHA, we are always inspired by the stories of our alumni who take the lessons they learned in our classrooms and use them to make a difference in the world.
Congratulations Hannah!
About Grand River Preparatory High School
Grand River Preparatory High School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Kentwood, Michigan, serving students in ninth through 12th grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes 103 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 68,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.