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CommunicatorThe

A publication of the Grandville Public Schools Board of Education

www.gpsbulldogs.org | MAY 2015

Physics teacher Mike Evele recalls that David Lunderberg, his former student from the GHS Class of 2013, was an amazing problem solver. “At the time, I thought he was among the top ten brightest students I had in my career,” says Evele. “He could assimilate new ideas and difficult concepts, and then immediately ask questions that demonstrated deep understanding. With this talent also came a very nice, easy to talk to, young man.”

Lunderberg is now completing his sophomore year at Hope College, and his abilities have reaped national recognition: He was named a 2015 Goldwater Scholar. Awarded to 260 promising young scientists and mathematicians this year, the Goldwater Scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious scholarships in the nation. Recent Goldwater Scholars have gone on to garner Rhodes Scholarships, Marshall Awards and Churchill Scholarships.

Detecting Cancer-Causing AgentsThe gifted young scientist is a chemistry major and a member of Hope’s nuclear group. Through support from the Beckman Foundation, the college is backing Lunderberg so that he can carry out his research full-time during summers, too. His career goal is to earn a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and teach at the university level. For the past 18 months, he has been working in Dr. Graham Peaslee’s laboratory conducting research in interdisciplinary environmental chemistry.

Lunderberg explains, “We are developing a new analytical method for the detection of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemical compounds that are suspected carcinogens. The technique uses a particle accelerator to excite target samples. The targets then release characteristic electromagnetic radiation that can be used to quantify the fluorine concentration. After describing the research project and my career goals in detail, I was nominated for the scholarship by Hope College.”

Renaissance ManLunderberg chose scientific research as a career because it combines intellectual curiosity, critical analysis, and service to the broader community into one dynamic career. But his interests go beyond the scientific realm – he aspires to obtain a well-rounded education.

Alumnus Wins Prominent Award for Promise in Science“I chose to attend Hope College because I valued a liberal arts education after my experience at Grandville. The American history classes taught by Mr. VanderWall and the physics classes taught by Mr. Evele are excellent examples of how Grandville cultivates intellectual curiosity and critical analysis in students. These are important attributes that reach far beyond the classroom,” says Lunderberg. “Understanding the broader impact and context of one’s work and communicating it to others is integral to work as a scientist.”

Select Events in MayPlease join us and cheer on our talented students. For a full listing of events, visit the calendar on the home page of gpsbulldogs.org.

• May 7 at 7 p.m. GHS Choir Revue Show ($5 for adults; $4 for students)• May 8 at 7 p.m. GHS Choir Revue Show (see ticket prices above)• May 8 at 7 p.m. GMS Musical, “Legally Blonde JR.” ($5 adults; $2.50 seniors & children; $10 for family of two adults & two children)• May 9 at 1 p.m. GMS Musical, “Legally Blonde JR.” (see ticket prices above)• May 9 at 7 p.m. GHS AV Video “Vinny” Awards• May 11 at 8 p.m. GHS Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra Concert• May 13 at 8 p.m. GHS Encore Concert & Locks of Love Night• May 15 at 7-10 p.m. Canal Street Café Jazz Night at GHS (GMS & GHS jazz bands perform. Dessert and beverage provided; suggested $5 donation.)• May 18 at 8 p.m. 8th grade band concert salutes family in the military; held at GHS.• May 21 at 8 p.m. GHS Chamber and Concert Orchestra

David Lunderberg

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From the Superintendent

Upon returning from spring break, students at various grade levels began taking the state’s new online standardized assessment, M-STEP, that is replacing the former MEAP tests. Our students have responded wonderfully, with teachers reporting that they feel like their students have been prepared for the new tests. While the online format has caused a few initial frustrations with technical glitches, each day of testing has gone a bit smoother than the day before. We are grateful that our students have risen to the occasion, and we salute our staff for getting students ready for this new format. We look forward to receiving the results, which are expected after the school year concludes.

