Author

Ava Devanney

Ava Devanney is an eighth-grader living in Holland and a contributor to The Lakeshore. In her free time, she enjoys skateboarding, making movies, and hanging out with her friends. She also is a ballerina and a gymnast. 

Ava Devanney's Latest Articles

Eighth-grader Hayden Bruce poses with a fire truck after she used her bilingual education to help at a crash scene.
Student’s Spanish skills at crash scene show value of a bilingual education

Eighth-grader Hayden Bruce “greatly aided our first responders” at the scene, noted Zeeland Township Deputy Fire Chief Josh West, praising the benefits of her bilingual education program.

Karinna Martinez, a junior at Holland High School, is busy volunteering for the LAUP Adelante program, the Holland Youth Advisory Council, and Women of Color Give.
Holland teen grows through community service

Karinna Martinez, a junior at Holland High School, is busy volunteering for the LAUP Adelante program, the Holland Youth Advisory Council, and Women of Color Give.

Holland's Reciprocal Language Partnership started in 2003 and has had more than 1,000 participants.
Language program helps build friendships and bridges cultural gaps

If you are interested in learning Spanish, orientation for the Reciprocal Language Partnership classes at Eagle's Wings Church will be on Aug. 22 and Aug. 29.

Ava Devanney with her exchange student, Montse Muralles at Windmill Island in Holland.
What caught my exchange student by surprise? snow

Ninth grader Ava Devanney writes about hosting an exchange student from Guatemala and the adventures they had, especially experiencing snow for the first time.

Greta Trevor
High School student launches bilingual tutoring program

Holland Christian senior Greta Trevor, a Spanish immersion student, started a free bilingual tutoring program at Herrick District Library after learning that Spanish-speaking students were struggling with getting help.   

Ava Devanney has used her Spanish skills when traveling to Latin American countries.
How my Spanish Immersion education is preparing me for the future

Eighth-grader Ava Devanney shares what’s like being in a Spanish Immersion program, and why she’s glad her parents put her on that track to be bilingual as a child. 

Teagan Keeler performs equestrian vaulting.
Eighth-grader who loves horses gets a kick out of equestrian vaulting

Zeeland resident Teagan Keeler performs dance, gymnastics, and acrobatics on a horse as part of an equestrian vaulting team that practices at AJS Farms in Holland.

In 2019, Cadets #4518 built an agility course for the dog park at Ottawa County Fairgrounds.
Beyond cookies: How Girl Scouts are ‘making the world a better place’

Girl Scout Ava Devanney reports on how troops like hers are making a difference throughout West Michigan, from park cleanups to making care packages for cancer patients.

Ava Devanney with her COVID-19 vaccination card.
Student’s survey reveals how young people feel about COVID-19 vaccine

Ava Devanney conducted a survey of a dozen friends to get an idea about how young people feel about the COVID-19 vaccine. The 12-year-old discovered how much parents influence those perspectives.

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