diff --git a/src/api/services/process/processService.test.ts b/src/api/services/process/processService.test.ts
index 68c6cdcc..97f46ae8 100644
--- a/src/api/services/process/processService.test.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/process/processService.test.ts
@@ -111,29 +111,29 @@ test("remove member with no submissions", () => {
 });
 
 test.each([
-  [1, Grade.SEED],
-  [2, Grade.SPROUT],
-  [3, Grade.SPROUT],
-  [4, Grade.LEAF],
-  [5, Grade.LEAF],
-  [6, Grade.BRANCH],
-  [7, Grade.BRANCH],
-  [8, Grade.FRUIT],
-  [9, Grade.FRUIT],
-  [10, Grade.TREE],
-  [11, Grade.TREE],
+  [1, "SEED"],
+  [2, "SPROUT"],
+  [3, "SPROUT"],
+  [4, "LEAF"],
+  [5, "LEAF"],
+  [6, "BRANCH"],
+  [7, "BRANCH"],
+  [8, "FRUIT"],
+  [9, "FRUIT"],
+  [10, "TREE"],
+  [11, "TREE"],
 ])(
   "assign grades based on submissions: totalSubmissions: %i, expectedGrade: %s",
   (totalSubmissions, expectedGrade) => {
     // Arrange
     const config: Partial<Config> = {
       gradeThresholds: [
-        [Grade.SEED, 0],
-        [Grade.SPROUT, 2],
-        [Grade.LEAF, 4],
-        [Grade.BRANCH, 6],
-        [Grade.FRUIT, 8],
-        [Grade.TREE, 10],
+        ["SEED", 0],
+        ["SPROUT", 2],
+        ["LEAF", 4],
+        ["BRANCH", 6],
+        ["FRUIT", 8],
+        ["TREE", 10],
       ],
     };
     const processService = createMockProcessService(config);
diff --git a/src/api/services/process/processService.ts b/src/api/services/process/processService.ts
index 88a5bf70..dfa7c157 100644
--- a/src/api/services/process/processService.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/process/processService.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const initializeMemberMap = (
       ...member,
       solvedProblems: [],
       progress: 0,
-      grade: Grade.SEED,
+      grade: "SEED",
     };
   });
 
@@ -104,5 +104,5 @@ const determineGrade = (
     ([, threshold]) => totalSubmissions >= threshold,
   );
 
-  return grade ? grade[0] : Grade.SEED;
+  return grade ? grade[0] : "SEED";
 };
diff --git a/src/api/services/types.ts b/src/api/services/types.ts
index f884ff1a..8c84e4f8 100644
--- a/src/api/services/types.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/types.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,4 @@
-export enum Grade {
-  SEED = "SEED",
-  SPROUT = "SPROUT",
-  LEAF = "LEAF",
-  BRANCH = "BRANCH",
-  FRUIT = "FRUIT",
-  TREE = "TREE",
-}
+export type Grade = "SEED" | "SPROUT" | "LEAF" | "BRANCH" | "FRUIT" | "TREE";
 
 export type MemberIdentity = {
   id: string; // lowercase
diff --git a/src/components/Card/Card.stories.tsx b/src/components/Card/Card.stories.tsx
index d5a1b6e7..06eab90c 100644
--- a/src/components/Card/Card.stories.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Card/Card.stories.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import type { Meta, StoryObj } from "@storybook/react";
 import Card from "./Card";
-import { Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
 
 const meta: Meta<typeof Card> = {
   component: Card,
@@ -14,7 +13,7 @@ export default meta;
 export const Seed: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
   args: {
     name: "seed",
-    grade: Grade.SEED,
+    grade: "SEED",
     cohorts: [1],
   },
 };
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ export const Seed: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
 export const Sprout: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
   args: {
     name: "sprout",
-    grade: Grade.SPROUT,
+    grade: "SPROUT",
     cohorts: [2],
   },
 };
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ export const Sprout: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
 export const Leaf: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
   args: {
     name: "leaf",
-    grade: Grade.LEAF,
+    grade: "LEAF",
     cohorts: [3],
   },
 };
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ export const Leaf: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
 export const Branch: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
   args: {
     name: "branch",
-    grade: Grade.BRANCH,
+    grade: "BRANCH",
     cohorts: [4],
   },
 };
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ export const Branch: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
 export const Fruit: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
   args: {
     name: "fruit",
-    grade: Grade.FRUIT,
+    grade: "FRUIT",
     cohorts: [5],
   },
 };
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ export const Fruit: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
 export const Tree: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
   args: {
     name: "tree",
-    grade: Grade.TREE,
+    grade: "TREE",
     cohorts: [6],
   },
 };
diff --git a/src/components/Card/Card.test.tsx b/src/components/Card/Card.test.tsx
index 24ab4e2a..b76cfec9 100644
--- a/src/components/Card/Card.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Card/Card.test.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 import { render, screen, within } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { expect, test } from "vitest";
-
-import { Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
-
 import Card from "./Card";
 