If you have visited one of our schools lately, chances are you have observed the flurry of construction activity taking place. Work continues on the fitness center, locker rooms, and lobby addition on the east side of the high school, which is slated to be completed before students return next school year. Construction on the new woodshop and industrial technology wing is also underway on the west side of the high school, which is also scheduled to be done when students return in the fall. The new auditorium lobby renovations, secure entry, and asphalt work in the east parking lot (student parking) will commence when the school year concludes.

Construction for the additions and renovations at Cummings and West have also launched. The classrooms at these schools will all receive new energy efficient heating systems, along with the replacement of ceiling tile, carpet, cabinetry, and electrical upgrades. The restrooms will also be brought up to current code, and the buildings will receive new kitchens. At West, new corridors will be constructed (including new lockers), eliminating the “open classrooms.” At Cummings, four new classrooms will be added along with a new gymnasium. The existing gymnasium will be converted into a multipurpose room.

Construction will also soon begin at Grandville Middle School. Improvements involve new music rooms at the back of the building, and a new cafeteria and kitchen at the front of the building in the area now occupied by music classrooms. The work at the middle school is extensive, and will include large group project rooms in the area now serving as the cafeteria, a new secure entry and office area, along with renovated restrooms throughout the facility, and renovated science classrooms. The main entry will temporarily move to the south end of the facility when we start the school year, but more details will be shared on that plan later.

Century Park will also see work this summer. The facility will be renovated to include a new secure entry area, similar to our other elementary facilities completed last summer. This will necessitate moving the main entry from its current location northward approximately 30 yards.

We remain very grateful to our community for funding these improvements, made possible with the passage of the bond proposal in May 2013. We recently sold/issued the second series of bonds at a much better rate that was used in our original projections back in January 2013 when we put the bond proposal on the ballot. As a result, we will have more dollars available for construction and less going toward interest payments than originally forecasted.

We also have news to share regarding future administrative changes. Theresa Waterbury, principal of Grandville Middle School, has announced her retirement effective the conclusion of the school year. Mrs. Waterbury has provided dedicated service to the students of Grandville for 19 years, and her leadership will be greatly missed. The assistant principal of Grandville Middle School, Don Atkinson, has also announced his retirement, and his contributions will be missed as well.

As you may have also heard or read, I have recently accepted the position as superintendent of Kent Intermediate School District. Kent ISD provides administrative and instructional services for the 20 local school districts of Kent County, which includes Grandville. Words cannot begin to express the gratitude I feel for the privilege of serving as superintendent of this amazing school district these past twelve years. I have thoroughly enjoyed the relationships that I’ve been fortunate to experience during my time here – with board members, staff, parents of students attending our schools, and community members. I greatly appreciate the incredible community support provided to our school district during my watch. Although I am very excited over the new opportunity that awaits me at Kent Intermediate School District, I will truly miss the people that make Grandville Public Schools so special.

The Board of Education has launched the search process for a new superintendent. If all goes as planned, the timeline for naming the next superintendent calls for a June 1 decision. I am confident that Grandville will deservedly attract some excellent candidates applying for the job.

My best wishes for a safe and enjoyable spring season as we head down the homestretch toward the finish of the 2014-15 school year!

Ron CaniffSuperintendent

Cong ratu lat ions to RoboDawg Teams 216 and 244 for qualifying for the world championship!

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Teaching Partners Create Video LessonsKendra Kopec and Erin Hall, team teachers at Century Park, have begun “flipping” their instruction of a phonics program, Words Their Way, using an app called Educreations. The teaching duo records videos for group lessons; the children then watch and follow along with the video before completing their word sorts as a group. The students can also refer back to these video lessons for help as they independently practice sorting their words. This app is just one of a number of new technology tools that is reshaping the delivery of instruction and providing independence and individualized education for students.

