By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
In 2015, Tan Tran and his mother emigrated to the United States from their native Vietnam, knowing no English and having no familiarity with the life they were about to begin.
They first came to Grand Rapids, before eventually settling in Zeeland. Along the way, Tran picked up two jobs to support his family, while at the same time excelling in the classroom.
On May 20, Tran gave the address as valedictorian of the Zeeland East High School class of 2026 during commencement exercises at Hope College’s DeVos Fieldhouse.
Tran, who plans to study engineering at the University of Michigan beginning this fall, graduated with a 4.46 grade point average. During his address, he gave a shoutout to some of his fellow graduates on the various paths they took to graduation.
“Sitting here in this room today are hundreds of different stories, different backgrounds, different challenges and different paths that all led to the same place,” Tran said.
Dressed in brown caps and gowns with gold sashes, 215 seniors received their diplomas during the ceremony, while eight foreign exchange students were also recognized.
While the graduates have crossed one finish line, Tran said “the starting pistol has fired” for their next stage of their lives.
“This time, no coach is telling you where your lane is, no schedule telling you when to show up, no bell telling you when you are done. This time, you decide,” he said.
“I’m not going to stand here and tell you to chase your dreams or believe in yourself. You don’t need that. You’ve already proven you can handle these situations. You’ve proven that for four years, some of you for much longer than that. The only thing left is to keep going.”
The East commencement was the first for Superintendent Rod Hetherton since he took over leadership of Zeeland Public Schools last summer. Hetherton praised the graduates for the perseverance they showed, and encouraged them to remember who they are, where they came from, and the lessons and relationships that have shaped them.
“Ask not only ‘what do I want to achieve,’ but also ‘what can I contribute,’” Hetherton said. “The world needs people who care, who lead with integrity, and who are willing to make things better for others. Continue to dream big. Your dreams are connected to your passions, your talents and your purpose. Protect them. Pursue them. Work for them.”
Class salutatorian Samantha Roof encouraged graduates to be willing to try new things. As a freshman, she decided to enter the Zeeland dance program “on a whim,” a decision she says turned out to be the best part of her high school experience.
“Join the club, take the class, learn the skill, and go on and study abroad,” said Roof, who will attend Grand Valley State University in the fall. “Trying something completely new often leads to incredible experiences and allows you to grow as a person.”
East principal Jessica Knoth said this year’s class “brought so much energy, heart, and fun to our school community.”
“It has been a blast to watch each of these students mature into the young adults they are today, and I continue to be amazed by their individual accomplishments, collective achievements and the goodness that they have demonstrated so many times,” Knoth said.
A total of 101 East seniors graduated with honors for maintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average, including 49 graduates who finished with cumulative GPAs of 4.0 or higher.
Tan Tran finished his speech by pointing to the example of his mother coming to America with nothing and building a life by continuing to move forward and figuring it out as she went along.
“We didn’t all get here the same way, but we all got here. Now let’s see where we go,” he said.
Zeeland Record
In 2015, Tan Tran and his mother emigrated to the United States from their native Vietnam, knowing no English and having no familiarity with the life they were about to begin.
They first came to Grand Rapids, before eventually settling in Zeeland. Along the way, Tran picked up two jobs to support his family, while at the same time excelling in the classroom.
On May 20, Tran gave the address as valedictorian of the Zeeland East High School class of 2026 during commencement exercises at Hope College’s DeVos Fieldhouse.
Tran, who plans to study engineering at the University of Michigan beginning this fall, graduated with a 4.46 grade point average. During his address, he gave a shoutout to some of his fellow graduates on the various paths they took to graduation.
“Sitting here in this room today are hundreds of different stories, different backgrounds, different challenges and different paths that all led to the same place,” Tran said.
Dressed in brown caps and gowns with gold sashes, 215 seniors received their diplomas during the ceremony, while eight foreign exchange students were also recognized.
While the graduates have crossed one finish line, Tran said “the starting pistol has fired” for their next stage of their lives.
“This time, no coach is telling you where your lane is, no schedule telling you when to show up, no bell telling you when you are done. This time, you decide,” he said.
“I’m not going to stand here and tell you to chase your dreams or believe in yourself. You don’t need that. You’ve already proven you can handle these situations. You’ve proven that for four years, some of you for much longer than that. The only thing left is to keep going.”
The East commencement was the first for Superintendent Rod Hetherton since he took over leadership of Zeeland Public Schools last summer. Hetherton praised the graduates for the perseverance they showed, and encouraged them to remember who they are, where they came from, and the lessons and relationships that have shaped them.
“Ask not only ‘what do I want to achieve,’ but also ‘what can I contribute,’” Hetherton said. “The world needs people who care, who lead with integrity, and who are willing to make things better for others. Continue to dream big. Your dreams are connected to your passions, your talents and your purpose. Protect them. Pursue them. Work for them.”
Class salutatorian Samantha Roof encouraged graduates to be willing to try new things. As a freshman, she decided to enter the Zeeland dance program “on a whim,” a decision she says turned out to be the best part of her high school experience.
“Join the club, take the class, learn the skill, and go on and study abroad,” said Roof, who will attend Grand Valley State University in the fall. “Trying something completely new often leads to incredible experiences and allows you to grow as a person.”
East principal Jessica Knoth said this year’s class “brought so much energy, heart, and fun to our school community.”
“It has been a blast to watch each of these students mature into the young adults they are today, and I continue to be amazed by their individual accomplishments, collective achievements and the goodness that they have demonstrated so many times,” Knoth said.
A total of 101 East seniors graduated with honors for maintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average, including 49 graduates who finished with cumulative GPAs of 4.0 or higher.
Tan Tran finished his speech by pointing to the example of his mother coming to America with nothing and building a life by continuing to move forward and figuring it out as she went along.
“We didn’t all get here the same way, but we all got here. Now let’s see where we go,” he said.
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