The Bright Side
December 23, 2022
To view her obituary and sign the guestbook, click here.
Our Mission.
At the Lansing Promise, we believe in the inherent worth of every young person in this city and we operate accordingly, making strategic investments and providing post-secondary scholarship dollars to ensure that success is within reach for every student in Lansing - current and future.
By forming strategic partnerships with leaders in the nonprofit, business, political, and faith-based sectors, and working with families, educators, and students, we help to ensure that our young people have the tools, resources, and support necessary to succeed.
Scholarships.
The Lansing Promise operates a place-based "Lansing Promise Scholarship" for young people across the city. From its inception, this scholarship was designed to fundamentally change the way young people see their future and to open the door for all students to dream, to grow, and to see themselves as successful beyond high school. It starts with a simple concept — reducing financial barriers to the attainment of post-secondary education.
The Lansing Promise Scholarship:
When a student lives, attends school from 9-12th grades, and graduates within the boundaries of the Lansing School District, be it from a public, private, home, charter, online, or GED program, they are a potential Promise Scholar. Upon acceptance, each scholar is eligible to receive gap-filling tuition assistance at Lansing Community College (which as of Fall 2022 includes all tuition, course fees, and books necessary) to complete their Associate's Degree.
Should a scholar wish to earn their Bachelor’s Degree, they may choose to receive an award of up to $10,000 toward their first two years at Michigan State University, Olivet College, or Davenport University. A scholar may also decide to use their support to become certified in a skilled or professional trade through a local Promise-approved trades program.
As our presence and impact have strengthened, the Promise has become a trusted partner in the administration of a number of additional scholarships benefiting Lansing students. In addition to the Lansing School District, we have the privilege of partnering with the Joe D. Pentecost Foundation, the Capital Region Community Foundation, the McLaren Foundation, and the Lansing Education Advancement Foundation.
The Lansing Promise Is Working.
During the 2021-22 school year, our scholar numbers climbed back up to pre-pandemic levels with the program accepting more than 360 new Promise Scholars! These newly-accepted scholars represent more than 60% of Lansing’s graduating class that applied and were accepted into the Lansing Promise in the fall of 2022. This is a simple and profound statement that Lansing’s young people are beginning to see success after high school as a reality and a “new normal.”
Now we know that not all of our young people will make it to college this fall. Some will go straight to work, and others will go to additional schools outside of the Promise program. The point in all of this is to build a new normal where anyone who wants to build their career through education has the opportunity to do so.
As our 11th cohort of scholars begins to take courses at Lansing Community College, Michigan State University, Olivet College, and Davenport University this fall, we can report the following accomplishments:
- More than 1,700 Promise Scholars have set foot on MSU, LCC, Olivet, or Davenport's campus.
- Over 60,000 credits (and counting!) have been earned by our Promise Scholars.
- 600+ Promise Scholars have earned a degree or certificate, or have successfully transitioned to a 4-year program.
- At more than 86%, we have the NATIONAL leading persistence rate for our freshman across the board from fall to spring.
- Since the fall of 2013, we have had a 98% freshman retention rate at Michigan State University. This leads even the general population at MSU.
- $5 Million has been invested directly into the futures of Lansing’s students through the Promise scholarship program.
- We have leveraged millions of additional dollars in state and federal aid on behalf of Lansing’s young people.
Our Vision.
At the Lansing Promise, we imagine, no, we claim a community where every young person has the opportunity to dream, the ability to thrive, and the love, support, and investment needed to build a brighter future. For themselves, their families, and their community.
If you are a parent, grandparent, or family member of a Lansing School District student and you live in the Lansing School District boundaries, know that there is more to come for your babies.
Game on.
Sincerely,
Justin M. Sheehan
Executive Director, Lansing Promise
Olivet College Announces ADVANTAGE Scholarship Program
J.W. Sexton High School hosted a recent Olivet College press conference. Olivet President Steven M. Corey was joined by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as he announced the college's ADVANTAGE Scholarship. This initiative will begin in the fall of 2023 to ensure Michigan students have access to a private, small college education without paying tuition or fees. Nine Lansing School District students have already enrolled to begin their college career at Olivet in the Fall of 2023.