 test("render grade image", () => {
@@ -10,14 +7,14 @@ test("render grade image", () => {
     <Card
       id="test"
       name="test"
-      grade={Grade.TREE}
+      grade={"TREE"}
       currentCohort={1}
       cohorts={[1]}
     />,
   );
 
   expect(
-    screen.getByRole("img", { name: `${Grade.TREE} image` }),
+    screen.getByRole("img", { name: `${"TREE"} image` }),
   ).toBeInTheDocument();
 });
 
@@ -27,7 +24,7 @@ test("render github name", () => {
     <Card
       id="test"
       name={name}
-      grade={Grade.TREE}
+      grade={"TREE"}
       currentCohort={1}
       cohorts={[1]}
     />,
@@ -42,7 +39,7 @@ test("render cohort", () => {
     <Card
       id="test"
       name="user123"
-      grade={Grade.TREE}
+      grade={"TREE"}
       currentCohort={currentCohort}
       cohorts={[currentCohort]}
     />,
@@ -59,7 +56,7 @@ test("render progress link", () => {
     <Card
       id={id}
       name="user123"
-      grade={Grade.TREE}
+      grade={"TREE"}
       currentCohort={1}
       cohorts={[1]}
     />,
@@ -79,7 +76,7 @@ test("render certificate link", () => {
     <Card
       id={id}
       name="user123"
-      grade={Grade.TREE}
+      grade={"TREE"}
       currentCohort={1}
       cohorts={[1]}
     />,
diff --git a/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.stories.tsx b/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.stories.tsx
index a764b8dc..235faef2 100644
--- a/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.stories.tsx
+++ b/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.stories.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 import type { Meta, StoryObj } from "@storybook/react";
 import Card from "./GradeImage";
-import { Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
 
 const meta: Meta<typeof Card> = {
   component: Card,
   args: {
-    grade: Grade.SEED,
+    grade: "SEED",
     width: 105,
     height: 128,
   },
@@ -13,10 +12,4 @@ const meta: Meta<typeof Card> = {
 
 export default meta;
 
-export const Seed: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {
-  args: {
-    grade: Grade.SEED,
-    width: 105,
-    height: 128,
-  },
-};
+export const Default: StoryObj<typeof Card> = {};
diff --git a/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.test.tsx b/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.test.tsx
index 34fc262b..855c3838 100644
--- a/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/GradeImage/GradeImage.test.tsx
@@ -2,11 +2,9 @@ import { faker } from "@faker-js/faker";
 import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { expect, test } from "vitest";
 
-import { Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
-
 import GradeImage from "./GradeImage";
 
-test.each(Object.values(Grade))(
+test.each(["SEED", "SPROUT", "LEAF", "BRANCH", "FRUIT", "TREE"] as const)(
   "attach alternative text for %s image",
   (grade) => {
     render(
@@ -24,7 +22,14 @@ test.each(Object.values(Grade))(
 test("set width and height", () => {
   render(
     <GradeImage
-      grade={faker.helpers.arrayElement(Object.values(Grade))}
+      grade={faker.helpers.arrayElement([
+        "SEED",
+        "SPROUT",
+        "LEAF",
+        "BRANCH",
+        "FRUIT",
+        "TREE",
+      ])}
       width={105}
       height={128}
     />,
diff --git a/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.stories.tsx b/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.stories.tsx
index 43c2ce47..43ee54b0 100644
--- a/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.stories.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.stories.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import type { Meta, StoryObj } from "@storybook/react";
 import Sidebar from "./Sidebar.tsx";
-import { Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
 
 const meta = {
   component: Sidebar,
@@ -14,7 +13,7 @@ const meta = {
     profileUrl: "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/104721736?v=4",
     currentCohort: 3,
     cohorts: [1, 2, 3],
-    grade: Grade.LEAF,
+    grade: "LEAF",
   },
 } satisfies Meta<typeof Sidebar>;
 
