Michigan college grad designed shoes for Serena Williams at Nike apprenticeship

Michigan native Heather Truong, left, poses for a photo with tennis legend Serena Williams. Truong, a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design, helped design shoes for Williams’ Nike collection as part of the Serena Williams Design Crew apprenticeship. (Photo provided by Ferris State University)Ferris State University

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A recent Michigan college grad has added a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to her resume: Designing a footwear line for legendary tennis star Serena Williams.

Holland native Heather Truong, who earned her diploma this spring from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, completed a six-month footwear design apprenticeship on the Serena Williams Design Crew, a Nike partnership Williams founded in 2021 to empower up-and-coming designers.