CrossRoadsNews, May 26, 2012 - Section B

Wellness

Lithonia High School seniors pose for a photo after a pre-commencement service. The senior class numbered 266.

carla Parker / crossroadsnews

Columbia High seniors, who were scheduled to graduate on May 25 at Georgia State University, queue up at a pre-commencement service.

Jami ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

The graduation ceremony for Clarkston High seniors was held on May 24 at Hallford Stadium. They are shown at pre-commencement.

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

One of Cedar Grove’s 224 seniors adjusts her mortarboard at pre-commencement.

Jennifer ffrench Parker / crossroadsnews

McNair High salutatorian Stanley Stewart gets help with his tassel at a pre-commencement service.

Path to the Future5,932 DeKalb seniors up for graduation

www.crossroadsnews.comMay 26, 2012 Section B

Salute to the Class of 2012

curtis Parker / crossroadsnews

B2 The class of 2012 is being celebrated for accomplishments that include garnering millions of dollars in scholarship offers. Graduation

2012 Graduations

Countywide, 5,932 DeKalb County seniors have been picking up diplomas and certificates of attendance at commencement exercises.

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High School Date Time LocationArabia Mountain Friday, May 25 7 p.m. Greater Travelers Rest Bapt. ChurchCedar Grove Saturday, May 26 10 a.m. Georgia State University Chamblee High Friday, May 25 5:30 p.m. North DeKalb StadiumClarkston Thursday, May 24 5:30 p.m. Hallford StadiumColumbia Friday, May 25 7:30 p.m. Georgia State University Cross Keys Thursday, May 24 7:30 p.m. Adams StadiumDeKalb Alternative Wednesday, May 23 2 p.m. New Beginning Full Gospel Bapt Church DECA Friday, May 25 6 p.m. DeKalb Schools AIC AuditoriumDeKalb School of the Arts Friday, May 25 6:30 p.m. Avondale Baptist ChurchDestiny Academy Sunday, May 20 3 p.m. DeKalb Schools AIC AuditoriumDruid Hills Thursday, May 24 5 p.m. Thomas Murphy BallroomDunwoody Thursday, May 24 5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of AtlantaEagle Woods Academy Wednesday, May 23 12:30 p.m. Eagle Woods Academy Lakeside Friday, May 25 2 p.m. Greater Travelers Rest Bapt. ChurchElizabeth Andrews HS Wednesday, May 23 2 p.m. New Beginning Full Gospel ChurchLithonia Friday, May 25 9 a.m. Greater Travelers Rest Bapt. ChurchMargaret Harris Friday, May 11 10 a.m. School CafeteriaMartin L. King Jr. Saturday, May 26 noon Georgia DomeMcNair Tuesday, May 22 7 p.m. Greater Travelers Rest Bapt. ChurchMiller Grove Wednesday, May 23 7 p.m. Georgia DomeRedan Friday, May 25 10 a.m. Georgia DomeSouthwest DeKalb Friday, May 25 3:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchStephenson Thursday, May 24 4:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchStone Mountain Thursday, May 24 6 p.m. Georgia DomeTowers Thursday, May 24 6 p.m. Greater Travelers Rest Bapt. ChurchTucker Saturday, May 26 10 a.m. Greater Travelers Rest Bapt. Church

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CrossRoadsNews May 26, 2012B2

B3

the school’s theater.They sat in clusters for the colleges and

universities they will be attending, near balloons representing their colleges’ colors. After the program, which included speakers, choral and cheerleading performances, and a chance for every student to announce his or her name and their college, the students, their families and friends were treated to a reception.

Jamari, who received the HOPE scholar-ship, is headed to the University of Georgia and plans to become a history teacher.

“We’ve had the reputation as a band and football school,” Jamari said. “But people don’t realize the great things we do aca-demically so I thought it was time we were recognized in all three phases.”

Bolden would like to see Academic Sign-ing Day duplicated nationwide.

“I really wanted to change the focus of this school to academics,” said Bolden, who has been principal at Stephenson for three year. “Academic Signing Day should allow these students who are highlighting their academics to note them in the same manner as our athletes.”

Jami FFrench Parker / crossroadsnews

Stone Mountain High School seniors preparing to take their seats for their May 20, pre-commencement service on May 20 at Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta

Brian Bolden

Graduation “We have one of the smallest graduating classes in number but one of the most powerful in achievements.”

Class of 2012 touts triumphs, achievements in tough times

DeKalb’s 2012 senior class has 5,932 students, down from 6,130 last year. The number of graduates for the class of 2012 was not available at press time. 2012School SeniorsArabia Mountain 268Cedar Grove 224Chamblee 338Clarkston 169Columbia 259Cross Keys 164DeKalb Alternative Night School 6DeKalb Alternative School 9DeKalb Early College Academy 34DeKalb School of the Arts 55Destiny Achievers Academy 42Druid Hills 366Dunwoody 381Elizabeth Andrews 263Gateway to College 28Lakeside 421Lithonia 266M.L. King Jr. 316Margaret Harris Comprehensive 7McNair, Ronald E. 149Miller Grove 318Redan 297Southwest DeKalb 380Stephenson 352Stone Mountain 231Towers 240Tucker 349Total 5,932Source: DeKalb School System

Seniors reach milestoneBy Donna Williams Lewis

The class of 2012 ends its k-12 journey this week when 5,932 seniors are unleashed from the DeKalb County School System.

They leave 26 high schools and centers in graduation ceremonies under way this week through May 26 at churches, stadiums, col-leges and the Georgia Dome.

Last week, they listened to the advice of inspirational speakers, public officials, local ministers and community leaders at pre-commencement ceremonies.

Dr. Alduan Tartt, a psychologist corre-spondent for CNN/HLN, spoke at the pre-commencements for Arabia Mountain High and Columbia High.

Tartt said he advised students to follow their passions.

“I talked about the three P’s,” he said. “Finding your purpose, aligning it with your passion, and developing perseverance.”

Tartt said students shouldn’t base their career choices on where they’ve heard money or jobs can be found, but on their individual gifts.

“Go with your heart and your passion,” Tartt said. “Your gift will be your provi-sion.”

The final number of 2012 graduates who will get high school diplomas was unavailable at press time Thursday.

The senior class ranged from 421 at Lakeside High to six at DeKalb Alternative Night School.

Across the district, the class of 2012 is being celebrated for its achievements that include garnering millions of dollars in scholarship offers. Many students triumphed over tough economic and social situations to ascend to the top of their class.