“Since 1844 – day one of our founding – Olivet College has made a college education accessible to anyone regardless of gender, race or financial means,” Corey said. ”The Olivet College ADVANTAGE Scholarship is our pledge to the students of Michigan that we remain firmly rooted in our mission to make a private college education available to all. Olivet is grateful for the leadership of Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature for establishing the Michigan Achievement Scholarship (MAS), which provides eligible students with additional state financial aid to attend college. The MAS and Olivet College ADVANTAGE Scholarship put a college education within reach for deserving students who dream of a college education.”
“I am thrilled that Olivet’s Advantage Scholarship makes Olivet College tuition-free for Pell-eligible students who receive the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and a federal Pell Grant,” Governor Whitmer said. “Half of Olivet students are Pell-eligible, and this new scholarship makes Olivet tuition-free for half of their new student body. I urge colleges across Michigan to follow Olivet’s lead and find innovative ways to lower the cost of higher education by using our historic scholarships.”
The program aims to guarantee students, especially first-generation students and those from low-to-moderate-income families throughout Michigan, a quality, relationship-based college experience. "The Olivet College ADVANTAGE Scholarship will be life-changing for many Michigan students and their families,” Corey said. “An Olivet College education alters the trajectory of a person’s life. A four-year degree increases a person’s lifetime earnings and opens the door to countless career possibilities.”
Established in 1844, Olivet College is a liberal arts institution located in south-central Michigan. The College remains dedicated to its academic vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility by providing a quality higher education to all, regardless of gender, race or financial means. Olivet College is committed to each student’s personal, academic, and career success from enrollment to graduation. Olivet College graduates have the confidence to be more than they ever dreamed and the conscience to do good in the world around them.
Sexton Students Go to Dubai
Six Sexton High School students recently returned to Lansing after spending a week in Dubai. The trip, which was sponsored by Dr. Eric Thomas and his School Days Foundation, saw students arrive in Dubai on November 27 and stay through December 4. Tiffany Jefferson, Van Norman, Niko Quesada, Dominique Smith, Jeffrey Stych, and Macea Velasquez were chaperoned by Sexton Assistant Principal Jami Scott on the trip, which provided students with exposure to and cultural immersion with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and traditional Arab culture.
The group was able to participate in a variety of experiences that are only to be had in Dubai. They observed the Museum of The Future, an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic ideologies, services, and products, in wonderment, and got the view of a lifetime from the 125th floor of the world's tallest building the Burj Khalifa. They went to Dubai Safari Park where they had a falcon photo-op, went out in a Jeep for some Sand Dune Bashing, and even went for a ride, camel-back style. Amid seeing sights like the Dubai Mall, Dubai Frame, and the Sauk (market), students participated in journaling and were able to ask questions of natives and ex-pats alike, but a favorite for many was Aquaventure water park, which at over 42 acres is one of the best in the world for water slides.
Of course, what epic adventure is complete without some fireworks? It just so happened that they were in Dubai for its Independence Day (December 2), and were able to attend an evening boat cruise with FRONT ROW seats to the fireworks for the 51st UAE National Day.
Special thanks to Dr. Eric Thomas and his School Days Foundation for this incredible opportunity!
See more photos on the School Days Foundation Facebook page, and watch some reels on their Instagram page.
Sheridan Road 4th-Graders Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Sheridan Road STEM was visited by Ramona Henry, Native American Program Coordinator, and Elder Mary Lee, who shared Native American culture and history with Ms. Henderson's 4th-grade class as part of Native American Heritage Month. The students enjoyed frybread, a Native American staple food, as well as the story behind what frybread means culturally and historically by listening to a reading of the book "Frybread". In addition to frybread, students also enjoyed a fruit sauce called Wojapi, a native Cherokee recipe.
Miigwetch (Thank you in Anishinaabenowin) to our guests for visiting!
Opportunities for Growth Not Just for Students, but Parents Too!
The Lansing School District's Community Learning Center (CLC) offers a variety of classes and workshops to district families. A recent session taught by Marney Turner — parent coach, certified family life educator, and CLC coordinator — covered the importance of helping children get healthy amounts of sleep.