Technology in Art Room Helps Kindergartner Win National ContestThanks to the b o n d p a s s a g e t h a t a l l o w e d students to have a 1:1 technology ratio, elementary art teacher Nick L e o n a r d h a s been able to “flip” h i s c la s s room. “ F l i p p i n g a classroom entails reversing the roles of introducing new material and practicing new concepts via homework,” says Leonard. “In a flipped classroom, students can learn at their own pace and pause and re-watch lectures that a teacher has prerecorded. Students are being introduced to new material prior to arriving to class. This structure allows children to spend their entire art class period actually producing art or asking questions.”

To help students in their art adventures, Leonard created his own website packed with student instructions and material as well as information on art contests. K-6 students are required to document their artwork on their iPads and Chromebooks. Their artwork is then posted to their accounts on Artsonia, an online art gallery designed to be used by schools. Students are encouraged to create artwork outside of school and submit it to Artsonia. Emma, a kindergartner at Cummings Elementary, created a snowflake artwork on her own initiative. Emma was selected by Artsonia to run for Artist of the Week in her age group, and her snowflake piece collected the most votes. She earned first place in her division. Her artistic endeavors were rewarded with a customized plaque and a $50 certificate for art supplies.

To learn more about a flipped classroom and see student artwork, check out Mr. L’s online art room at mrlartroom.weebly.com or scan the QR Code with your smartphone or tablet.

Special OlympicsOver the winter, many middle school students involved in the Peer 2 Peer program participated in Unified Special Olympics Basketball. Special Olympics Unified Sports joins people with and without disabilities on the same team. “When competing together, a sense of inclusion and an understanding of individual differences quickly develop,” says teacher and Special Olympics coach Wendy Harkema. In March, GMS held a basketball tournament involving several area schools. The students were an inspiration to many as they played in front of a cheering crowd of classmates, staff and family.

Unsung HeroesSeniors Take Initiative to Help Other Teens

Krystal Owens and Lauren Rozenboom traveled last year to Bolivia to bring hygiene supplies to needy children. To make a difference closer to home, they asked their classmates at GHS to bring in toothbrushes, deodorant and other personal care products to help homeless teens in Grand Rapids.

Their gumption paid off: Their peers brought in 3000 items. The supplies will all go to HQ, a homeless drop-in center in Grand Rapids. But Owens and Rozenboom aren’t done yet. They plan to collect shirts and pants next, because many of HQ’s clients only have one outfit. To learn more about the needs of runaway and homeless youth and how you can help, visit hqgr.org.

Krystal and Lauren

This Helping Hands display listed items needed during the drive.

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IMAGE Gifted Student ProgramWhat is the IMAGE Program?The IMAGE (Identified Member of Academically Gifted Education) program is a pull-out program for academically talented students in grades 3-6. IMAGE serves students who live in Grandville or attend a public or private school in the Grandville school district. Students in the program work on projects that incorporate higher level thinking, technology and research skills. The program is intended to serve the needs of academically gifted students by offering them an opportunity to study in their areas of interest, as well as to interact with other students of similar interests and abilities. IMAGE will be housed at South Elementary for the 2015-16 school year.

How Does a Student Qualify for the Program?IMAGE identification is based on the test scores from nationally normed standardized ability and achievement tests. Parents of second-grade students will be notified during the first week of June, if their student has qualified based on their MAP achievement testing. Students in grades 3-5 may be nominated for additional ability testing. For more information about nomination forms and testing for IMAGE, go to gpsbulldogs.org -> Parents -> IMAGE or call teacher Ashley Capps at 254-6803.

IMAGE Medieval BanquetIMAGE (Identified Members of Academically Gifted Education) students from across the district meet weekly to work on challenging units. Third graders recently studied medieval times. This unit combined social studies and writing skills. Students learned about the feudal system and compared the responsibilities of medieval citizens with modern Americans. Each week, they also wrote a journal entry to explain their medieval character ’s ever yday l i fe . This culminated in a banquet on the last day of the unit. Students dressed in period costumes, sampled food, played chess, and tried archery.

