Honors student finds belonging and wide academic horizons at HFC
Not only is HFC student Alexandra Gray (they/them/their) the editor-in-chief of The Mirror News, they are also a two-time winner of this year’s Francis G. Barrett Creative Writing Contest with the Larry Colter Poetry Prize and Grunow Writer’s Prize.
“This is my first time winning! I was a semifinalist last year,” said Gray. “I have always written poetry, so being recognized as a poet is something I wish I could tell my younger self. I am often viewed through an objectified or academic lens, so being recognized creatively is incredibly refreshing and humbling. Art and creativity are primary parts of my soul. Writing poetry is my therapy, so sharing that catharsis with others and being met with relatability and empathy are rewarding beyond words.”
“The Mirror News is in terrific hands with Alex Gray as its EIC”
Gray became the EIC of The Mirror News at the beginning of the Winter 2026 semester and led the College’s student-run newspaper through a successful year. In late March, The Mirror News won a record 40 awards at the 47th annual Michigan Community College Press Association (MCCPA) Conference at Central Michigan University. Gray won third place for In-Depth Enterprise Reporting for their article, “Flying Under the Radar: The Extirpation of the Barn Owl in Michigan.”
“I could not be more elated! The Mirror News is my absolute favorite part of being at HFC!” said Gray. “To witness all of our talented writers, artists, and photographers receive the recognition they deserve makes me feel incredibly moved and proud. I'm humbled and proud to be a leader of our publication during this successful season. It is an honor to watch The Mirror News grow. Our success as a publication, coupled with the happiness of our staff, motivates me to keep expanding our reach and creativity.”
Gray’s partner, HFC alumnus Miguel Reyna, who was the layout editor for The Mirror News during the 2019-2020 academic year, encouraged them to write for the newspaper. Since Gray always had a passion for writing, it was a “no-brainer” to join, beginning in the Winter 2025 semester. Gray will return as The Mirror News’ EiC for the 2026-27 academic year. Gray cited HFC English and The Mirror News faculty advisor Dr. Peter Kim as one of their mentors.
“The Mirror News is in terrific hands with Alex Gray as EIC,” said Kim. “They have established a warm and inviting atmosphere that is supportive and strives for excellence. They lead by example, as evidenced by winning third place in the Barrett Writing Contest and winning the Colter Poetry Prize.”
A surprising and precise intelligence
At this year’s Barrett Awards Ceremony, Gray placed third in the Barrett Writing Contest for their short fiction called “Cloverkid,” and won the Colter Prize for four poems called “Sprout: Catatonic Home,” “Bloom: Half Terrible, Half Infinite,” “Spring Calls,” and “Immortalizing.” HFC English instructor Dr. Sommer Sterud read excerpts of Gray’s work at the Barrett Awards Ceremony. Gray will apply their winnings toward their tuition.
Sterud taught Gray in two of her classes:
- Introduction to College Writing
- Creative Writing
“From the very beginning, Alex has stood out – not just for how smart they are, though they absolutely are – but for how imaginative, funny, and genuinely warm they are as a human being,” said Sterud. “Alex brings a kind of creative intelligence into the room that is both surprising and precise. They are a writer who notices everything: texture, sound, color, memory.”
Sterud continued: “In English 131, for a final multimodal project, most students created traditional PowerPoint presentations. Alex instead built a physical model – a metaphor for the mental health issue they researched – that felt entirely their own: inventive, symbolic, and deeply thoughtful. That same instinct for metaphor carries across their work: an ability to make an abstract experience feel tangible. Across their poetry, language becomes something you can almost taste and touch – ‘sap sparkles in the sunlight,’ ‘tree sap on my gums,’ ‘mint in my lungs’ – as if perception itself is constantly shifting between body and environment.”
Sterud, a mentor for Gray, was their first teacher at HFC.
“Dr. Sterud’s empathy and support helped me lay the foundation of my self-confidence,” said Gray. “Her wit and creativity are unmatched, and she is the sweetest human ever. We are truly kindred spirits. I took her creative writing class in Winter 2026, and her feedback has played a huge role in my advancement of poetry. She is everything a professor should be.”
Sterud described Gray’s voice as prismatic, brave, and wholly their own.
