The balance was zero. Grace Henning still remembers opening her junior class bank account and seeing exactly how much money they had to plan prom.
“At the beginning of our junior year, I was the class of 2026 treasurer. And I remember looking at our bank account, and it was a big fat zero, Grace says. “So I was like, 'Ooh, we have prom in the spring. How are we gonna get that money to get everything together?'"
Worried, there wasn’t any time to waste, the class got right to work. They began fundraising during home football and basketball games. They ended up partnering with their art teacher to host a paint night, inviting local residents to join them. One fundraiser led to another as the class worked toward its goal, including their organized community car wash.
"I'm pretty sure more water got on me than the actual cars," Grace laughs.
Little by little, the balance began to grow. By spring, prom was paid for, and there was even money left for senior activities. "It was definitely a group effort," she says.
That story says a lot about Grace. She she sees possibilities, not obstacles. Grace feels leadership isn’t about who is in charge as much as how much trust is shared. "I like that people can put their trust in me," she says.
Growing up in White Salmon meant growing up alongside many of the same classmates since kindergarten. By the time she became senior class president, she already knew the people she was serving. She knew their personalities and their ideas, and wanted everyone to feel like they belonged. Open communication mattered, and so did making sure every student had a voice.
Grace still laughs about her very first campaign in third grade. Standing on her tiptoes behind the classroom podium, she promised classmates extra recess and extra snacks if they voted for her. Today, she looks back on that little girl with a smile. “As much as I hate to admit it, I feel like I ran for the popularity of it, more for selfish reasons, for the title,” she says. By the time she ran for senior class president, her reasons had changed. “It was definitely for everyone. It was to serve everyone, not to be better than them, but to be someone they could trust.”
Somewhere between those classroom speeches and graduation, leadership became less about standing in front of people and more about standing beside them. "Some of the best leaders I've seen are the most humble people," Grace says. "They do it to make sure other people feel successful, and they do the busy work."
It is not surprising she has impacted her school beyond student government. One year, she recognized that attending the FBLA State Leadership Conference would cost students around $500 each. She knew that it placed a heavy financial burden on many students. Grace and her fellow officers decided to launch an ambitious fundraising campaign. Through community events, countless volunteer hours, and overwhelming local support, they reduced the cost for each student from nearly $500 to just $234.
"To be able to see kids at our next meeting relieved of that cost…, I'm glad that we were able to lower it that much. It still wasn't cheap," Grace says, "but it meant more students had the opportunity to go."
Grace is quick to credit her older brother, Moses, for inspiring her to leave a positive mark on the people around her. "I've always watched him grow up," she says. "I've always strived to be like him and have the same impact on people that he's had."
She also remembers the teacher who nudged her to raise her hand, her FBLA advisor, Colin Cieloha. "He was the first one to say, 'You need to run for this position,'" Grace recalls.
And of course, she gives accolades to her coaches. She feels each of them shaped her into the kind of leader she strives to be today.
When Grace was the student representative on the White Salmon Valley School Board, she discovered how much she enjoyed representing the voices of her classmates. Sharing student perspectives, listening to discussions that shaped local education, or helping bridge the gap between students and district leaders, the experience gave her a deep appreciation for the importance of listening before leading. That builds trust.
This fall, Grace will attend the University of Washington's Michael G. Foster School of Business to study Human Resource Management. The career appealed to her because it combines two things she enjoys most: working with people and helping solve problems. She hopes to one day create workplaces where employees feel respected, treated fairly, and know someone is willing to listen. For Grace, it's another way to do what she's always enjoyed most: helping people succeed together.
Even with such a full schedule, Grace rarely slows down. Between student government, FBLA, school board meetings, varsity lacrosse, volunteer projects, and working at Cascade Kiteboarding, she has learned to balance responsibilities without losing sight of the people around her. "My community has supported me so much," she says. "White Salmon is an amazing community. Ever since I was a little kid, I have seen the impact of an amazing, supportive community. I really want to prioritize coming back, supporting the next generation."
Before leaving for Seattle, Grace has one piece of advice for the students following behind her.
"If I were to do it all over again, it would be to get involved early. That's where you make some of your best friends, and you can really see the growth in yourself.” She also says, with a smile, that she would tell them, “Just have fun in high school."
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