Learner Spotlight: Kennedy Gravitt

Kennedy Gravitt meets every challenge head-on with an optimistic attitude, making her a great example of this month’s SLO: Optimism. This hopeful and confident iLEAD Exploration third grader has been independent studyed since kindergarten and has always been a very driven, agile, and fun-loving kid. She learned to walk at eight months and hasn’t stopped blowing her parents away with her abilities, drive, determination, and grit. She learned how to surf at age six, excelled with parkour and free-running, has grown immensely in her basketball skills, all while becoming an incredible little motocross racer. Kennedy is small in stature, but that seems to trigger something in her that makes her work ethic and drive that much stronger.

Kennedy has dedicated herself to honing her motorcycle skills and has participated in many different race series. As trophies and awards added up, her confidence and excitement for the sport also grew. Her races were based primarily on age and the size of the motorcycle, and for most occasions this meant she was the only girl in her race. Never daunted by a challenge, Kennedy always cheerfully rises to the occasion. As her confidence grew, she expressed an interest in racing in front of the biggest stage for motocross — Supercross — and her eyes were set on that goal.

Her parents did some research on the requirements to request an invitation to the coveted KTM Junior Supercross challenge. Each race selects only 15 kids throughout the world to race. After a few months of nervously waiting, Kennedy’s family received a phone call announcing that she was chosen as a competitor for the Anaheim 2 Supercross race at Anaheim Stadium! This was a dream come true for her (and her dad), and the whole family was beaming.

The month prior to her big race, Kennedy participated in a three-day camp with PanicRev, which is an intense training program. She continued to practice and prepare for the Supercross race. The day of the race came and her family was ready to watch Kennedy do what she loves, competing against 14 other kids (all boys) from New Zealand, Great Britain, British Columbia, Minnesota, Kentucky, Montana, and California. It was a busy day from beginning to end. Multiple track walks, photo opportunities, tours through the KTM factory semi, practice laps, meeting professional racers, autograph sessions (for the kids). After an awesome day of practice and fun, Kennedy put on her gear, complete with a brand-new hot pink 6D helmet, and hit the starting line ready to race. With 40,000 fans cheering wildly, it was a day, experience, and memory that will be forever cherished. Her family is so proud of Kennedy’s work ethic, accomplishments, humility, and overall confidence and grit. Way to go, Kennedy!