Among them is the Stephenson High graduating class, which is one of the smallest in years. It has 352 seniors, a fairly large dip from four years ago, when its class of 2008 had 493 seniors.

But head counselor Lolita Richards-Baker said the smaller class size had no impact on

its success.“We have one of the

smallest graduating class-es in number but one of the most powerful in achievements,” Richards-Baker said.

Among the 2012 class achievements – more than $20 million in scholarship

offers for everything from art school to aca-demic and athletic scholarships.

Stephenson students have enrolled at schools around the country, from Boston University to the University of Hawaii.

To help celebrate their scholarships, Stephenson made history with its first ever “Academic Signing Day” on April 18.

Principal Brian Bolden enlisted the help of senior Jamari Jordan to put on the event, modeled after the traditional signing days for athletes held annually at schools around the nation.

About 45 students who received academic scholarships participated in the ceremony in

Southwest DeKalb weathers stormSouthwest DeKalb

principal Angela Bethea told parents on May 21 at the school’s last PTA meeting for the school year that she is very proud of the 2012 class.

Seniors received $3.8 million in scholarship offers, including 168 aca-demic scholarships totaling $2.9 million. There were 16 athletic scholarships, 12 band scholarships, and one fine arts scholarship.

Four athletes got tennis scholarships for only the second time in the school’s 36-year history.

Jasmine Riddick, Felicia Penn, Kalin Harrison and Odell McCree were awarded $85,000 in tennis and academic scholarships on May 24. Jasmine is going to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte. Felicia will be heading to Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala., and Kalin and Odell are headed to Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.

Bethea said this year was tough with the media camping out at the school every time

there was a story on FAMU student Robert Champion’s death. The Southwest DeKalb alumnus died last November in Orlando after a hazing ritual on a FAMU band bus.

“We are not FAMU,” Bethea said. “We are Southwest DeKalb High School. It’s just been a constant fight all year.”

She mentioned the five deaths this school year of a student, two alumni, a beloved cus-todian and a science teacher that rocked the school community. She said the PTSA and the Fathers Being Involved group were very helpful in dealing with those situations.

“You set the tone,” she said. “Thanks for the support.”

Seven Cedar Grove seniors with 4.0Cedar Grove High’s 2012 class made aca-

demic history with seven seniors graduating with a 4.0 or higher.

The school’s head counselor, Hycine L. Robinson, said it was a first.

“It’s pretty amazing to have seven seniors with a 4.0 GPA,” she said.

“That really stood out for me with this class. There are valedictorians at other schools that don’t have 4.0.”

Cedar Grove’s senior class of 224 students accrued about $1.7 million in scholarship offers, and 57 seniors were Superintendent Scholars – because they took three or more Advanced Placement courses.

Angela Bethea

JenniFer FFrench Parker / crossroadsnews

McNair seniors line up for their pre-commencement service at Beulah Baptist Church.

CrossRoadsNewsMay 26, 2012 B3

B4Ronald E. McNair High salutatorian

Stanley Stewart has $1.4 million in scholar-ship offers.

That’s more than some schools garnered for their entire senior class.

His offers come from 25 schools and seven in-stitutions. The cream of the crop – a Gates Millen-nium Scholarship – will enable Stanley to attend

his Ivy League choice, Brown University in Providence, R.I.

Stanley is one of 14 DeKalb County stu-dents and 88 students from across Georgia who were awarded Gates scholarships this year. Last year, 20 DeKalb students became Gates Scholars.

Stanley, 17, has a 3.8 grade point average and will major in international relations and public policy. He plans to become a “social entrepreneur,” opening a business that is focused on making social impact rather than on making money.

Stanley’s lengthy list of accomplishments include editor in chief of McNair’s Pegasus Yearbook; journalist of the year; excellence in English, AP World History and World Lit-erature Awards; National Public Radio Youth Commentator; and W.E.B. DuBois Society’s “I Rise” essay competition winner.

At Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, the 2012 class got $3.8 million in scholarship offers and the bulk – $2.9 million – is for academics.

At Cedar Grove High in Ellenwood, the senior class accrued more than $1.7 million in scholarship offers with senior Shandricka Flowers getting the most offers – $159,000.

Below are some of the scholarships awarded to the 2012 class:

carla Parker / crossroadsnews

Southwest DeKalb High seniors Jasmine Riddick (from left), Kalin Harrison, Odell McCree and Felicia Penn were awarded $85,000 in tennis and academic scholarships.

Senior class garners millions in scholarship offersGraduation “Think about how this will affect your future. Don’t think about what

it means today.”

Stanley Stewart

Thornton Memorial ScholarshipsThree Lithonia High students have won

$5,200 in James L. Thornton Memorial Scholarships.

Jayda Moore won $2,300, Anthony Gor-don won $1,700, and Glen Hudson won $1,200.

They are exploring a number of college options, including Georgia Southern Univer-sity, Georgia State University, the University of Georgia, the University of West Georgia and Valdosta State University,

The scholarship fund, which is in its 10th year, was created in memory of James Thorn-ton, a 2002 Lithonia rising senior who was killed in a car accident in August 2002.

The scholarships are awarded annually to Lithonia High graduates by Thornton’s par-ents, Lovell and Ora Thornton of Lithonia.

They must write an essay on ways to im-prove safety for any form of transportation; have a 3.0 or higher GPA; and be in good academic standing.

If they have a driver’s license, it must

be free of moving violations in the past 12 months.

Delta Sigma Theta ScholarshipsThe Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta

Sigma Theta Sorority awarded more than $28,000 in scholarships and book stipends to local students this month.

Druid Hills High student Christina Lynne Evans got $5,000, Teryn Thornton of Chamblee Charter High got $3,500, and Henderson Johnson of Chamblee Charter High got $1,500.

Twenty-six other finalists will receive a $500 book stipend.

They are Jalal Abdul-Azeez, W.D. Mo-hammad High; Jasmine Bailey, James S. Brown and Elaine Mills, Southwest DeKalb High; Johnna Bateman, Columbia High; Sydny Caldwell and Taylor Saab, DeKalb School of the Arts; Austin Copper, Clarkston High; Jesse Harris, Parkview High; Shannon Hodge, Kierra Jarman, Daria Johnson, Saki-nah Muhammad and Kayla Rhynes, Druid Hills High; Jabari Kilcrease and Kamry Mack,

Dunwoody High; Deric Long Jr., Westmin-ster High; Elandra Loyal, Valentine Mba, Breyanna Morning, Danielle Reed, Jordan Smith and Erica Williams, Chamblee Char-ter High; Gabrielle Miller, Lakeside High; Roshaud Turner, Whitewater High; and Tony Weaver, Greenforest Christian Academy High School.

