Savannah Duff - September Alumni Spotlight
This month, we’re highlighting Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG) alumna Savannah Duff, a 2026 graduate of Central Lake Public High School and the Northwest Michigan Works! JMG program. During high school, Savannah was an active leader in her school and community, serving in roles including Student Body President and National Honor Society President.
Today, Savannah is attending Northern Michigan University, where she is majoring in pre-radiography and working toward a career in healthcare. She has also remained actively involved with JMG and currently serves as President of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), helping represent the voices of JMG students and alumni across Michigan.
Savannah credits JMG, especially the support of her JMG Specialist, Mr. Todd, with helping her navigate the uncertainty of deciding what to do after high school. When Savannah wasn’t sure where she wanted to attend college, what she wanted to study, or how she would afford it, Mr. Todd encouraged her to explore her options and helped arrange college visits.
“I specifically remember crying in Mr. Todd’s office unsure of where I was going to go, what I was going to major in, or how I was going to afford it. He helped plan a trip for me and three other Central Lake Students to visit Grand Canyon University and Northern Michigan University that same week.
He told me, get through these tours and if you still don’t know, we’ll figure it out together. If it wasn’t for Mr. Todd pushing me to see NMU, I wouldn’t be here today. The minute he showed me around, I fell in love with the campus and city.”
Looking ahead, Savannah hopes to be accepted into NMU’s radiography program, become a certified radiologic technologist, and eventually earn additional certifications in CT and MRI with the goal of working in a hospital.
Her advice to current JMG students is simple: lean on your JMG Specialist and other adults within JMG. They are there to help, provide resources, and support as you figure out what comes next.