Alumni Spotlight

Why did your family choose Kennedy for your education?

My parents knew the quality of education at Kennedy would include both academic and practical skills that would be relevant to my future life and career. They felt the small school atmosphere would help me get more attention and interaction from teachers; they certainly did and had a significant impact on me.

What is your favorite Kennedy memory?

There are so many fond memories when I think of my time at Kennedy. My favorite was my senior year when our football team played our biggest rival, Howland, and my sister was a cheerleader for them. We ended up together on the front page of the Tribune! And of course, Kennedy won the game!

Did you have a teacher or class that was a major influence on you?

Father Petrunak; he was so hands on with our class. He took us to do good work outside of the school, he was at every one of our games and  you could just tell how much he cared about students. I thought he was incredibly relatable; funny, kind, thoughtful, and invested in us.

Post High School Education/Professional Experience:

My four years at Kennedy encouraged me to pursue a business degree at Kent State University. College was an easy transition for me because of the work ethic I learned at Kennedy. Kent helped me as well to build confidence and social skills.

What career did you choose and tell us a little bit about how you got there:

I have loved to dance since I was three years old. This would grow into dancing through my senior year of high school and then becoming a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Dance team during my college years. At 22 years old, I opened my own dance studio. In the early years, I started with just a few students chose to apply many of my learning experiences at Kennedy to my approach at the studio.  I wanted to use a holistic attitude to develop each student to their greatest potential. I have always loved kids and today God has blessed me with one of the largest, award winning students in the Mahoning Valley, I am so grateful.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

First, my family is my ultimate accomplishment. I am so proud of my son and his kind heart. And even though life has its ups and downs, I feel that I have been blessed with many accomplishments; I am also proud of the honor it has been to provide a solid dance education for my students. Beyond that, I am grateful for the opportunity to minister to the personal and financial needs of many children and families that attend my studio. The ability to achieve these things all circles back to my upbringing and time at Kennedy.

What is a specific piece of advice you would give to a Kennedy senior?

My advice to a Kennedy senior is that you have been equipped to succeed with the education you have received. Continue to learn and set goals that will send you into your dreams. Always be kind and generous to others and your rewards will be great.