On Wednesday, May 7, CHI-PAC hosted an event celebrating the Chinese Immersion seniors in the Northern High School Class of 2025, the 5th cohort to graduate from this amazing program.

The 24 seniors and their families gathered for our annual Chinese Immersion Senior Recognition Celebration, marking the completion of their adventure together and the 17th year of our program. 

Additional guests at the event included Forest Hills Public Schools Superintendent Ben Kirby, Northern High School Principal Heather McKinney-Rewa, Northern Assistant Principal Rick Wiersma, Kimberly Beuchler, director of Early College Programs at Western Michigan University, and David Kutzko, chair of the Department of World Languages & Literatures at Western Michigan University. And, of course, current and past instructors came to celebrate our teens: Western Michigan University professors Yanyu Ward, Li Xiang and Sisi Chen, and 7th- and 8th-grade Chinese teacher Kimberly Wang.

From kindergarten to 4th grade, these students spent half of every school day in a Chinese-speaking classroom learning Chinese language and culture from native-speaking teachers.

Over the past 4 years of high school, they have been dual enrolled in 8 college-level Chinese courses taught by Western Michigan University professors at the Northern High School campus.

Next week, they’ll graduate with 28 hard-earned college credits–all tuition-free! Those that attend WMU for college will enter with an automatic minor in Chinese.

Several of these students have attained the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy. Many have won honors in regional and national Chinese competitions. And all of these talented graduates leave the FHPS Mandarin Chinese Immersion program with strong friendships, priceless memories, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience growing up as Chinese scholars.

恭喜/ Gōngxǐ! Congratulations, Class of 2025 graduates! Wishing you all the best on your next adventures and thanking you for 13 years of hard work and dedication!