Turner’s goal in starting these workshops was to support Lansing School District parents and children outside of a student’s direct academic development. “Supporting families in their parenting journey has a direct positive impact on our students, not just at home, but also in school,” said Turner. “Students who are being supported outside of school are able to be more successful at home, in school, and in life.”
Workshops are offered by the CLC year-round to support families and students in a wide variety of topics including building self-worth, dealing with stress and anger, understanding feelings, and more. Adults and families can take advantage of these wonderful learning opportunities by signing up for upcoming workshops and classes on the CLC's webpage.
Willow's WATCH D.O.G.S. Program Making a Post-COVID Comeback
The Willow Elementary WATCH D.O.G.S. program or Dads of Great Students started as a way to try and have male figures be more involved in student lives in the academic space, a role that often is led by a mother in a family. Christopher Rollins who is a Student Support Specialist at Willow Elementary recently shared insight on the program and what WATCH D.O.G.S. tries to accomplish.
“It doesn’t need to be your dad,” said Rollins. “It can be any male mentor in your life. We want more men to come and show up to the building. What we find is that once that male figure is present and shows the student that someone else besides the mother cares about education and gets involved, they can change a young students’ life.”
The WATCH D.O.G.S program isn’t just limited to Willow Elementary. This national program is being adopted by many schools all over the country as a way to have both parents be equally involved in their students’ life.
“You can spend 30 minutes or even just 10 minutes to come in the building and walk around, peep your head into the classroom and say hello to your son or daughter and check in on them, and it’s that simple interaction that encourages students to not just do their best but to also know their parents or mentors care about them.”
The program recently hosted a “Doughnuts with Dads” event with a huge turnout of dads. Rollins along with principal Steven Lonzo hope future programs can evolve into a wider mentorship role where volunteer dads not only step in and help their kids, but also help other kids too, maybe students from families where dads are too busy to frequently visit schools.
Flu Vaccines Widely Available in the Greater Lansing Area Ahead of Holidays
Lansing School District Superintendent Benjamin Shuldiner recently received his flu vaccine at the health center located in J.W. Sexton High School because our community, not unlike the entire country, is experiencing higher-than-expected respiratory illnesses such as influenza (the "flu") and RSV. The flu and RSV may pose serious health challenges for many in our community including the elderly, infants, and those who are immunocompromised.
One of the best defenses against influenza is to get vaccinated. The flu vaccine is widely available at pharmacies and health centers around the greater Lansing area including Ingham County school-based health centers located in Eastern, Everett, and Sexton High Schools as well as Gardner, Pattengill, and Willow. There will also be a no-cost immunization event held at the Dr. Halik Center (located at 4200 Wainwright Ave.) on January 12, 2023, from 2-5:30 p.m.
Additional measures to prevent the spread of illness include good respiratory hygiene (cover your mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing, dispose of the tissue in the nearest receptacle and wash your hands afterward); maintaining air quality and ventilation; frequent hand washing; and staying home when you are not feeling well.
Unique Experiences Abound for Attwood New Tech Magnet Students
Attwood New Tech Magnet School is proud to offer unique experiences to every Lansing School District fourth through sixth-grader that walks through its doors! These experiences, which are often tied to the school's Project Based Learning (PBL) model, will prepare students for their future, equipping them with the skills and traits they need to be successful — no matter which pathway they decide to take!
Recently students in Mrs. Nealy's 7th-grade class focused on a Social Studies unit on Cave Art, exploring questions about what the art may have meant socioculturally. Students were asked to reflect on what they saw, and what they thought it might have meant to pre-historic peoples. The lesson offered students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the power of art in telling stories and communicating ideas, especially in a pre-written language world.
Meanwhile, Ms. Purdy, who in addition to being a teacher at Attwood is a certified yoga instructor, has been engaging her class in a short yoga session after lunch every day. "Oh, sweet, we're doing yoga today," exclaimed student Aaron Clay. The yoga sessions are all unique, and in the session pictured, they used a yoga video that incorporated some elements of the popular computer game Minecraft. "Movement has a place in learning. It helps them get some extra physical energy out and improves their learning focus, and they really look forward to the opportunity to participate!", said Ms. Purdy.
These are just a small sample of the unique opportunities available to students at Attwood New Tech Magnet School. To learn more about what Attwood has to offer, check them out on our website!