Brainstormers!Hands shot in the air like fireworks as students hoped they’d be called on by the performers from Brainstormers, an improv comedy group from Royal Oak, Michigan. Thanks to funding from the Michigan Humanities Council, West Elementary was able to welcome one of the most highly recommended assembly programs in the state. Professional actor-educators demonstrated a simple method for creating stories and helped children rediscover the joy of writing.

Bright Child 1. Knows the answer.2. Is interested.3. Has good ideas.4. Works hard. 5. Answers the questions.6. Top group. 7. Listens with interest.8. Learns with ease. 9. Needs 5-6 repetitions for mastery. 10. Understands ideas.11. Enjoys peers.12. Grasps the meaning.13. Is receptive. 14. Copies accurately. 15. Technician. 16. Good memorizer. 17. Is pleased with own learning. 18. Is alert.

Gifted Learner1. Asks the questions.2. Is highly curious.3. Has wild, silly ideas.4. Plays around, yet tests well.5. Discusses in detail; elaborates.6. Beyond the group.7. Shows strong feelings & opinions.8. Already knows.9. Needs only 1-2 repetitions for mastery.10. Constructs abstractions.11. Prefers adults.12. Draws inferences.13. Is intense.14. Creates new designs.15. Inventor.16. Good guesser.17. Is self-critical.18. Is keenly observant.

How Do I Know If my Child Is a Gifted Learner and Should Be Nominated?There is a difference between a bright child and a gifted learner. (Source: Janice Szabos)

Third graders at South did their part to make the world a better place by donating 200 supper sacks to the local #KFBGoOrange campaign. Kids’ Food Basket helps ensure that lunch is not the last meal of the day for 6,000 children at 36 schools in Grand Rapids and Muskegon.

Battle of the BooksSponsored by the Grandville branch of the KDL, Battle of the Books is an action-packed, buzzer-style book trivia contest for children in grades 5–8. Before the big tournament day in March, students formed their own teams and read six pre-selected books. Shown here is the GMS team that took the runner-up spot, the “Backstreet Bobs.” Twenty-eight teams from schools in the area participated. All of the young contestants are to be commended, as they made the choice to take part in this non-compulsory endeavor that requires extensive reading, beyond what is required in the classroom.

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Hearing-Impaired Teacher Shares Communication TipsSarah Pepper’s parents taught her self-advocacy, and now the GHS teacher models how to confidently approach challenging situations to her students. Diagnosed with profound-to-severe hearing loss at 21 months old, Pepper went on to excel academically and athletically in high school and at Aquinas College. She relies heavily on lip-reading and wears hearing aids.

Pepper describes her students and colleagues as “protective, accommodating and supportive,” and she enjoys teaching them how they can help enhance her understanding. Her top three tips for communicating effectively with hearing-impaired individuals are:

• Keep your face visible for lip-reading• Do not “over-enunciate” your words while talking• Be patient

Leveraging her strong connection with students who have disabilities, the special education teacher encourages them to use their strengths to pursue their goals. “I know what it’s like to struggle every day and have that constant reminder of facing roadblocks. Accepting my hearing impairment has been liberating because then the problems that I face on a daily basis have very little impact on me. In other words, it no longer becomes a problem in my life,” says Pepper. “I hope to instill that belief in my students.”

Pepper also glows with positivity. Her colleague, teacher Laura Carrick, describes her best: “Sarah is the most positive and optimistic person I know. She shows her students every day that having a disability doesn’t have to make one helpless or hopeless; it can provide one with extra empathy, give him or her GRIT, and serve as a strong motivator for success.”

