OHHS 1974 Graduate Served in the 82nd Airborne Division
As Veteran’s Day approaches, we’d like to honor our GRPS Alumni veterans who served in the armed forces, sacrificing their time and risking lives to protect the freedoms we hold dear. We recently spoke with Reverend Charles Hudson III, B.B.S., M.Div, who is a graduate of Ottawa Hills High School 1974 about his life. He said that he’s “just a country boy trying to make it in the big city” and you have to start at the beginning.
Chris Dudley, author of Lil Boogaloo Shrimp and the Clean Sweep
Chris Dudley, born and raised in Grand Rapids, recalls how attending Madison Park Elementary (now Gerald R. Ford Academic Center), shaped him into an award-winning artist and author. His latest work is the Childrens’ book Lil Boogaloo Shrimp and the Clean Sweep.
Read moreTawngela Reynolds, OHHS class of 2000, author of Change is Okay
For March Reading month, we are celebrating the joy of reading by highlighting GRPS Alum who are authors of children’s books. Tawngela Reynolds was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating from Ottawa Hills High School class of 2000. Her book Change is Okay was written after she saw a need to address the concerns children had regarding COVID.
“Sometimes you have to make the best of change,” said Reynolds. “No one is immune to change, but we all have to face it. She encourages you to join Tiana, the character in this book, as she learns that even though some things have changed during the pandemic, she can still have fun.
Read moreTawana Dudley, OHHS class of 1996, author of Name Game A to Z
As a young mom of three children, Tawana Dudley wanted to make learning fun for her kids. Going to the library was part of their weekly routine. She often noticed there were few books that highlighted children of color and their unique names. When a child see similarities between them and characters in their story, it makes a difference. She wrote her book Name Game A to Z, to be fun, engaging resource that she wished she had when her kids were little.
As a 1996 graduate of Ottawa Hills High School,
Read moreMarshall Purnell OHHS Graduate Remembers MLK Day
Anita Gilleo, World Citizen, Securing Mathias Alten’s Legacy at Home
By Anita Wallgren, Hillcrest Elementary Class of 1966, Central High School Class of 1972
editor note: Anita Gilleo passed away on July 28, 2023 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
As I made plans to visit Grand Rapids for my 50th class reunion, I decided to reach out to a woman who had been part of an indelible childhood memory: Anita Gilleo. “I’m 198 years old,” she said on the phone when I called. I smiled and thought, “she means 98 - but she’s sharp as a tack” as we made plans to meet.
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