For more information on scholarships and other programs, visit the Decatur Alum-nae Chapter at www.dstcdac.org.

Gladys Cook Scholarships

Thirteen DeKalb graduating seniors got $13,000 in scholarships from the Gladys Cook Scholarship program.

The 2012 Gladys Cook Scholarship re-cipients are Kyle Jackson Woumn, Arabia Mountain; Brittany Sherrell Gas, Cedar Grove; Jasmine Alicia Clayton, Chamblee Charter; Makiya Adem Moti, Clarkston; Sydny A. Caldwell, DeKalb School of the Arts; Kip David Lacy, Druid Hills; Kaelyn Tyler Paschal, Lithonia; Stanley Louis Stewart, McNair; Safia Abdirahim Abdirizak, Miller Grove; Kaylin Victoria Ashlyn Riggs, Redan; Demetria Charlaine Dickins, Southwest DeKalb; Jonathan Alden DeBowles, Stephen-son; and Frances Claire Lippy, Tucker.

The scholarships were awarded April 12 during the Council of PTAs’ annual Spring Scholarship Awards Dinner at Tucker High School.

The scholarship program, which is in its 50th year, was founded in 1962 by for-mer DeKalb PTA Council President Gladys Cook.

Chamblee Charter High School senior Claudia Holbrook got a special $500 50th anniversary Advocacy in Action award to help further her volunteer work with a local refugee family.


B5

rian, also received one of the coveted awards among a haul of $1.4 million in scholarship offers. He is headed to Brown University in Providence, R.I., and says the Gates scholar-ship gave him “the best feeling ever.”

“It let me know that all of this hard work paid off,” said Stanley, who lives in East At-lanta. “It reaffirmed to me that I have to keep on working hard.”

Established in 1999, the Gates Millen-nium Scholars Program is funded by a $1.6 billion endowment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

It aims to get more students from minor-ity groups working in the fields of computer

Graduation “It let me know that all of this hard work paid off. It reaffirmed to me that I have to keep on working hard.”

Fifteen DeKalb students lands coveted Gates scholarship By Donna Williams Lewis

Fifteen DeKalb students will be going to college this fall on full ride Gates Millen-nium Scholarships amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

They are headed to colleges across the country and could continue their education all the way to masters and doctorates, if they choose.

They are among 88 Georgia students and 1,000 nationwide to receive the coveted awards to financially challenged students. Many might not have been able to go to the college of their choice without the award.

Redan High’s Brian Motley is among the 2012 DeKalb Schools graduates to nab one of the scholarships.

When the large envelope arrived on April 22, he and his mother, Charmaine Hardwick, who raised him on her own, did “the happy dance” at the mailbox in front of their Stone Mountain home for a full five minutes.

“We held hands and jumped around in a circle,” he said. “I could say we did it for 30 seconds to make myself look good, but it was for a really long time. We rested and started again. Some people in cars passing by slowed down and looked at us, wondering what was going on.”

Brian and his Gates scholarship will be going to Michigan State University this fall.

He grew up in DeKalb and wants to try the cooler climes of the North, where he has family. Brian said he wanted a Gates scholar-ship every since he heard about the program in the ninth grade.

“It’s the best thing that has happened to me,” he said. “I really don’t know what I would have done without it.”

Stanley Stewart, McNair High’s salutato-

science, education, engineering, library sci-ence, math, public health and the sciences.

Destiny Andrews, a DeKalb School of the Arts graduate, will use her scholarship to attend her dream school, Atlanta’s Spelman

College.“It was my only

choice,” said Destiny, 17, who admires Spelman for helping African-American women make their marks on the world. “I’ve wanted to go there since seventh grade.”

With an on-campus price tag of about $35,000 per year, Destiny says Spelman would have been out the ques-tion for her without the scholarship.

“I was extremely excited,” she said. “I can’t even describe it. I was speechless.”

Destiny said she worked hard for the honor, writing the many papers required for the program while taking lots of accelerated classes. She also earned a 3.7 GPA.

Destiny, who wants to become a plastic surgeon, volunteers at MedShare, a nonprofit that delivers surplus medical supplies to un-derserved health care facilities in developing countries. She also hosts a monthly Bible study group for teens and works at soup kitchens through Hands on Atlanta.

Classmate and friend Sydny Caldwell, 18, is heading to Howard University on a Gates scholarship. She will major in computer science.

Sydny, who has a 3.76 GPA, has been a gymnast for 12 years and is a member of the National Beta Club, National Honor Society for Dance Artists, and the youth usher board ministry at New Birth Missionary Baptist.

When she learned that she had become a

Gates Millennium Scholarships: Fast Factsn GMS selects 1,000 new scholars each year.n Current Gates scholars attend 723 colleges and universities throughout the country.n Twenty-nine percent of Gates scholars transition into graduate school.n More than 7,900 Gates scholars have completed a degree since the program’s inception.

Destiny AndrewsSydny Caldwell

Gates scholarship winnersFifteen DeKalb students were awarded 2012 Gates Millennium Scholarships. They will attend colleges across the country on full scholarships.Student SchoolAnastasia Carter Arabia MtnJoe Lindsey Arabia MtnDejah Ault ChambleeJasmine Davis ChambleeHenderson Johnson ChambleeThuy Tran Cross KeysDestiny Andrews DSA*Sydny Caldwell DSANicole Hardy DSAZachia Gray DunwoodyBryce Rowan DunwoodyStanley Stewart McNairBrian Motley RedanTshim Tshimanga RedanMaya Williams SW DeKalb* DeKalb School of the ArtsSource: www.gmsp.org

Gates scholar, “I was so excited that I cried.”The United Negro College Fund, which

administers the program, partners with the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund to select and provide service to Gates scholars. The schol-arships are renewable annually as long as the scholar maintains satisfac-tory academic progress.

UNCF President and CEO Michael L. Lomax said that the program now provides financial support, leadership training, men-toring and academic and social support to 20,000 young men and women.

“We are grateful for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s support of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program because it is not only an investment in the futures of these students, but also in the country’s economic and social strength and competitiveness.”

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Jekayla ClaxtonStephenson High School

University of GeorgiaTop 5%, National Honor Society, 3.94 G.P.A.

