Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) spoke on the House floor about the success of the Baldwin Promise and how it was recently featured in Starbucks’ new “Upstanders” series. The goal of “Upstanders” is to showcase positive and inspiring stories happening across the nation. “Upstanders: Scholarships for Every Student” focuses on the strength of the Baldwin Community and their drive to create a path for every child to go to college. This incredible achievement is one of ten stories from across the nation that Starbucks chose to highlight.

Background: 

In contrast to the divisiveness and cynicism currently fueling our national discourse, Starbucks created "Upstanders," its first original content series, which aims to inspire Americans to engage in acts of compassion, citizenship and civility. “Upstanders” features ten stories, each told in written, video and podcast form, about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create positive change in their communities. The series is written and produced by Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and ceo, and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Starbucks executive producer and a former senior editor of The Washington Post.

Congressman Huizenga’s Remarks:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Starbucks and their Upstanders series for recognizing Baldwin Community Schools and the Baldwin Promise. The Upstanders series was created by Starbucks to showcase uplifting American stories. I believe that Starbucks found a uniquely inspiring story to tell when they highlighted Baldwin, Michigan.

Baldwin Community Schools was designated as a Michigan Promise Zone in 2009, meaning that every child who attended school in Baldwin would have a tuition free path to a college education. Earning this designation took commitment and sacrifice from the entire Baldwin community. In order to be designated, the village of Baldwin had to privately fundraise over $100,000.

Baldwin looked within for those donations, even though it is located in Lake County, the 22nd poorest county in the nation and where more than 24% of residents live below the poverty level. They not only hit their goal, they exceeded their goal, raising more than $160,000.

The people of Baldwin and their commitment to the community, to one another, and to future generations truly exemplify what West Michigan is all about. I want to thank Starbucks for creating the Upstanders series, recognizing the Baldwin Community, and sharing their incredible story with the nation. 

Upstanders: Scholarships for Every Student

Makayla George went on her first college tour when she was in the eighth grade. She took the requisite entrance tests on time. And in the fall of 2015, when she was a senior in high school, she applied to 13 colleges.

She got into all of them.

Then she spent weeks agonizing over which one to choose.

George, a bubbly, curly-haired sports fanatic, revealed her choice on “Decision Day,” a school-wide assembly in May during which seniors stand up, walk onto a stage, and announce the college they will be attending.

Clad in a yellow t-shirt with the words “ACCEPTED” on the front, she told the crowd, “I will be attending Eastern Michigan University.” Applause echoed across the gymnasium.

Among her graduating class, her experience was far from unique. Most of her classmates applied to multiple colleges – one of them sent out 20 applications – and most got into their top choice. All told, 90 percent of her class will pursue some form of higher education.

Those stats sound like the stuff of an elite prep school, not the public high school in the seat of one of the poorest counties in Michigan, where 95 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

But something fascinating has occurred in the village of Baldwin.

Read more about Baldwin’s success here.