Your Dream is Our Dream: Celebrating Student Success

From a work-based learning experience at CS Erickson emerged a full-time career as an electrical apprentice for Omar Rodriquez, a 2026 graduate of Lee High and West Michigan Construction Institute’s Electric pathway, a Kent ISD CTE program.

With the new school year about to get underway, we asked students enjoying Maranda’s Park Party Recess at Endeavor Elementary in Kentwood to share their dreams and how education may help them achieve their goals. Tim Hargis, the district’s Communications Director, joined us with insight from his years leading classrooms and as a school principal.

Hands-on experience as an IT intern for Kent Career Tech Center is helping 12th grade student Grady Albin gain industry-specific skills to empower him achieve future goals in cyber security

When her Olympic hopes were dashed by a worldwide pandemic, Sekayi Bracey set out to cross another finish line, completing a unique teaching program and leading a fourth-grade classroom. West Michigan Teacher Collaborative helped remove barriers so she could continue to soar into teaching fourth grade at Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Mulick Park Elementary and coaching track at Godfrey-Lee Public Schools’ Lee High

As an intern with Kent ISD’s Communications team, Kenny Vi took on the challenge of taking Kent Career Tech Center’s Tik Tok feed up a few notches…and he didn’t stop there. Kenny shares how Marketing + Design at KCTC sharpened his entrepreneurial and creative tools and helped prepare him to make an impact at his home school, on the tennis court and into the future

When a gymnasium fills up with nearly 200 middle school girls from many area districts, the energy in the room is electric. Maranda of WOOD TV brought together this group for her annual Beautiful U, an event aimed at inspiring and empowering girls and encouraging them to dream big. Future marine biologists, entertainers, police officers and veterinarians from Comstock Park Middle school shared their aspirations while their school PBIS coordinator and Kent ISD’s Workforce Development Consultant Krista Harmon pointed out some potential connections for exploring their careers of choice

George French completed an Auto Mechanics program at Kent Career Tech Center in 1976 and spent decades auto racing and in all kinds of roles as a mechanic. He shares how a CTE start helped drive his dream with City Middle High 7th grader Adam Milkovich who is interested in exploring a career behind the wheel. Workforce Development Consultant Krista Harmon adds some potential career pathways and benefits of joining KCTC’s Alumni Network

Brian Gall spent some thirty years as an electrician after completing a program at Kent Career Tech Center that introduced him to his trade. Now, he’s using his years of experience and industry expertise to teach students like Kent City High senior Bryer Armstrong in a Kent ISD CTE program at West Michigan Construction Institute

When Ashley Sands started exploring health careers at Kent Career Tech Center, she didn’t know she would return there to teach students just like her what it takes to become a phlebotomist. Her connection with her first health careers instructor Linda Ford continues to inspire and drive her success

Soon after Karen Barrose started the Criminal Justice program at Kent Career Tech Center, this Godwin High grad knew law enforcement was in her future. Now she’s serving students and educators in her dream role as Community Patrol Officer at Kentwood Public Schools where she hopes young students see her as an example of what they could become, too.

Orli is more convinced than ever that a career in the healthcare industry is in her future. She deepened this resolve during a six-week Kent ISD summer internship learning with BAMF Health professionals and career specialists at Kendall College of Art and Design/Ferris State University

Angel wants to use his skills as a mechanical or software engineering to help his family get ahead. Kayd is driven to play college then possibly pro football, and Ryleigh is ready to pursue a career as a sports physician, all empowered by their high school education

Before careers as an orthodontist, sports psychologist, or mechanical engineer comes a lot of hard work and dedication in high school and beyond. Three students share how education is jump starting their drive to make their dreams possible

Kent ISD’s Student Leadership Community is made up of students from many districts and a wide variety of educational experiences. Today we talk to a few of them about their aspirations and how what they are learning now will help them achieve their goals

Jonas is getting a jump start as a social media influencer, Flora is using her marketing skills to craft effective messages and Kenny’s photography is a channel for his creativity. All are beginning to build their business dreams while still in high school

Before she even entered high school, Morgan sang her way into the title role in Cedar Springs’ production of Annie. This year she’s back on stage as Jo March in Little Women and has big dreams of making it all the way to Broadway

Jonny has been taking on his siblings and friends in gaming for years, almost always besting each competitor by a wide margin. He recently put his esports skills to the test and won the second annual Kent County Cup, a Mario Kart competition. The win opened his eyes – and his parents’ – to the college and career opportunities in the esports arena