Terrance HewittMartin Luther King High School

Morehouse CollegeTop 10%, 3.5 G.P.A., S.G.A. President

Brittany StreeterStephenson High School

Bethune-Cookman University

Michael G. Daise, Jr.Redan High School

Bethune-Cookman UniversityBETA Club, Superintendent Scholar, 3.5 G.P.A.

Coa-Coa HintonDruid Hills High SchoolWest Georgia University

Kierra WheatonMiller Grove High SchoolWest Georgia University

Briana ClarkS.W. DeKalb * Georgia Southern

Ikeiea GrantStephenson * West Georgia

Amberly GrierM. L. King * West Georgia

Levaun ScottLithonia * Furman University

Jason SummervilleArabia Mountain * Macon State

Glenda DowdySouthwest DeKalb High School

Auburn UniversityTop 10%, 3.68 G.P.A.

Destiny LongNewton High School

Alabama A & M University

Sandra WhiteCarver High School

Alabama A & M University

Mary Catherine DriskellDriskell Home School Academy

Georgia State UniversityG.S.U. Honors Program, 3.99 G.P.A.

Tandy SitholeLithonia High School

West Georgia University

Congratulates Recipients of $1,000 Leadership Scholarships

Congratulates Recipients of $500 Partners in Service Scholarships

Jekayla ClaxtonUniversity of Georgia

Imani KingMartin Luther King High School

Alabama State University

Tandy SitholeWest Georgia University

Lance SumnerLuther Rice Seminary and University

Master’s Degree in Leadership

Kierra WheatonWest Georgia University

Andrew WhiteArabia Mountain High School

Georgia Institute of Technology

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His offers come from 25 schools and seven institutions.

Southwest DeKalb High senior class (above) wore white to their pre-commencement exercise at the Ray of Hope Church. At left, Cedar Grove seniors share smiles, and Stone Mountain High seniors are shrouded in light as they enter Saint Philip AME Church for their pre-commencement exercise on May 20.

JenniFer FFrench Parker / crossroadsnewsJenniFer FFrench Parker / crossroadsnews

JenniFer FFrench Parker / crossroadsnews Jami FFrench Parker / crossroadsnews


B7Graduation “Think about how this will affect your future. Don’t think about what it means today.”

“I think, at the end of the day, it’s just about me making my

mother proud. I’m doing what she wants me to do. I’m staying

on track. I’m staying focused. I’m working hard.”

Alain Dusabe

Juggling act: High school, college and band duties for Columbia alum Columbia senior Trevor Lindsay, with mother Laura Lindsay, graduated from Georgia Perimeter College with an associate degree in math.

Outstanding student beat odds with hard work, tenacity

By Carla Parker

Columbia High School senior Trevor Lindsay needed more of a challenge. So he enrolled in college.

Two years ago, Trevor decided to start his college career early. He enrolled at Georgia Perimeter College, and on May 4 he received his associate degree in math, three weeks before he received his high school diploma from Columbia on May 25.

The 18-year-old said it felt “unreal” to already have a college degree before a high school diploma.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it will one of these days,” he said.

Trevor entered GPC as a dual enrollment student. Although Trevor was happy with his decision to enter college early, it wasn’t easy juggling his high school work, college work and band duties.

“It was difficult to get homework done.”

diploma while receiving up to 60 hours of college credits toward the degree – but de-cided against it.

“I wanted the normal high school experi-ence,” he said.

Trevor graduated from GPC with a 3.3 GPA and will walk across the stage at Colum-bia’s graduation with a 3.95 GPA.

He will begin his junior year at Georgia Tech on a $25,000 National Achievement scholarship in the fall. He plans to major in applied mathematics to become an actuary.

He said he’s happy about entering Geor-gia Tech as a junior. “It feels good to get the hard years [first two years] out the way.”

Trevor said if he had a chance to encour-age younger students to go the same route he did, he would tell them to think about their future.

“Think about how this will affect your future. Don’t think about what it means today.”

By Donna Williams Lewis

Born in genocide-ravaged Rwanda, 17-year-old Alain Dusabe moved to the United States from Cameroon through a refugee resettlement program on May 18, 2007.

He spoke no English but was enrolled at Avondale High as an eighth-grader.

Alain (pronounced Alan) spent every spare moment at the Covington branch library. He taught himself English with library CDs and books for children. He pored over the dic-tionary his mother bought him and watched TV programs with English subtitles.

By the end of his first school year, he was given his school’s “Most Outstanding Student Award.”

On May 11, Alain, a joint enrollment student at DeKalb Early College Academy, graduated from Georgia Perimeter College with a 3.85 grade point average. On May 25, he graduated from DECA with a 3.71 grade point average.

And this fall, he starts classes at Georgia Tech, where he plans to work on becoming an actuary scientist.

Alain said it’s not about being an overachiever.“I think, at the end of the day, it’s just about me making

my mother proud,” Alain said. “I’m doing what she wants me to do. I’m staying on track. I’m staying focused. I’m working hard.”

Shannon Thorne-Brackett, a physical science teacher

at DECA, said the key to Alain’s success is his perseverance.“He has a lot of tenacity,” she said. “It doesn’t matter

what challenge he’s faced with – he just takes it and com-pletes it.”

That includes walking two hours a day to get back and forth to school, she said.

Alain’s rocket ride to success has not been without its rocks. In his sophomore year, he said, he became distracted by his desire to fit in with other students and to have a girl-friend like the other guys.

“My mom was furious when she saw my report card,” he said. “She told me that education in this country provides me with the tools to become somebody and that I should not take that for granted.”

Alain took her sermon seriously.

He deactivated his Facebook account and distanced himself from people who might take him off course. He reactivates it in summers when he has no classes.

Alain works seasonal part time at the GPC bookstore and tutors students on Mondays and Wednesdays to earn money to help out at home. He tutors students in math for free on Fridays at DECA.

Thorne-Brackett says he is in high demand from parents who want him to tutor their kids.

“He’s like a math genius,” she said. “He explains things so well. You really have to know a concept to be able to explain it in layman’s terms.”

But Alain is not all work. He’s a rapper who teaches and inspires through that genre. His rap, “Newton’s Law,” is fea-tured on Thorne-Brackett’s site, www.purplephysics.com.

Alain spent his first 10 years moving between refugee camps and semi-permanent homes. He said he hopes to help create financial stability for his mother and siblings who are helping pay for school.

