Ginn Academy Class of 2015

On Sunday, May 24th, 2015, Ginn Academy graduated its sixth class of young scholars. This year 55 of our 52 seniors graduated, with a rate of 94%. Thirty-three are now at a four year college, 13 are at junior/community colleges, five have entered the workforce/trade school, and three are in the military. As always, we are very, very proud of our students.

We'd like to share some photos from graduation (and rehearsal) and from our traditional end of year dinner which we call Dining In. At Dining In, we celebrate the boys' accomplishments with their families and each student stands on stage and talks for a short time about what he's learned in his four years of high school.

At the end of this post, you'll find a list of all of our graduates along with their next destination.

Ginn Academy seniors rehearse for their graduation ceremony

Ginn Academy caps and gowns ready for distribution

Dining In was held earlier in May at Ginn Academy and was an evening filled with pride for everyone involved.

Tables and chairs are set for our annual formal dinner for seniors, which is called Dining In

Ginn Academy seniors enter the gym singing the school song

Ginn Academy art teacher, Judy Rickel, made vases depicting each of the grade-level neckties for decoration

Class president and Valedictorian, Zacchaeus Knight, with Mrs. Ginn and Principal Petty

Thank you for supporting our school! We are happy to announce the Ginn Academy class of 2015:

Jacquese Adkins: West Morris Community College
Terry Barker: Ohio State University Mansfield
Domaris Bennett: University of Toledo
Torelle Cotledge: United States Army
Kenneth Davis: Ohio State University Mansfield
Tyler Davis: Wright State University
Will Davis-Hereford: Urbana University
Omar Dhyll: Electrician Apprenticeship
Isiah Dye: Cuyahoga Community College
Taylor Fultz: Shawnee State University
Victor Glenn: Central State University
Milen Golden: Ohio Dominican University
De'Jon Gordon: Ohio State University Mansfield
Duray Hall: Urbana University
Justice Hart: Coffeyville Junior College
Roy Hatchett: Notre Dame College
Tavon Holcomb: Cuyahoga Community College
Derrick Hudson: Ohio State University Mansfield
Leshon Humphrey: Garden City Junior College
Alexander Jackson: Cleveland State University
Kevin Jackson: Shawnee State University
Ray Jefferson: Bethune-Cookman University
Charles Johnson: Cuyahoga Community College
Sebastian Jenkins: Mount St. Joseph University
Daishawn Jones: Ohio State University Mansfield
Phillip Kirby: Shawnee State University
Zacchaeus Knight: United States Military Academy West Point
Christopher Lavette: Florida A&M University
Tyler Lee: Ohio State University Mansfield
Marquise Lewis: United States Marine Corps
Quyel Mack: Ohio State University Mansfield
Sam McKnight: Ohio University
Joshua Mitchell: Cuyahoga Community College
Kenyon Moon: Work Force
Maceo Nickelson: University of Toledo
Bernard O'Neal: University of Toledo
Shontez Orr: Cuyahoga Community College
Ken Patterson: Garden City Junior College
Desmen Perkins: Work Force
Jonathan Peters: Ohio State University Mansfield
DeAnte Phillips: Lock Haven University
Spencer Randle: Cuyahoga Community College
Blake Reynolds: Ohio State University Mansfield
Darrionte Stewart: Lourdes University
Trevon Story: University of Cincinnati
Frank Sumpter: University of Illinois
Tayler Sutton: Cuyahoga Community College
 D'Juan Tillie: United States Army
Marshawn Tucker: Work Force
DaQuan Turner: Work Force
Darius Webb: Ohio State University Mansfield
Delonte Willis: Shawnee State University
Chalied Worley: Urbana University
Anthony Young: Goucher College


Stay tuned for more great news as we work our way through the 2015-2016 school year!

Justin Hardee, Class of 2012 and Graduate of the University of Illinois

In May of 2012, Justin Hardee graduated third in his class from The Ginn Academy. In December of 2013, his beloved mother, Estella, passed away. In December of 2014, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in communications. He's twenty years old and is now well on his way to earning a master's degree in sports management. How did this happen? It took a lot of hard work, and a lot of people paying attention to where Justin was headed and guiding him along the right path.

