Hannah Khem is a Lakeland native, living here with her husband, Paul, and their two dogs. Hannah is an older sister to two former Achievement Academy students, Sarah and Rachel Holjes. At 5 years old Hannah welcomed her youngest sisters, twins diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, unable to imagine what was ahead for her family. After several years of in-home and in-office therapies, countless doctor appointments, and three brain surgeries between the twins, their Holjes family discovered Achievement Academy.

In 2005 Sarah and Rachel enrolled, and in many ways, the Holjes family has never left. Hannah began giving presentations and speeches for charitable organizations on behalf of Achievement Academy at 11 years old, and continued to do so even after her sisters graduated in 2009. Her mom, Mary Holjes, has been on the school’s staff since 2008 and volunteered tirelessly prior to being hired.

Now, 20 years after her sisters enrolled in Achievement Academy, Hannah works as an Account Executive at Curious Jane and will be participating in the Top Chef event as a Community Leader. “I want more families than ever to feel the impact that I know Achievement Academy makes,” she shares. “I feel truly lucky to share my family’s story and help further the mission!”