His family members are mother, Francoise Kambabazi; sister, Gisele Girishya, 26; and brother, Fabrice Eureka, 23.

“I carry my entire family on my back,” Alain said. “I didn’t experience all of the horror they did, so I’m the one who was the least scarred, and my mental state is more stable.”

Hard work pays off, Alain said, adding, “I just hope I can keep up.”

He could have attended DeKalb Early College Academy – an early college initia-

tive in joint partnership with GPC that al-lows students to complete their high school


B8 Graduation “I’ve always been a lover of nature and I want people to protect and conserve the environment.”

The 2012 ValedictoriansMost of DeKalb’s 5,932 seniors will receive their diplomas this weekend at graduation ceremonies in

stadiums, churches, a university arena, the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome. On the next four pages, we feature the valedictorians of the 2012 class. These are the students who rose to

Arabia Mountain (Resident) Cedar Grove

Jeannie Ossorio was in the ninth grade when she set her sights on be-coming valedictorian.

She topped her senior class of 224 with a 4.153 GPA, in a historic year for her school – the first time that seven seniors made 4.0 or above.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” she said. The 18-year-old will attend Clemson

University on a $5,000 scholarship. She plans to major in environmental engi-neering for a career in green technology.

“I’ve always been a lover of nature and I want people to protect and con-serve the environment,” she said.

Jeannie, who is also a Georgia Merit Scholar, received academic, science and math awards throughout her school career.

Desmond Caulley’s pride at becom-ing Arabia Mountain High’s resident valedictorian is understandable.

“All of my hard work paid off,” said Desmond, who took his class’s top spot with a 4.3 GPA.

Desmond was awarded a Presidential Scholarship to attend Georgia Tech, but like fellow Arabia Mountain High magnet valedictorian Joe Nathan Lindsey Jr., he is headed to Cornell University where he will major in economics and computer science.

Desmond said his goal is to become a software engineer and work for the Federal Reserve.

“I’ve been in Georgia all my life,” he said. “Cornell will be in a different environment.”

Clarkston

Dhruval Darji knows a thing or two about challenges. The India native faced a lot of issues after he and his family moved to America when he was baby.

“It’s really challenging being in a different country and trying to maintain your culture,” he said. He found a way and even managed to excel at Clark-ston High School, where he was named 2012 valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA.

Dhruval, 17, said it was unexpected.Dhruval hasn’t yet decided on the

college he will attend, but he plans a major in computer science.

He said he is leaning toward South-ern Polytechnic State University in Mari-etta but also is awaiting a response from Georgia Tech, where he is an intern in its Computing I-3 Program.

Arabia Mountain (Magnet)

For Joe Nathan Lindsey Jr., becom-ing valedictorian of Arabia Mountain High School’s magnet program was a surprise.

“I didn’t expect it,” says the 18-year-old, who goes by his middle name, Nathan. “I just did my work and I was like, ‘Oh, it happened.’”

A 4.2 GPA got him to the top of his class and landed him in the footsteps of his older brother, James, who was Mar-tin Luther King Jr. High’s co-valedictorian in 2008.

A gardener since he was 8, Nathan will attend Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., on a Gates Millennium Scholarship. He plans to major in international agri-culture and travel overseas to explore crop production in other countries.

Desmond Caulley Dhruval DarjiJoe Lindsey Jeannie Ossorio


B9Graduation Inspired by her brother Keyant, 15, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Korticia wants to be a child psychiatrist.

The 2012 Valedictoriansthe top by earning the highest grade point average in their graduating class.

They will speak to their classmates, teachers, parents, relatives and friends during their graduation ceremonies. This fall, they will be headed to Ivy League schools, private universities and state colleges.

Columbia (Magnet) Columbia (Resident)

Education is very important in Korti-cia Howard’s home.

Her mother, Belinda, had her when she was in high school and didn’t want her to follow in those footsteps. Instead, she stressed a focus on studies. Kor-ticia’s obedience led her to the top of her class at Columbia High, where she was named the 2012 magnet program valedictorian with a 4.05 GPA.

“I feel like it’s a big accomplishment for me,” the 18-year-old said.

She was active in band, Beta Club, the National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society.

She plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in biology. Inspired by her brother, Keyant, who has ADHD, Korticia wants to be a child psychiatrist.

For Danielle Warren, becoming Co-lumbia High’s resident valedictorian was a big accomplishment.

“It feels like I definitely did something good in my high school career,” said the 18-year-old, who was on the swim team and was a member of Future Business Leaders of America.

Danielle rose to the top of Colum-bia’s resident class with a 3.8 GPA and is headed to Georgia Southern on the HOPE scholarship this fall.

She plans to major in nursing so she can become a neonatal nurse and work with babies in the intensive care unit.

Korticia Howard Danielle Warren

Lithonia (Co-valedictorian)

Lithonia (Co-valedictorian)

Tametra Ballard was excited when she found out she and Mamie Dobbs were co-valedictorians at Lithonia High School.

“She deserves it just as much as I do,” Tametra said.

The 17-year-old is sharing the top spot with a 4.107 GPA and is headed to Georgia Tech in the fall on Pell Grant and Zell Miller scholarships.

Tametra plans to major in computer engineering and hopes to work for Mi-crosoft Corp. after college.

She is the treasurer of the Beta Club, president of the National Honor Society, and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and the Technology Student Association.

Becoming the 2012 Lithonia High co-valedictorian was a “great privilege” for Mamie Dobbs.

“It feels good to be co-valedictorian,” she said. “I’m happy.”

Mamie, 18, and her 4.107 GPA are headed to Howard University on the university’s Legacy Scholarship and a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship.

She is currently undecided on a major.

Mamie is the battalion commander of the Lithonia High School NJROTC Unit, which was awarded the Bravo Zulu Award from its area manager. She is also a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society.

Tametra Ballard Mamie Dobbs


B10 Graduation

The 2012 ValedictoriansMartin Luther King Jr. Miller Grove

Keyonna Hicks wants to help make the community better.

That’s why the Miller Grove High valedictorian plans to study biology and become a pathologist.

“I like to study diseases and find a cure,” she said.

Keyonna, 18, and her 3.9 GPA are headed to Agnes Scott College in Deca-tur on a PTSA scholarship. She said she was excited about being valedictorian and giving a speech to her classmates.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Honor Society of High School Scholars, the Miller Grove Reading Bowl team and the Bell’s.

Dimond Gooden was “honored” to be named 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. High School valedictorian.

“It feels like my hard work has paid off,” she said.