Sarah Pepper and family

A Random Act of KindnessOn Friday morning, February 27, as students hurried out of the cold and into Grandville High School, they were greeted with a warm message. The be nice. group hosted Grandville High School’s first ever “ARK Day” (A Random act of Kindness Day), in which members of the group encouraged students at GHS to go out of their way to make the school a more positive place by doing little things for one another. As students entered Grandville High School on ARK Day, they were each given a slip of paper with a task to complete, such as “Hold the door for a stranger” or “Ask someone new to sit with you at lunch.” The results were encouraging, and the atmosphere at GHS was one of positivity and optimism.

This is just one of many activities that Grandville High School’s be nice. group has coordinated. Thanks to funds from the Grandville Education Foundation, students who were new to the district were given a welcome package, which included a shirt, lanyard and other goodies. In addition, several of the group’s members have traveled to elementary schools to teach be nice. lessons and encourage students to be positive citizens in their community. This has been a huge success, and the high school members have loved interacting with the younger students. Students from the group have also done little things, like post encouraging notes on lockers before final exams and create videos to promote the be nice. message. The hope is to start a trend in which students are “being nice” to others every day and treating their peers as they would want to be treated.

Scholarships Carry On Special LegaciesOne year after their tragic deaths, GHS students Roman Aguilar-Emmons, Alyssa Arends and Ryan Fischer are each being honored through scholarships especially for Grandville students. Each award represents a trait unique to them and perpetuates their special legacies.

Learn Grow Lead, the Alyssa Arends GPS Community Education Scholarship Alyssa was a very active teenager and loved to try new things. She enjoyed activities through Community Education, and this award will allow as many children as possible to “Learn Grow Lead” as Alyssa did. Before the end of the 2014-15 school year, ten $50 scholarships for Community Education activities will be awarded to students who show financial need. The funds can be used for summer programs. Contact the Community Ed office at 254-6553 for an application.

The Roman Scholarship Roman was a quiet leader with a sharp sense of humor. As a criminal justice student at Kent Career Technical Center, his lifelong ambition was to become a police officer. The Roman Scholarship is dedicated to his spirit and intended to help other students pursue their career goals after high school. The application deadline was in April and scholarships will be awarded soon to two GHS seniors. Contact the guidance office to learn more.

Ryan Fischer Bulldog Legacy Scholarship Ryan was an athlete and had been accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The purpose of this scholarship is to remember and honor the life of Ryan and to encourage and recognize a deserving GHS athlete, male or female. The application deadline was in April and the first scholarship will be awarded soon. Visit RyanFischer.org for more information.

Science OlympiadDespite tough competition at the regional contest, both our middle and high school Science Olympiad teams qualified for state. Congratulations to both teams!

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Visit KDL!Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and take in all that the season has to offer, but it’s also a time when learning loss can occur. It’s called the summer slide, and it happens when children do not keep reading and exercising their brains over the long lazy days of summer. KDL has the perfect antidote to the summer slide. When you tap into our free resources and programs, everyone in the family benefits and kids start school ready to learn.

KDL’s summer program is for ALL ages and starts June 1. Visit any KDL branch—you’ll be amazed at the many opportunities to learn, play and grow. The whole family can sign up to meet a reading goal, attend fun summer programs and earn awesome rewards for achieving their goal.

To Market TuesdaysEnjoy the Grandville Farmer’s Market and these special outdoor Market programs.

July 7 Hooper Heroes 10:30 a.m.July 14 The Jibber Jams - concert 10:30 a.m.July 21 Touch-A-Truck 10:30 a.m.July 28 Critter Barn 10:30 a.m.

School Age Programs - Ages 6 & upJune 16 Jim Merills: Magic Workshop 1 p.m.June 23 Amazing Backyard animals 1 p.m.June 30 DIY Spa 1 p.m.

Monday evenings are Ruff Reader nights from June 15 to August 3.

