STURTEVANT — Isaiah Ivey breathed a huge sigh of relief when he received the news.
It was early April, and Ivey found out he was accepted to a national scholar program.
He was ecstatic to be admitted and glad that the work and stress of applying paid off.
His mother Melissa Cobbin was thrilled Ivey made it and took him out to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate.
Ivey, a junior at the R.E.A.L. School, will be one of 100 high schoolers from around the country participating in the LEDA Scholars Program this summer.
LEDA, which stands for Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America, is a nonprofit “dedicated to supporting students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds pursuing their academic and leadership goals through comprehensive college access programming, mentorship and career readiness resources,” according to its website.
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Ivey likes that the program will include leadership lessons, college-level classes taught by professors and the chance to meet new people.
He also will have a LEDA mentor to help narrow his college options and ACT prep assistance before retaking the test.
The program involves Ivey spending three weeks at Princeton University in New Jersey and two weeks at Yale University in Connecticut.
He has not been to either campus and looks forward to living in the dorms and “being in a real college setting, especially at these top schools.”
Ivey is considering Princeton and Yale for college, along with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Howard University and Morehouse College.
As part of a national scholar program, Isaiah Ivey will spend three weeks at Princeton University in New Jersey and two weeks at Yale University in Connecticut this summer. He looks forward to living in the dorms and “being in a real college setting, especially at these top schools.”
‘A perfect fit’
Robyn Adair, R.E.A.L. School teacher, immediately thought Ivey “would be a perfect fit” when she heard about the LEDA program.
“He shows some really awesome leadership qualities,” Adair said. “He’s not afraid to get in there and do the work. He has good rapport with the other students. He just has that drive to succeed, and he’s a very good example here at school for the other kids.”
Adair believes Ivey will “take full advantage” of the program.
“He’s such a go-getter,” she said.
Ivey has been in Adair’s homegroup since his freshman year. She could tell right away that Ivey was smart and ambitious.
“He had goals from the very beginning, which was really exciting to see,” Adair said. “He’s always working to make himself better.”
Robyn Adair, R.E.A.L. School teacher, immediately thought Isaiah Ivey “would be a perfect fit” when she heard about the LEDA Scholars Program.
At the R.E.A.L. School, which stands for Racine Engineering, Arts and Leadership, Ivey has a 3.976 grade point average while taking challenging courses, including several for college credit through Gateway Technical College.
He is also involved in leadership club, Black Student Union, Spanish club, mentors an underclassman, does boxing training and has a job, among other activities.
“I like joining things,” Ivey said.
Last school year, Ivey was Black Student Union president.
He enjoyed the role but also discovered that “it is challenging to lead a group.”
Ivey has a packed schedule but has learned to use his time wisely and balance classes, extracurriculars and a personal life.
He likes to stay busy, and his plate will be full this summer.
Ivey will spend a week in Eau Claire at Badger Boys State immediately before departing for LEDA.
“He’ll be leaving one thing to go straight to another,” Cobbin said. “I have to have his bags packed.”
Isaiah Ivey, a junior at the R.E.A.L. School, will be one of 100 high schoolers from around the country participating in the LEDA Scholars Program this summer.
The five-week LEDA program will be the longest time he has ever been away from home on his own, but Ivey said he is ready to experience his “first step into adulthood.”
Cobbin is nervous about her son flying alone and being gone for so long but is excited for him and said Ivey has always been an independent, mature person.
‘Capable of anything’
After high school, Ivey is interested in studying software engineering and then going to law school.
He is an only child, and Cobbin is proud of the person he is and what he has accomplished so far.
“I have so much faith in him,” Cobbin said. “I know he’s capable of anything. I’ve always taught him, ‘You can do anything.’ Sometimes it’s like, ‘Wow, you really picked up a lot this semester. Whoa, I don't know,’ and every time he still comes out on top.”
Isaiah Ivey has a 3.976 grade point average while taking challenging courses, including several for college credit, is in leadership club, Black Student Union, Spanish club, mentors an underclassman, does boxing training and has a job, among other activities.
Adair agreed.
“Even when he’s been beaten down on some stuff, he just keeps coming back,” Adair said.
Regardless of where Ivey ends up, Adair is confident he will succeed.
“He’s a great kid,” Adair said. “I really can’t wait to see where he goes in life. I think he’s going to go far.”
REAL School Thanksgiving potluck 2025
Anthony O’dierno, from left, Madelyn Tabor and Maggie Tabor were three of the several people at a Thanksgiving feast Tuesday at the R.E.A.L. School.
Anthony O’dierno, left, and Maggie Tabor fill their plates during a Thanksgiving feast Tuesday at the R.E.A.L. School.
Ethel Scaife, cafeteria worker, served food to R.E.A.L. School staff and students Tuesday during a Thanksgiving feast.
Principal Curt Shircel fills his plate during a Thanksgiving feast Tuesday at the R.E.A.L. School.
Students and staff filled their plates with food and desserts during a Thanksgiving feast Tuesday at the R.E.A.L. School, 10116 Stellar Ave., Sturtevant.