The 18-year-old nabbed the title with a 4.13 GPA and is headed to Georgia Tech on Zell Miller and HOPE scholar-ships to study graphic design.

Dimond, who has been painting for five years, said she wants to be an art director.

“I’ve always wanted to work in media and anything with art,” she said.

Dimond is a member of the band and Beta Club and president of the National Honor Society and the yearbook club.

Redan

Stephenson

Becoming class valedictorian has been a goal of Kayla Belcher since she was in ninth grade.

“It feels very good to achieve my goal,” she said. “I feel very accom-plished.”

Kayla, 18, nabbed the 2012 Redan High School valedictorian title with a 3.9 GPA. She is headed to Albany State Uni-versity on a $2,000 band scholarship. She plays the flute and piccolo.

She plans to study biology to be-come an anesthesiologist.

“I’ve been wanting to be a doctor since I was 4, when my mom bought me a little toy doctor’s kit,” she said.

Joylyn Stroud always knew she wanted to work with airplanes.

“I wanted to be a pilot but I didn’t want to live in the air,” she said.

So the Stephenson High School vale-dictorian decided to work toward becom-ing an engineer for Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company.

Joylyn, who has a 4.19 GPA, will be attending Georgia Tech in the fall to study industrial engineering and busi-ness management. She has a $3,000 Frugal Dad scholarship, a HOPE scholar-ship and a Pell Grant.

The 18-year-old said it feels “pretty great” to top her class.

She is a member of the band, bas-ketball team, Beta Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions and presi-dent of the National Honor Society.

Ronald McNair Sr.

SW DeKalb (Resident)

When she was 6 years old, Santoria Texidor fell and scratched her face and ended up in the hospital. Ever since she has wanted to be a nurse.

Santoria, who is the 2012 McNair High School valedictorian, is headed to Georgia State University to pursue a nursing degree. She rose to the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA.

She said it’s “great” being the vale-dictorian.

“It’s a really big accomplishment,” she said. She is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society and Stu-dents Against Destructive Decisions. She is also a mentor and tutor.

When Raquel May found out she was the Southwest DeKalb High School magnet program valedictorian, her mind was blown away.

“I was really excited and I feel really good to represent my class,” she said.

“It feels good to finally have this honor.”

Raquel, 18, received the honor with a 4.13 GPA. She is headed to Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, to major in international business and minor in Spanish.

She said she wants to do marketing for an international company.

Raquel is a member of the Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the varsity cheerleading squad and president of the National Honor Society.

Keyonna Hicks Kayla Belcher

Joylyn StroudJaiva Crawford

Dimond Gooden Santoria Texidor

Raquel May

“I was really excited and I feel really good to represent my class. It feels good to finally have this honor.”

Jaiva Crawford thought of one thing when she was named 2012 Southwest DeKalb High’s resident valedictorian.

“It let me know that I was one step out the door to college,” she said.

Jaiva, 18, and her 3.9 GPA are headed to Kennesaw State University in the fall.

She is the recipient of the Horatio Alger, HOPE, Ronald M. Simon and Zell Miller scholarships and plans to major in forensic science.

Jaiva is the senior class president and a member of the dance team, the National Honor Society, softball team, and the Spanish Honor Society.

School of the Arts

Nicole Hardy felt an “overwhelming sense of accomplishment” when she was named the 2012 DeKalb School of the Arts valedictorian.

“With all the hard work I’ve put in, it feels good to receive this honor,” said Nicole, who was active in the Beta Club and the National Honor Society, was co-concertmaster in the orchestra, and plays the violin.

Nicole, 17, finished high school with a 4.19 GPA and is headed to Princeton University on a full Gates Millennium Scholarship.

She plans on majoring in mechanical and aerospace engineering and working for an auto company after college.

“I want to make cars aerodynamic and faster,” she said.

Nicole Hardy

SW DeKalb (Magnet)


B11Graduation

The 2012 ValedictoriansTowers Tucker

Ever since elementary school, Jessica Gutierrez’s classmates knew she was going to be at the top of her class.

“I never really thought about it, but the kids always said I would be valedic-torian,” she said.

Their prediction came true when Jes-sica, 17, was named the 2012 Towers High School valedictorian with a 4.032 GPA. She will attend Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, N.Y., on a Trustee scholar-ship.

Jessica plans to major in interna-tional business and minor in business to help her connect with countries world-wide on education and better health care.

“I want to improve the world as a whole,” she said.

Mati’n Malikyar was “very happy” when he was named the 2012 Tucker High School valedictorian.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” he said. “It’ll help me out in my future.”

Mati’n will attend Georgia Tech on a Zell Miller scholarship and will major in computer engineering and minor in biology. He said he is deciding between becoming an engineer or doctor.

“I feel like if I do well in engineering I can find a good job,” he said. “And the job market is good for doctors.”

He is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society and soccer team.

Stone Mountain

Edin Ibrisimovic felt “honored” and “humbled” when he was named the 2012 valedictorian at Stone Mountain High School. The Bosnia native rose to the top of his class with a 4.04 GPA.

Edin, 18, will attend Southern Poly-technic State University in Marietta next fall, then transfer to Georgia Tech in 2013. He plans to major in mechanical engineering and says he will work in the auto industry or on airplanes.

“I’ve always been crazy about cars and how they work,” he said. “My inter-est in airplanes grew when I would travel back to visit Bosnia.”

Edin is a member of the Beta Club, vice president of the National Honor Society, captain of the soccer team, and the kicker of the football team.

Jessica Gutierrez Mati’n MalikyarEdin Ibrisimovic

“I feel like if I do well in engineering I can find a good job. And the job market is good for doctors.”

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B12I want to express my most heartfelt

congratulations and appreciation on a job well done!

You’ve not only completed another suc-cessful school year but you’ve also achieved a major accomplishment that will serve as the foundation for future endeavors.

As superintendent, it is my greatest hope that all of our stu-dents will one day feel the excitement and profound sense of accomplishment that accompanies graduation day. Graduating from high school is a major milestone, and one that you will always remember. I can still recall my high school graduation and all the hugs and well wishes I received from my family and friends.

Many of you are attending some of our nation’s finest colleges and universities. I’m proud to say that this year’s graduating class has earned some $20 million in schol-arships for their academic achievement, talent and skills. And others are making a difference in our communities by pursu-ing careers in the military, entrepreneurial endeavors and other workforce paths.