As an eighth-grader choosing his high school, Justin knew what he wanted in his life: to be great, to be successful, and to get the good education that his parents had always insisted upon. His older cousin, Devonte Reid, was at Ginn Academy and liked it a lot. "I chose Ginn Academy because it was a free education and not too far away from home. I knew what my goals were and wanted to put myself in the best position to be successful," he says.

Justin Hardee and his father, Arthur, in the house where Justin grew up

Education was first and foremost growing up in Justin's home. His mother, Estella, worked at the telephone company for 28 years and his father, Arthur, is chief of police at Case Western Reserve University. "My mom didn't care too much about sports. She was always focused on my grades and was quick to say something if I wasn't doing well in a class," says Justin. Arthur Hardee agrees. "I knew he'd be a good football player, but the classroom is what's really important," he says. "He's been very blessed over the years and I'm sure his mom would be ecstatic."

Justin sent this photo of his mother, Estella, for this story

Justin's path, like anyone anywhere, could've led him to a different outcome. He was spending time with guys who didn't have the same goals as he did and could've gotten into some trouble if it weren't for his family and the friends who kept him going in the right direction. "My family instantly was on me when I was headed the wrong way," he recalls. "The group of guys I hang with now inspired me to do better, to be better. To be great."

V'Angelo Bentley, Shane Wynn, and Justin Hardee drove together in terrible weather from Illinois to Indiana to Canton, Ohio for the state championship football game in 2013 to support their Tarblooder brothers

Justin Hardee, now at the University of Illinois, gets a hug from Glenville football coach, James Fisher in 2013

The group of friends from high school still stays in touch constantly and they support each other in good times and bad. You can see them on Twitter and Instagram celebrating each other's successes and lifting each other up in harder times even though they're no longer in the same city.

Justin specifically mentions Sean Draper, currently at the Unversity of Iowa, as a significant influence on him and his friend Devan Bogard, at Ohio State. "He'd get mad at us if we were even close to doing anything stupid. Without him being on us, I don't know if we'd be in the position that we're in now," he explains.

At the beginning of his football career with Coach Ginn at Glenville, Justin knew he'd have to climb some mountains to achieve his goals. He ran track and worked hard on getting faster and stronger. He was accepted into  High Tech Academy, a CMSD post-secondary program at Cuyahoga Community College, and attended classes for half of each school day at the downtown campus. "I did hate it at one point," he says. "Everyone else got out early our senior year and I still had to go downtown to Tri-C to take more classes, but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did." These classes were what helped him to graduate early from the University of Illinois and proceed into the graduate program. 

Justin's Auntie Wanda making cupcakes for his surprise party the next day

Justin (the tall one in the back), and his family. L-R: Layla, Steve, Julia, Joy, Laycie, Sontee, Wanda, and Angel

If there were mountains to climb, it was the environment at Ginn Academy that helped keep Justin motivated to keep going. He misses his days in high school and credits his time at Ginn for helping him get to where he is now. "I brag about Coach Ginn just about every day," he says. "Being around that type of environment motivates a guy, motivated me. We are proving that you don't have to do bad things to get money. You can gt a degree and earn money the right way."

Coach Ginn always says that it takes courage to be different, and it does. Justin Hardee, Ginn Academy class of 2012, is the perfect example of what that courage can earn a person.

Spring Update 2015

Hello, Ginn Academy supporters! Thank you for checking in to learn about what has been happening at our school. We've had a busy few months with all of the usual activities plus an artist collaboration, our Empty Bowls event, and the HealthCorps health fair.

First though, we have some very exciting news! We are proud to announce the first Ginn Academy student to be accepted into the United States Military Academy. Zaccheus Knight, Ginn Academy Valedictorian, class of 2015, was recently accepted to West Point. Rising seniors, Darnell Harsley and Demann Wilson, will attend a summer internship at West Point.