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ export const Default: StoryObj<typeof meta> = {
     hardProgress: "3/5",
     solvedProblems: 16,
     totalProblems: 25,
-    grade: Grade.LEAF,
+    grade: "LEAF",
     cohorts: [1, 2, 3],
     currentCohort: 3,
     githubUsername: "testuser",
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ export const HighProgress: StoryObj<typeof meta> = {
     easyProgress: "10/10",
     mediumProgress: "10/10",
     hardProgress: "8/10",
-    grade: Grade.FRUIT,
+    grade: "FRUIT",
     currentCohort: 3,
     cohorts: [1, 2, 3],
     githubUsername: "testuser",
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ export const NoProblems: StoryObj<typeof meta> = {
     hardProgress: "0/0",
     solvedProblems: 0,
     totalProblems: 0,
-    grade: Grade.SEED,
+    grade: "SEED",
     currentCohort: 3,
     cohorts: [1, 2, 3],
     githubUsername: "testuser",
diff --git a/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.test.tsx b/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.test.tsx
index 3fd03e34..030ed28a 100644
--- a/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Sidebar/Sidebar.test.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { test, expect } from "vitest";
 import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import Sidebar from "./Sidebar.tsx";
-import { Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
 
 test("renders Sidebar with all elements", () => {
   render(
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ test("renders Sidebar with all elements", () => {
       profileUrl="example.png"
       currentCohort={3}
       cohorts={[1, 2, 3]}
-      grade={Grade.TREE}
+      grade={"TREE"}
     />,
   );
 
diff --git a/src/hooks/useMembers.test.ts b/src/hooks/useMembers.test.ts
index e464acbb..8f0ec4a9 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useMembers.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useMembers.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { act, renderHook, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
 import { faker } from "@faker-js/faker";
 
-import { Grade, type Member } from "../api/services/types";
+import { type Member } from "../api/services/types";
 import useMembers from "./useMembers";
 import { problems } from "../api/constants/problems";
 
@@ -15,7 +15,14 @@ function createMockMember(custom: Partial<Member> = {}): Member {
     cohorts: [currentCohort],
     profileUrl: faker.internet.url(),
     progress: faker.number.int({ min: 0, max: 100 }),
-    grade: faker.helpers.arrayElement(Object.values(Grade)),
+    grade: faker.helpers.arrayElement([
+      "SEED",
+      "SPROUT",
+      "LEAF",
+      "BRANCH",
+      "FRUIT",
+      "TREE",
+    ]),
     solvedProblems: faker.helpers.arrayElements(
       problems,
       faker.number.int({ min: 0, max: 5 }),
diff --git a/src/pages/Leaderboard/Leaderboard.test.tsx b/src/pages/Leaderboard/Leaderboard.test.tsx
index fff92958..0df89961 100644
--- a/src/pages/Leaderboard/Leaderboard.test.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/Leaderboard/Leaderboard.test.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
 import { mock } from "vitest-mock-extended";
 
-import { type Member, Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
+import { type Member } from "../../api/services/types";
 import useMembers from "../../hooks/useMembers";
 import Leaderboard from "./Leaderboard";
 
@@ -139,6 +139,13 @@ function mockMember() {
     name: userName,
     currentCohort,
     cohorts: [currentCohort],
-    grade: faker.helpers.arrayElement(Object.values(Grade)),
+    grade: faker.helpers.arrayElement([
+      "SEED",
+      "SPROUT",
+      "LEAF",
+      "BRANCH",
+      "FRUIT",
+      "TREE",
+    ]),
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/pages/Progress/Progress.test.tsx b/src/pages/Progress/Progress.test.tsx
index 42afff2e..1cb11d59 100644
--- a/src/pages/Progress/Progress.test.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/Progress/Progress.test.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { render, screen, within } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
 import { mock } from "vitest-mock-extended";
 
-import { type Member, Grade } from "../../api/services/types";
+import { type Member } from "../../api/services/types";
 import useMembers from "../../hooks/useMembers";
 import Progress from "./Progress";
 
@@ -166,7 +166,14 @@ function mockMember({ id = faker.internet.username() }: { id?: string } = {}) {
     name: id,
     currentCohort,
     cohorts: [currentCohort],
-    grade: faker.helpers.arrayElement(Object.values(Grade)),
+    grade: faker.helpers.arrayElement([
+      "SEED",
+      "SPROUT",
+      "LEAF",
+      "BRANCH",
+      "FRUIT",
+      "TREE",
+    ]),
     profileUrl: faker.internet.url(),
     solvedProblems: [],
   });