Whatever path you take, I hope you will remember your days in DeKalb Schools and all of the teachers and staff who worked hard to help you along the way.

Congratulations again graduates, I wish you all the success that life has to offer.

Four DeKalb students named National Merit Scholars

Martin Luther King Jr. High salutatorian Arrion Jackson, right, with his father Carl,who was Banneker High’s valedictorian in 1998.

Dad’s honor spurs MLK standout to aim highGraduation “I worked extremely hard to get to the top and

to go even further than he did.”

By Donna Williams Lewis For CrossRoadsNews

Arrion Jackson, salutatorian of Martin Luther King Jr. High School, says two things put him on his mis-sion to reach the top of his class.

One was a heavy talk just before he started high school with his mother, Mahalia Jackson, about taking aca-demics seriously.

The other was learning that his father, Carl Jackson, was valedictorian of College Park’s Benjamin Banneker High School class of 1998.

“I worked extremely hard to get to the top and to go even further than he did,” Arrion said. “I pretty much saw that where I wanted to go in life, I couldn’t mess around. I had to handle my business so I could get to the place that I wanted to be.”

Arrion earned a GPA of 4.054 while taking accelerated classes; performing in marching, concert and jazz band; and participating in numerous clubs and organizations, including DeKalb County’s Youth Commission, a teen advisory board with representatives from schools

across the county.He has been accepted to Georgia

Tech, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics.

Arrion came into Carl Jackson’s life at the age of 4, when Carl and Ma-halia met on the campus of FAMU.

Carl was on a music scholarship and was one of the school’s famed Marching 100. Mahalia was a theater major and a music minor. The couple married in 2000 and have four chil-dren. Arrion is the eldest.

A former DeKalb schoolteacher, Carl said he set his own goal to be-come high school valedictorian early in high school, but he hasn’t pushed his children to reach the same goal.

“For me, it was all about getting the grades and the high test scores,” he said, “but I just encourage them to do their best and then allow them to do that.”

“I want them to put more purpose in learning, to think about why they’re learning something and how they can apply it to their lives,” Carl said. “Let the grades be the end result of it, not the goal itself.”

Cheryl Atkinson

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among

yourselves as you follow Jesus Christ!”Romans 15:5 ( NIV)

Congratulations to Our25 High School & 20 College/University

Graduates in the Class of 2012

“Working for DeKalb, Working for Communities, Working for YOU!”

1300 Commerce Drive, 5th Floor • Decatur, GA 30030 • 404-371-3681 • www.dekalbcountyga.gov

Congratulations to the Class of 2012As you embark on your next phase of life’s

journey, we encourage you to go out and make a better world.

Please work to improve the quality of life in our county, our state and in America.

We applaud your accomplishments!

CongratulationsClass of 2012

CongratulationsClass of 2012

State Rep. Pamela StephensonHouse District 92

State Rep. Pamela StephensonHouse District 92

“Positively Pam”

Four DeKalb high school students have been named National Merit Scholars and will each receive $2,500.

The college-bound students – Jessica Andersen, Dunwoody High; Kevin Bai and Anne Grosse, Lakeside High; and Eron Smith, Decatur High – were among 15,000 finalists. About 1.5 million students applied for the scholarship in their junior year.

Last fall, the highest-scoring participants in each state, representing less than 1 percent of the nation’s high school seniors, were named semifinalists on a state representa-tional basis. Only these 16,000 semifinal-ists had an opportunity to continue in the competition.

Merit Scholars received more than $35 million in college scholarships.

NMSC, a not-for-profit corporation that operates without government assistance, was founded in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

The majority of annual scholarships are underwritten by about 440 independent corporate and college sponsors.

For more information, visit www .nationalmerit.org.

You’ve reached an achievement worthy of praise

congratulations


B13

Job Well Done!

Congratulations Class of 2012

Graduation Fredrick said he is excited about doing gymnastics at the University of Illinois and competing on a team.

Gymnastics champ also excels in academics

Fredrick Hartville, who graduated from Arabia Mountain High, is attending the University of Illinois on a $14,000 academic scholarship. He said that he plans on landing a gymnastics scholarship before his second year in college.

“It was both fun and challenging,” he said. “It made me want to do it even more.”

He began competing in the sport at age 12 with Gymsouth in Fayetteville. He later moved to WorldXtreme gym in McDonough, where he now teaches tumbling to cheerlead-ers on Saturday mornings.

Out of the six gymnastics events – floor, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar – Fredrick excels on the floor and vault.

“I’m more of a power guy,” he said.Along with being a two-time Georgia

State vault and floor champion, Fredrick has made Regional five times and National twice.

When Fredrick Hartville was 4 years old, he wanted to learn how to flip.

So his aunt Gayla Tarks enrolled him in a gymnastics camp. Thirteen years later, the 17-year-old is a two-time Georgia State vault and floor champion and is heading to the University of Illinois to join the Fighting Irish gymnastics team.

Fredrick, who graduated from Arabia Mountain High School on May 25, is attend-ing the University of Illinois on a $14,000 academic scholarship. He plans to land a gymnastics scholarship before his second year in college.

Fredrick said the challenge of gymnastics hooked him.

Because the DeKalb School System doesn’t have male gymnastics, Fredrick helped out with the Arabia Mountain girls gymnastics team. He said he would like to see boys gymnastics in DeKalb schools because gymnastics is not just a sport for girls.

“It’s a masculine sport as well,” he said.Fredrick said he is excited about doing

gymnastics at the University of Illinois and competing on a team.

“I’ll be competing against guys who will make me better because I want to win,” he said.

Fredrick graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was vice president of Future Business Leaders of America.

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B14

Kadiata Sy, who was born in a refugee camp in Senegal, has two associate degrees from Georgia Perimeter and won a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship.

Students from 15 public and private high schools in DeKalb and the metro area graduated from the 10-month leadership training program on May 7.

Congratulations

Arabia MountainHigh School

Jada Akilah Martin

Class of 2012We share your family’s pride

in your accomplishments!– The Parkers

GraduationI remember reading ‘Jack and Jill’ over and over again. By the end of the seventh grade, I got a ‘Harry Potter’ book and kept reading it.”

Determined student graduate GPC with double degree

32 students complete Youth Leadership DeKalb trainingThirty-two students from the Youth Leadership DeKalb class of

2012 graduated from the 10-month leadership training program on May 7.

The students, representing 15 public and private high schools in DeKalb and the metro Atlanta area, received leadership training focused on understanding criminal justice, health, quality of life issues, business and entrepreneurship, government, finance, and civic engagement.