Ted Ginn, Sr., Ginn Academy senior Zaccheus Knight, and Captain Jamal Robinson, United States Army and Glenville graduate. Photo courtesy of Hazel Parker.

Ted Ginn Sr., Zaccheus Knight, and Jaime Irick, West Point graduate and Friends of Ginn Academy board member. Photo courtesy of Hazel Parker.

The last update mentioned our collaboration with Cleveland Foundation Creative Fusion Artist, Dale Yudelman and Waterloo Arts. A dozen or so of our boys worked with Dale, a photojournalist from South Africa, over the course of a month learning about street photography, which is Dale's forte. Their work was then displayed along with his at a show at Waterloo Arts gallery -- quite an opportunity for them!

Photojournalist Dale Yudelman with aspiring Ginn Academy photographers

Photo club with Dale Yudelman in Cleveland's Public Square

Two Ginn Academy teachers, Ms. Kincaid and Dr. Walters, came to view the students' work in Dale's show at Waterloo Arts

Three of the students who participated in the photo club

Soon after the photo club project, Ginn Academy hosted its 4th annual HealthCorps health fair, led by HealthCorps coordinator, Ms. Terrika Kelley. Health Corps is a nationwide initiative that was created by Dr. Oz and his wife, Lisa. We are so fortunate to offer this program to our students. Local funding is provided by Forest City Enterprises and The Cleveland Clinic. Thank you to all of the community organizations that took the time to educate us this year.

The health fair is planned by all students, grades 9 through 12, over a three month period. Its objective is to empower students to apply concepts learned throughout the year.

This year's theme was the Wild Wild West

One of Ginn Academy's most dedicated volunteers, pediatrician Dr. Ernest Smoot talks with a group of 10th graders

Rebecca Reynolds, Certified Health Coach,  Full Circle Wellness, chats with Ginn Academy supporter, Albert Ratner

Life coach Rob-J

The HealthCorps coordinators spend 1-2 years in a school teaching the advanced health education curriculum. We are thrilled this year to have Ms. Terrika Kelley join us. When asked to talk a little about her background and her feelings about the work she is doing, she replied with the following:

Terrika Kelley, Ginn Academy HealthCorps coordinator:
After completing my master's degree in criminal justice I joined a wonderful team in Montgomery County, Ohio (Dayton) as a  Juvenile Probation Officer. Working nearly 4 years serving youth in Dayton, Ohio and eagerly wearing multiple hats, it was only a matter of time before I truly tapped into my purpose. Giving thanks to Eric Shafer, the former Director of Juvenile Services, who allowed us to creatively express ourselves through developing unique programming to the youth in our county, my passion was truly beginning to form full circle: Wellness-Nutrition-Youth! 

I wanted to learn more about nutrition. EVERYTHING aligned… timing was right for me to say my goodbyes and begin the next chapter of my life. School AGAIN! Years later, I’m at the end of the road to finishing my degree in nutrition. The opportunity with Healthcorps just feels right. No better way to connect my need to serve youth and passion for wellness!

On the same day as the health fair, Ginn Academy sponsored its 2nd annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for our neighbor, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Art teacher, Judy Rickel, started this tradition last year when she instructed her students in making and painting ceramic bowls for the event. With a donation of $10, guests chose from a variety of delicious soups made by our staff and Bistro 185, and took home a handmade bowl. Thank you to the National Council of Jewish Women's Thriftique store, which donated the linens.

This year, Mrs. Rickel added mugs and holiday ornaments made by our students to the ceramics sale

Media specialist, Ms. Adrienne Khan, and her daughter Lara

Ted Ginn, Sr. with Neil Haffey, Director of IT, and Mike Miller, former VP of Operations, from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank

Ms. Peterson and Ms. Castor serve soup to hungry customers

Ginn Academy English teacher, Mrs. Melissa Swedlow and her husband with Ted Ginn, Sr.

English teacher, Ms. Kim Gallippo, top right, was joined by her parents and sisters for lunch