Outdoor Summer Family Night SeriesThursday evenings at 7 p.m. at the library amphitheater

June 18 Unos, Dos, Tres, With Andres! - bilingual musica June 25 Tom Plunkard Magic: To the Rescue July 9 Ventriloquist, Richard PaulJuly 16 Drummunity- participatory drum circle July 23 Pet Show - all pets must be pre-registeredJuly 30 Talent Show- all acts must be pre-registered.

The Grandville branch of the Kent District Library is located at 4055 Maple SW. Phone: 784-2007. www.kdl.orgRegistration is required for most library programs.

Former Lions QB Bounces Back Despite DepressionNFL veteran Eric Hipple flourished on the field; he says that everything flowed for him during football games. But off the field, life has been a struggle. Beginning in college, he put up a veneer to hide his low mood. For years, he pretended everything was okay. And then, in 2000, he could no longer pretend: His teen son, Jeff, took his own life because he, too, had suffered from depression. After he lost Jeff, Hipple made it his mission to learn everything he could about depression. He has since trained in suicide prevention and is now the outreach coordinator for the U-M Comprehensive Depression Center.

In March, the Mental Health Foundation brought the former Lions quarterback to Grandville Middle School to talk to students about mental illness, bullying and suicide prevention. In a candid speech, Hipple and his 22-year-old daughter, Tarah, talked about the loss of Jeff to suicide and the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression. By talking openly about their own struggles with depression, the father and daughter hope to reduce the stigma associated with it.

Tarah Hipple, GPS Board Member & MHF Executive Director Christy Buck, and Eric Hipple

Tie ClubM e e t t h i r d - g r a d e r Brayden Yacks, founder of the T ie Club at Cummings Elementary. Last fall, he began wearing ties and the trend caught on. Principal Martini (pictured here) regularly takes photos with all the dapper students and posts them, including girls with scarves or ties.

Grandville Community ScholarshipThis year, the Grandville-Jenison Chamber of Commerce awarded the Grandville Community Scholarship to Tyler Webb and Jacob Garbarino. Webb will attend Hope College this fall and Garbarino will attend Northwestern University.

Jacob Garbarino Tyler Webb

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Community Ed: Learn and Connect!Address: 3843 Prairie SW Office hours: weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Phone: 254-6553Website: gpsbulldogs.org –> Community EducationRegister for classes: recpro.grandville.k12.mi.us

Summer Recreation: Supervised PlaygroundIn conjunction with the City of Grandville, Community Education will offer free supervised playgrounds, supervised gym time, and arts & crafts at South Elementary and East Elementary from June 15 to July 31. The playgrounds will be closed the week of June 29 to July 3. Weekly field trips are available for a small fee. Call for a registration form or stop by the Community Ed office to pick one up.

Summer Classes and CampsThis summer, Community Education will offer many activities, including swimming lessons, tennis lessons, sports camps, enrichment classes, theater classes and more. New classes this summer include Mystery Magical Art Tour Camp; Fun with Modge Podge; Kitchen Chemistry, which involves both cooking and science; Cupcake Bouquet; Clash of Bricks, which is based on the popular Clash of the Clans game using LEGO® components; and a Star Wars Inspired Camp that uses LEGO® bricks, battery packs and motors. Registration for classes and camps begins May 4.

City NotesParade Volunteers Still Needed The City of Grandville’s Parks and Recreation Board needs your help. In order to lift the ban on float entries passing out candy, the Board needs 200 volunteers to line the Fourth of July parade route and help keep families safely on the curb during the parade. The parade entries have been notified that they must pass out goodies at the curb rather than throw them. Members of the public can sign up to volunteer at grandvilleparade@gmail.com.

Wedgwood ParkThe Wedgwood Park soccer/football field will be closed for repair from May 2015 through spring 2016.

The Grandville Athletic Boosterspresents theNED HOWE MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING

Saturday, June 20, 2015 The Pines Golf Course5050 Byron Center Ave.

Registration at 8 a.m. Shotgun Start at 9 a.m.

