CREEDE— Students, teachers and staff from the Creede School gathered in the gym on Thursday, May 2 to watch as Creede Senior Jennyfer Kemper signed a commitment to attend Iowa State’s Graceland University as a basketball scholarship recipient.
Kemper gathered with her fellow teammates, parents, students and Graceland’s head women’s basketball coach Frank Howell for the signing event. “This has been an amazing experience and I want to thank the school, my parents, my teammates and the community for their unwavering support throughout my school years,” said Kemper.
Kemper had a choice between Mesa State University and Graceland for her secondary school career and after visiting the campus at Graceland, made her choice to become part of the school. “One of the things we look for in potential students, is not only their sports ability and academics but what they can bring to the school. When I met Jennyfer, she was all about what she could do for our school and community. It is rare to find someone so willing to look at what they can bring to the school and our community, and we found that in Jennyfer,” said Howell.
Kemper stated that she plans on studying biology and health in order to get a degree that will allow her to work in sports medicine. “I want to be an athletic trainer and help athletes do what they love to do. My goal is to help bring the school and the community together,” said Kemper.
Kemper will be graduating with her class at the end of May and leaving for Graceland in the fall. “I am so blessed to have this community, the school and this team. I couldn’t have done this without them.”
Kemper’s coach at Creede school, Steve Anderson, spoke on her time at the school, stating, “We are so proud of her and know she will continue to do well in the future.”
As Kemper signed her commitment to Graceland, those present snapped pictures and cheered their fellow classmate on. The rest of the afternoon was filled with happy tears shared among family and friends in celebration of the event.
Good luck, Jennyfer!