GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Ottawa Hills High School celebrated the conclusion of its inaugural Ottawa Gauntlet, a groundbreaking multi-round life skills competition designed to help scholars develop essential soft skills.
A total of 29 scholars took part in the program, which featured a series of challenges aimed at fostering personal and professional growth. After three rounds of rigorous competition, the field was narrowed to four exceptional finalists.
Sanaya Thompson, a junior at Ottawa Hills High School, has been awarded the $5,000 First Place Scholarship. Three other finalists also earned scholarships, each receiving $2,000: sophomore Justin Hendricks and juniors Nusra Juma and Tanel Quinones. These scholarships were made possible through the generous support of donors, including New York Life and Prosper Financial Group. Recipients can apply the scholarship funds to the college or trade school of their choice, opening doors to their future educational and career aspirations.
The Ottawa Gauntlet challenged participants to demonstrate 14 critical traits, including common sense, confidence, compassion, humility, and respect. The competition featured creative role-playing scenarios designed to simulate real-world experiences, such as making an elevator pitch, accepting an award, working at a coffee shop, participating in a talk show, and hosting a cooking show.
“It's really a good thing to do because it helps you, like in the world when you have to make big choices,” Thompson explained of the competition.
“The biggest takeaway was to make connections,” Quinones said. “That is a good way to build your confidence. You get to meet a lot of great people that are willing to help you go through this challenge.”
“Our students here at Ottawa Hills don't always get a chance to show what they've got,” Ottawa Hills High School Art Teacher Jennifer Sharp said. She helped to organize the Ottawa Gauntlet. “I want them to be seen. They're the future and I think people need to know.”
