In honor of beloved teacher Jackie Landram, who passed away in 2022 from ovarian cancer, the staff of Penn Middle School created the GRIT award to honor Jackie and recognize students who possess her amazing personality traits of Grace, Resiliency, Integrity, and Tenacity.
GRIT recipients for the 2025-2026 school year are Niomi Kearns, Cameron Kitchen, Grace Mouto Dongmo, Jaelyn Stone, and Eliana Zummo.
“GRIT is not just perseverance through challenges,” commented teacher Dr. Katie Datz. “It is the courage to keep showing up, lifting others up, and striving for excellence even when no one is watching.”
GRIT students are (left to right) Cameron Kitchen, Grace Mouto Dongmo, Niomi Kearns, Jaelyn Stone, and Eliana Zummo