Kelly Spaihts

Kelly Spaihts
Full name	Kelly Spaihts
Affiliation	Astraea Society, Eastern Tsuga College
Status	Active
Occupation	Student, ETC junior; Sociology major
First appearance	Making the Grades: Kelly's Unveiling
Canon status	Confirmed

Character role

Kelly Spaihts is the protagonist of Making the Grades: Kelly's Unveiling, the first book in the Making the Grades series, set at Eastern Tsuga College.

Biography

Before Making the Grades

Kelly's academic path is not one she chose with passion but rather out of indecision and pressure from her mother's career in a related field. Though she has the potential to excel academically, Kelly typically coasts through college by relying on social connections and charm. Her membership in the prestigious Astraea Society brings additional pressure to maintain a specific image, both socially and academically.

Kelly's relationship history has played a significant role in shaping who she is. In high school she had several fleeting relationships, none of which left a lasting impression until her involvement with Bastian Keller, a married graduate student she met early in college. The affair was secretive and intense, yet left Kelly feeling conflicted about her choices. Though the relationship eventually imploded, it had a profound impact on her views of trust, intimacy, and control.

Her subsequent summer fling with Mark Rogers — conducted behind the back of her friend Stacy Cantrell — further shaped her internal conflicts and her complicated relationship with validation.

Personality and traits

Kelly's personality is multifaceted. Outwardly she presents herself as confident, extroverted, and carefree. She enjoys being part of the social elite at Eastern Tsuga, particularly within the Astraea Society, where she feels the need to perform and meet certain expectations. Beneath the surface, Kelly is deeply introspective, struggling with issues of power, control, and submission.

Kelly tends to avoid direct confrontation, preferring to find ways around problems rather than tackling them head-on. She is torn between pleasing others and asserting her independence — a dynamic that defines many of her relationships. Her affair with Bastian and her complicated involvement with Mark showcase her need for validation and her difficulty maintaining emotional boundaries.

Affiliations

Astraea Society

Kelly's membership in the Astraea Society is a key part of her identity at ETC. The society is known for its prestige and high expectations, and Kelly constantly feels the pressure to meet these standards. Being part of Astraea shapes many of her social interactions as she tries to maintain her standing within the group while grappling with her internal conflicts.

Her Big Sister within the society is Cassandra Blake, who is aware of more than she has disclosed about her own prior arrangement with Professor William Taylor.

Key relationships

Professor William Taylor — the central antagonist of her story; her remediation arrangement with him defines the arc of Kelly's Unveiling
Cassandra Blake — Big Sister; confronted Taylor, protected Kelly, and chose not to expose him upon graduating
Bastian Keller — former affair; married graduate student; profound influence on Kelly's views of trust and control
Mark Rogers — summer fling; boyfriend of Astraea sister Stacy Cantrell
Stacy Cantrell — Astraea sister; unaware of Kelly's involvement with Mark
Chelsea Zhou — Strawbridge journalist; now has Kelly's name and a story connecting ETC to a secret organization