Towers High School junior D’Yaneisia DeShay said she gained a wealth of knowledge – including increased awareness of social net-working, community involvement and career observations – from the program.

“I also had the opportunity to meet new lifelong friends,” she said. “I have also been enlightened to the fact that I can make a difference not just in my community, but in the world.”

Created more than 20 years ago by Leadership DeKalb graduates, YLD is a program designed to mentor high school students and to foster their leadership skills and civic engagement. More than 400 students have completed the program.

Kadiata Sy overcame many trials before gradu-ating May 4 with an associate degree in philosophy from Georgia Perimeter College.

Last December, she also got an associate degree in political science from GPC.

Sy was born in a refugee camp in Senegal, where her family lived after war broke out between Senegal and her native country of Mauritania. She spent the first 11 years of her life in that camp until her family was allowed to relocate to the United States, where they settled in Atlanta.

“When I got here, I didn’t speak any English, and I was placed in ESOL [English to Speakers of Other Languages] classes in Shamrock Middle School [now Druid Hills Middle School],” Sy said. “The teachers were great. I remember reading ‘Jack and Jill’ over and over again. By the end of the seventh grade, I got a ‘Harry Potter’ book and kept reading it.”

By the time Sy moved on to high school, she was taking several Advanced Placement classes, including one in English. When she was looking for a good college to attend, a family member recommended GPC.

“I planned on taking a few courses and then transferring, but once I was on campus I saw this was a great place,” she said. “I decided to stay.”

Sy was enrolled in GPC’s Honors program

and won the 2012 Clarkston Campus President’s Award. She also won campus excellence awards in general humanities and global studies.

She served as the president of the Clarkston Campus Student Government Association and founded the campus’s Philosophy Club, all while maintaining 3.78 GPA. She leaves GPC with two as-sociate degrees: political science and philosophy.

She also has been active in community ser-vice, working with Keep DeKalb Beautiful, Global Village School for Refugee Girls, Fight Against Famine-Somalia and the International Rescue Committee.

As she looked for a college to continue her education beyond GPC, Sy decided Emory Uni-versity was the best choice, but she knew her fam-ily couldn’t afford it. As she was about to change her plans, Sy learned she was one of two GPC students to win the prestigious national Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship, which provides up to $90,000 – up to $30,000 annually for three years – to continue her education.

“This is more than my family could have ever expected,” Sy said.

She will complete dual bachelor’s degrees at Emory University in political science and Middle Eastern studies. Sy plans to one day become a hu-man rights attorney.

SalutesThe Class of 2012We Wish You Good Luck

as You Continue Life’s Journey!


B15

Arabia Mountain’s resident valedictorian Desmond Caulley (above), Southwest DeKalb’s salutatorian Ashley McCray (top right), and Lithonia’s salutatorian Joshua Grosh are among DeKalb County Schools’ scholar-athletes in the class of 2012.

Graduation The 15 athletes represent 10 different athletic endeavors, including four who played multiple sports during the school year.

Scholar-athletes tally up honors on field and in classroom

Best Wishes as youembark on the nextphase of your life!Michele Henson

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2012

STATE REPRESENTATIVE • HOUSE DISTRICT 87

By Carla Parker

Playing a sport and studying schoolwork can be difficult, but some of DeKalb’s 2012 top students made it work.

Fifteen of the 49 DeKalb School System valedictorians and salutatorians competed in either basketball, competitive cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, soc-cer, softball, swimming, tennis or track.

That number represents 30.6 percent of those receiving the highest honors at their schools. The 15 athletes represent 10 differ-ent athletic endeavors, including four who played multiple sports during the 2011-2012 school year.

Arabia Mountain’s magnet and resident

valedictorians Joe Lindsey and Desmond Caulley are among the top sports and aca-demic scholars. Desmond was the Rams line-backer, and Joe participated on the school’s cross country team.

Stone Mountain valedictorian Edin Ibri-simovic was the Pirates’ place kicker, finish-ing the 2012 season third with 37 points. He was also the captain of the soccer team, contributing one goal and four assists.

Southwest DeKalb and Cross Keys are the only two schools to have athletes as both their magnet valedictorians and salu-tatorians. Southwest DeKalb valedictorian Raquel May was a competitive cheerleader, and salutatorian Ashley McCray was on the gymnastics team. Raquel’s competitive

cheer squad finished as the Region 6-AAAA champs and went on to an eighth-place finish in state competition.

Cross Keys valedictorian Laura Ramirez was 5-1 in tennis singles play and swam in four events for the Lady Indians swim team. Salutatorian Chandra Dickey competed in the long jump and high jump in track while also participating in cheerleading.

Redan had the most athletes recognized for academics and three are co-salutatorians. Guy Dorris played tennis, Tombari Ereba was on the soccer team, and Jared James played football.

The other athletic scholars include Columbia resident salutatorian Lateria Slocumb, Lithonia salutatorian Joshua

Grosh, Stephenson valedictorian Joylyn Stroud, Towers salutatorian Brett Oakman, and Tucker valedictorian Mati’n Malikyar.

Seven athletes were awarded the Council of PTAs Gladys Cook Scholarships and the Gates Millennium Scholarships.

Three cross country athletes – Arabia Mountain’s Joe Lindsey, Cross Keys’ Thuy Tran and Dunwoody’s Bryce Rowan – are 2012 Gates Millennium Scholars.

Lithonia’s Kaelyn Paschal; Redan’s Kaylin Riggs; Southwest DeKalb’s Demetria Dick-ins, a bronze medalist in the Class AAAA shot put; and Tucker’s two-sport partici-pant Claire Lippy were among 13 students awarded Gladys Cook Scholarships from the DeKalb Council of PTAs.


B16 2012 Pre-Commencement Exercises

Stone Mountain High seniors line up to take their seats for their May 20 pre-commencement excercise at Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta.

Cedar Grove High 2012 seniors class has the seven seniors with GPA above 4.0, a dirst for the school. Arabia Mountain seniors line up for the May 20 service in the school’s gym.

Seniors at Martin Luther King Jr. High at Greater Travelers Rest (bottom far left) and Miller Grove at the school gym (top far left and left) strike poses during May 20 services.

Graduation

Photos By Newburn Reynolds, Carla Parker, Curtis Parker, Jami Ffrench-Parker and Jennifer Ffrench Parker


Documents

CrossRoadsNews, May 26, 2012 - Section B