Billie still has their first purple tool kit, a gift from their dad who helped inspire dreams of becoming a carpenter and designing and building things of lasting beauty. Billie was one of the first to graduate from West Michigan Construction Institute, a learning lab for tomorrow’s workforce, while completing their high school education at CA Frost in Grand Rapids Public Schools

With an interest in healthcare and a love of STEM learning, East Kentwood 12th grader Sifa Mulebinge took a chance on a summer experience to help solve real-world problems and gain college credit between high school semesters at BAMF Health

When Charlie Vonk created a course called Video Tech Time, he didn’t know he would be inspiring a career that would lead one of his middle school students to join the Olympic Broadcast Team, not once but twice. Jon Greenhoe’s dream is taking him to Paris this summer

In middle school, Eric Sorensen built himself a computer. By graduation, he completed the Networking & Cyber Security program at Kent Career Tech Center earning an unprecedented 21 certifications and more than 50 credits toward an Associate Degree in IT from Grand Rapids Community College through Launch U. For this Forest Hills Northern grad’s future, the cyber sky has no limit

Their dreams are as different as they are, ambitions to become police officers, trauma surgeons, psychologists and to travel the world. It can all start with education and the confidence that comes with a belief in being beautiful

Host Joy Walczak speaks to Caledonia High 11th grader Logan Reimbold, Director of esports at Aquinas College, Will Wolf, and Director of Workforce Development at Kent ISD Ryan Graham.

Host Joy Walczak speaks with Miriam Ijor-Amachree, GED and CTE Adult Education graduate and Marty Marquardt, GED Instructor, Kent ISD Adult Education

As they inch closer to graduation, three high school students share their career ambitions and the efforts of educators and school staff to empower them to reach for their dreams.

Their dreams are as diverse as their backgrounds and experiences, but one thing scholars in Kent ISD’s Student Leadership Community have in common is that their educational experiences are helping them reach their goals beyond high school

When she’s not in school or studying, you may find Rubi Esquival-Estaban in the kitchen trying out a new recipe or baking a favorite treat for her family. The Grand Rapids UPrep senior is gathering all the ingredients to make her dream of opening her own bakery one day a reality

Dreams start early for kindergarteners in Rosi Corl’s Central Elementary kindergarten classroom in Grandville. See a gallery of the Dream Drawings young students created as they describe their hopes for the future.

When Clara stepped into the 3D Animation & Game Design program at Kent Career Tech Center, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Now in her second year, she has her sights on a career in this area where she can express herself artistically while mastering high-end technology used in a growing economic sector.

Before they finish high school, Abby and Cole will complete their Associate Degrees at GRCC and have a top five finish at a NASA competition under their belts. They’re both getting a jump start on their education and careers at no cost by taking part in a program called Launch U.

When Brady Bowers heard the word “quadrilateral” he knew he was headed to Washington. Bowers won the Greater Grand Rapids Spelling Bee setting him up for a spot on stage at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June, an achievement made possible with support found at school

When Angel moved from Puerto Rico to Michigan, he had no idea what opportunities awaited him. After entering Kent ISD’s Empower U program at Goodwill Industries his entry into meaningful employment and increased independence began

Lessons in agriscience and farming grew into a hydroponic and microgreen business for a busy Lowell High School senior with the help of his teacher and FFA advisor

Just a year ago, Luz Hernandez was in a coma, intubated and clinging to life. As her recovery from COVID began in 2022, she vowed to return to school to continue learning English after losing some of her language skills to her bout with deadly virus

Joel Perez hasn’t had a typical high school experience until now. As he navigates advanced placement classes, football practice and his role as a student leader, he’s focusing on a future in front of the classroom

Madi Storey is intent on giving back. Inspired by others who aspire to hold office, defend the disadvantaged and assume roles in improving lives, she is learning to lead

As a fifth grader, Bishop Cobbs has big dreams of being a professional athlete, but after a summer coding class, he’s adding video game designer to his ambitions

Jordan Holliday is on track to become a police officer with some training and an internship under his belt before he finishes high school

Elyzabeth Martinez has completed the Kent Career Tech Center EMT Program and is now a Life EMS Ambulance Responder

Layla Strong knows her way around an automobile from balancing tires to doing an all-point maintenance check to making sure the exterior is show-room ready. And her dream is to do even more.

Emine Gulbahar is an English as a Second Language student and part of a new program. Hollin De La Cruz is a program navigator for Kent ISD Adult Education. Emine and Hollin are our guests on this edition of Your Dream is Our Dream.

Milo Wilder, 3rd-grade scholar at Gladiola Elementary School in Wyoming, shares his dream on today's Your Dream is Our Dream podcast. Principal Cheryl Corpus also joins the conversation with host Joy Walczak.