A recent Comal Independent School District graduate of Canyon High School is one of four students to receive a McKenzie Family Foundation GritGrant award in its inaugural year. The GritGrant recognizes students whose actions motivate others to never quit, no matter the obstacle, and who demonstrate grit, perseverance and resilience.
Noah Ferrier, who has overcome personal obstacles, demonstrates these and more which is why he is receiving $2,500 as one of the honorees. Ferrier was nominated for the award by his high school career and technology teacher, Tanya Livingston, who noticed his willingness to serve others even as an incoming freshman volunteering to help teachers set up their classrooms for the new school year.
“He was extremely polite and helped me with many tasks,” Livingston recalls. “When he walked into my classroom three years later, he had gained new confidence. He completed my principles of business, marketing and finance, accounting and INCubator classes, in addition to completing two years of auto tech.”
After speaking with Ferrier this past year, Livingston learned that he wanted to pair his business knowledge with his automotive interests for his career path. She knew he was the perfect candidate for the new grant being offered to students by the McKenzie Family Foundation in partnership with Uncharted Learning. Nominees had to be enrolled in one of the Uncharted Learning programs in the 2019-2020 school year including INCubator.
Ferrier plans to attend Northeast Lakeview College in the fall to begin pursuing his dream.
“I believe he will be successful in his endeavor,” says Livingston. “He always came to class with a smile on his face, accepted any challenge and did what was best for his team.”
INCubator is a course offered to incoming 11th grade students at all Comal ISD high schools. It gives them the opportunity to become an entrepreneur through the development of their own products or services. Local and area entrepreneurs and business experts serve as coaches and mentors guiding student teams through the process of ideation, market research and business plan development.
Congratulations, Noah!
–James McKenzie with the McKenzie Foundation, hosted virtual celebrations with the Foundation’s inaugural GritGrant honorees including recent Canyon High School graduate Noah Ferrier. Pictured from top left are McKenzie and Margarita Geleske from Uncharted Learning; bottom from left are Tanya Livingston, CHS teacher, and Ferrier.
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