Sierra Ward was asked to create a special message for the donors who attended the Donor Appreciation Luncheon on November 11th at the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Her message opened the event where nearly 150 donors, staff, and administration of WMed celebrated students of color who received scholarships.

Sierra’s poem is used as the backdrop for images taken at WMed during the Explorers’ Career Exploration Summer Academy. Miss Ward was selected to perform an original poetic essay after her performance at the ribbon-cutting of the Merze Tate College at Western Michigan University.

Sierra not only is an outstanding vocalist, she represented the Explorers in the 2021 Poetry Out Loud State competition. Although she did not win the state title, she once again wowed the audience during her 2021 Class Reflection; a poem Dear Scholar, that celebrated the tenacity of students thriving through the pandemic.

Sierra is a freshman at WMU with plans of a career in Public Policy.