Cost includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental and a catered dinner.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.Grandville Athletic Boosters is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The Grandville Athletic Boosters provide support for ALL athletes and athletic programs at Grandville High School and Grandville Middle School. This support is possible through fundraising events such as the golf outing.

For more information on this event, visit the Grandville Athletic Boosters web page under the Athletics tab at gpsbulldogs.org.

Grandville Education FoundationThe 2015 Taste of Grandville was enjoyed by 450 attendees. Special thanks to the participating restaurants and businesses, GEF Board and volunteers who made this event a success. The ongoing support of the community makes it possible for the GEF to fund a variety of meaningful pilot programs and grants throughout the district. Learn more about this organization at GrandvilleEducationFoundation.org.

Athletic AccoladesOur winter athletes achieved epic success at both the team and individual level. The competitive cheer team took the Division 1 state crown, the hockey team won the state runner-up title, the wrestling team won districts, and the bowling team was named conference champion.

All-Conference AthletesCompetitive Cheer: Jasmine Martinez, Trisha Merriman, Allison Myers, Katie Roberts, Sam Salliotte, Abby WarsenBoys Swim/Dive: Brock Star, Ben Mayer, Ryan BabiarzGirls Basketball: Morgan CarterWrestling: Josh Brower, Kam Bush, Jeremy Merryweather, Eppe SaarenheimoBoys Bowling: Chase Benites, Josh KuklaHockey: Thomas Breazeale, Mitch Parsons, Brandon Rozema, Gianni Vitali, Myles MaddenGymnastics: Kira Fischer

Congratulations to Allie Utting, winner of the MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award.

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Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDGrand Rapids, MI

Permit No. 1

Grandville Public Schools3839 Prairie Street SWGrandville, Michigan 49418

Newsletter NotesThis newsletter is printed on paper comprised of 70 – 80% eucalyptus pulp content and is manufactured as elementary chlorine free. Eucalyptus is a highly renewable wood source and the paper is completely recyclable. In addition, all inks used in printing are vegetable

based.

The Communicator is a bimonthly newsletter.

Suggestions for stories are welcome.

Email: news@gpsbulldogs.org

“Reel” SuccessGHS alum Madeline Zeppa has an exciting résumé for a 22-year-old. Since she graduated from Central Michigan University, she’s been living her dream of working in video production at CBS in Studio City, CA.

She recently spent a day with Al Pacino. Though Zeppa doesn’t typically take photos with stars while on the job, she had to make an exception for one of the greatest living actors. Her family is Italian and they love “The Godfather.” She says the Oscar winner is passionate about his projects, and in person, he is both humble and personable. One moment, he provided her with restaurant suggestions. The next, he downplayed and modestly deprecated his acting ability and his status as a Hollywood legend.

The Tapefather How did Zeppa break into the business so quickly? The 2010 graduate insists that she owes her success to her GHS AV teacher, Terry Blevins, whom she calls “The Tapefather.” Zeppa explains that she was years ahead of her peers in her college’s broadcasting and cinema program because Mr. Blevins had prepared her so well; he provided the right equipment, technology and instruction in filming and editing. She notes that other GHS AV alumni are thriving, too, pointing out that ‘08 grad Nels Carlson is the post-production coordinator for “The Walking Dead.”

While attending CMU, Zeppa landed primo internships in New York and Los Angeles. She would not have her dream career now if she hadn’t secured such coveted positions. And Zeppa stresses that she wouldn’t have obtained those internships if it wasn’t for Mr. Blevins’ accelerated, cutting-edge program. She explains that he was personally invested in his students’ success, adding, “He treated us like adults and gave us freedom to be creative.”

Like Pacino, both Blevins and Zeppa are passionate about their work. As chaotic as her job is, the burgeoning young producer cannot imagine doing anything else. And when the AV teacher reflects on his former student’s career trajectory, he is “confident that she will go on to do even bigger and better things.”