Gentex engineer Elliot Busta volunteers weekly at the Holland Middle School greenhouse, teaching students about STEM.

Gentex engineer teaches STEM skills at student greenhouse

Elliot Busta volunteers once a week teaching Holland Middle School students about STEM, providing a positive role model, and leading harvesting tours. He says he learns as much from the students as he teaches them.

Jake Tebos, (left) wholesale grower of potting plants in Allendale, discusses issues unique to his niche in the marketplace with Secretary Perdue (right).
West Michigan farmers share concerns with USDA Secretary

Sonny Perdue hosted meetings with growers and other stakeholders in Ottawa and Kalamazoo counties. Those in attendance talked to and heard from the USDA chief about topics ranging from trade to invasive species.

Nelson Figueroa
U-M is next stop for Promise Scholar with a passion for the environment

Growing up in a single-parent home taught this 2020 Holland High School graduate independence and resilience. Nelson Figueroa believes those attributes will serve him well at U-M, where he plans to study environmental engineering.

Shanna Moore leads CrimFit programming.
CrimFit Nutrition Program brings exercise and nutrition education to thousands of Flint kids at home

As Flint kids begin online-only schooling, opportunities for physical exercise and nutrition education will be scarce. But a team of Crim Fitness Foundation staffers is working to address that by bringing the Crim’s Nutrition Program (CrimFit) out of the classroom and into families' homes. 

The 2020 Promise Scholar class includes 10 hard-working local students who now can realize their dream of a college education.
How 2020 class of Promise Scholarship recipients are pursuing their dreams

The Holland/Zeeland Promise is a renewable scholarship program aimed at giving students the financial boost they need to further their education. The program will allow these 10 hard-working Lakeshore students to attend college in the fall.

How Saugatuck built its community identity by preserving its natural assets

"A big sense of the community here is trying to keep a good hold on the natural environment and not have too much development."

Ciana Witherell identifies as non-binary, which is a spectrum of gender identities that are not exclusively feminine or masculine.
Moving beyond the gender binary

GVSU student Ciana Witherell explains why it’s time to stop seeing gender as black and white — or pink and blue. The lines of gender continue to blur, making it increasingly important to avoid assuming others’ gender and stop invalidating the identity of gender non-binary individuals, they say. 

Tammy Dockins has been in the health and fitness industry for more than 30 years.
How this personal trainer adapted to life in quarantine

Tammy Dockins has been interested in fitness for as long as she can remember. Though “not friendly with technology,” she found ways to make it work so she could help others during the pandemic.

Helen Paige, a parent partner in the pilot program.
State of Michigan and Detroit nonprofit team up to reduce child abuse through proactive support

A new pilot program identifies families at risk and pairs them with peer mentors and benefits navigators, getting the state more involved in addressing the root causes of child abuse.

Grand Haven author Melanie Hooyenga
Local author’s latest novel is flashback to simpler times: the summer of 2017

Grand Haven resident Melanie Hooyenga is an award-winning author who has published seven books. Her latest is a young adult contemporary romance set around the August 2017 “Great American Eclipse.” 

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