“Across their writing, whether in poetry or prose, Alex is drawn to thresholds between childhood and adulthood, memory and dream, body and language,” she said. “Even in their more lyric moments of strain and fragmentation, there is always a searching intelligence at work, trying to make meaning out of what feels unstable or overwhelming. And that’s what makes Alex’s work both compelling and comforting. What emerges most clearly in all of Alex’s work is not just pain or beauty, but transformation: The way language becomes a place where experience can be held, shaped, and reimagined.”
“HFC has given me the water and nutrients I needed to bloom”
Gray is a lifelong resident of Riverview. They are an only child and first-generation college student. They attended Riverview Community High School and graduated from Insight School of Michigan, an online high school in Lansing.
“I finished high school in 2017 and am in my second year at HFC, so I might be a bit of a late bloomer,” said Gray. “I was without goals and struggled with self-esteem for a long time. I decided I was tired of leading my life aimlessly, and was referred to HFC by my partner, Miguel.”
Gray is majoring in biology at HFC. After they graduate in 2028, they will transfer and study zoology at a 4-year university. Animals have been a lifelong passion for Gray.
“I don’t remember a moment in my life where I haven’t been obsessed with animals: Clothes with animals on them, stuffed animals, animal room decor, watching movies with animals in them, animal documentaries — anything animals!” said Gray. “I love being outdoors and immersed in nature. Unfortunately, our Earth is inhabited by many people who do not value the land and the animals who live on it. I desire to be the voice for the voiceless and revolve my life around the betterment of all wildlife. I feel it is my duty as a steward of the Earth and to be a friend and protector of all animals.”
Besides The Mirror News, Gray is also a member of the Henry Ford II Honors Program and has been involved with the theatre program. Gray also interned at the Belle Isle Nature Center through the Honors Program Directed Study – Service Learning.
“I have never felt more supported and validated academically than I have at HFC,” said Gray. “The College prioritizes support and community as learning tools above all else; this is like striking gold. I value the innate intellect of academia, but I value the kinship of learning from seasoned mentors and peers much more. I have planted this academic seed myself, but HFC has given me the water and nutrients I needed to truly bloom.”
They continued: “The confidence I have built at HFC is something I never thought possible for myself. You don’t come across these professional opportunities every day, and it is a life-changing privilege. The things I am doing at HFC are already opening up doors for me in the future, both academically and professionally, and to acknowledge that is almost overwhelming but in the best way possible.”
A true Renaissance mind
HFC Director of Theatre Dr. John-Michael Sefel, another mentor, has had a major impact on Gray, empathizing with their background.
"I've had the pleasure of working with Alex in multiple capacities, both in and out of the classroom," said Sefel. "As a core member of the theatre's stage management team, Alex earned the respect of peers and faculty alike through calm, capable leadership and a willingness to jump in and help wherever needed. In classes, students often turn to Alex for help and advice. In one class, Alex's influence was so obvious that I asked them to assist in teaching one of the projects!"
One trait that really stands out about Gray is their seamless balance of creative and analytical thinking, Sefel noted.
"Many students excel in logic and quantitative areas but struggle with abstract and creative applications, or just the opposite, shining in imaginative applications but shutting down in the face of an engineering schematic,” he explained. “Alex not only excels in both, but doesn't seem to notice a difference. I've repeatedly watched Alex approach challenges in the class and in rehearsals with both the efficiency of a mathematician and the imagination of an artist, modeling the curiosity and engagement of a true Renaissance mind."
Gray's career goal is to be a voice for the voiceless and advocate for wildlife conservation, while writing zoological articles in quarterly magazines or journals.
“I believe we could educate the public on wildlife conservation more tangibly and creatively. Not everyone is a scientist, and they should not be expected to think like a scientist. I desire to educate the public on why caring about animals is vital to our life on Earth. I believe the best way to do this is through art, community engagement, and empathy. I am passionate about ethology and believe it can be a compelling tool to get people empathizing with the animals, taking a page from the late, great (world-renowned primatologist) Dr. Jane Goodall’s book.”
Gray recommends HFC as a place for anyone looking for belonging and opportunity.
“My best friend started HFC this academic year because I recommended it to her. I recently recommended two other friends to come to HFC,” said Gray. “HFC is the perfect place for people like me who are late bloomers, misfits, or think they have no purpose. The support and community that permeates through HFC is one of a kind. There is a niche for everyone, and you will always find somewhere to fit in here, no matter your age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or background.”