crossroadsnews, may 23, 2009, section b

Southwest DeKalb High’s Class of 2009 is the county’s second largest with 404 seniors. Here, the class attends its May 17 Pre-Commencement at Greater Travelers Rest Church in Decatur.

Lithoinia High School graduates share happy smiles before the start of their May 17 Pre-Commencement Ceremony. They are among 289 seniors in their Class of 2009.

Several McNair High School graduates gather for a group photo after their Pre-Commencement Exercise at Beulah Baptist Church in Decatur.

A Columbia High graduate cheeses for the camera after their May 17 Pre-Commencement Ceremony.

Miller Grove boys wait for the processional into the May 17 Pre-Commencemnt Ceremony.

Plenty to Smile AboutDeKalb schools to graduate 5,480 students over busy four days

www.crossroadsnews.comMay 23, 2009 Section B

Salute to the Class of 2009

Graduation

2009 Graduations

Countywide, more than 5,844 DeKalb County seniors from 31 high schools & centers have been picking up diplomas and certificates of attendance at commencement exercises.

Pomp and Circumstance

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The 2009 Graduation Special Section is a publication of

CrossRoadsNews Inc., South DeKalb’s award-winning weekly

newspaper.

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker

Graphic Design Curtis Parker

Reporters McKenzie Jackson

Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The content, design and concept for CrossRoads News is

copyrighted and no parts of it should be copied, reproduced or duplicated with-

out the expressed permission of the publisher.

School Date Time LocationAvondale High May 22 7 p.m. Ray of HopeCedar Grove High May 23 10 a.m. Panthersville StadiumChamblee High May 22 7 p.m. North DeKalb StadiumClarkston High May 22 8 p.m. James R. Hallford StadiumColumbia High May 23 9 a.m. Georgia State UniversityCross Keys High May 22 8 p.m. Adams StadiumDeKalb School/Arts May 23 10 a.m. Salvation Army ChapelDHST/North May 23 2 p.m. Redan High School Druid Hills High May 22 5 p.m. GA State University Sports ArenaDunwoody High May 22 5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of AtlantaElizabeth Andrews High May 21 2 p.m. New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Lakeside High May 21 7 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchLithonia High May 23 5 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchMcNair High May 21 6 p.m. Ray of Hope Christian ChurchMiller Grove High May 23 10 a.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchMLK Jr. High May 23 2 p.m. Georgia DomeRedan High May 23 10 a.m. Georgia DomeSouthwest DeKalb May 24 10 a.m. Georgia DomeStephenson High May 22 4:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchStone Mountain High May 21 6 p.m. Georgia DomeTowers High May 22 8 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchTucker High May 23 1 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

CrossRoadsNews May 23, 2009B2

Graduation “Many of us have obstacles in our life but that should not stop us from being successful. ”

Thousands of graduates picking up diplomas to cap high school career

The 2009 Class has, 3,520 seniors from 14 South DeKalb high schools.

No.inSchool Sr.Class

ML King 453

Southwest DeKalb 404

Stephenson 387

Miller Grove 368

Redan 316

Cedar Grove 302

Lithonia 289

Stone Mountain 270

Columbia 244

McNair 209

Towers 178

Clarkston 142

Avondale 138

Destinity Academy 16

South DeKalb’s Class of 2009

Five high schools in South DeKalb have the largest classes of seniors graduating this year. The top four senior classes in size are (from left) Miller Grove, Southwest DeKalb, Martin Luther King Jr., and Stephenson high schools.

Chiquita Harris * C/O 2008 Associate of Science Degree in Business

Georgia Perimeter College

Dameya Allen Stephenson High School

Gordon College

Chantel Kelly * C/O 2008 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology

Georgia State University

Chick-fil-A at Turner Hill Road and South DeKalb Mall Congratulate our 2008-2009 College Graduates!

Congratulate our 2009 High School Graduates!

Tiara Johnson Chamblee High School

Kennesaw State University

Christopher Ross M. L. King High School

FAMU

Kyle Berry Rockdale High School

Georgia State University

Tracee Keels Miller Grove High School Valdosta State University

Anthony J. Royal II The Morning Star Academy DeKalb Technical College

Deshon Gunby Green Pastures Christian Academy

Kennesaw State University

Ericka Nelson Rockdale High School

Georgia Southern University

Casharee Smith Rockdale High School

Albany State University

Taniece Hicks Rockdale High School Tuskegee University

Tommy L. Reese III Lithonia High School

Macon State University

Chris Starling Heritage High School

Georgia Southern University

Hannah Lemons attends Georgia Perimeter College

Chick-fil-A at Turner Hill Road and South DeKalb Mall Congratulate Recipients of $1,000 Leadership Scholarships

Congratulate Recipients of $500 Partners in Service Scholarships

Joseph M. Nzioki Beulah Heights University

Bachelor of Arts Urban Studies

Tommy L. Reese III will attend Macon State University

Franchez Smith Roberts attends DeVry University

Anthony J. Royal II will attend DeKalb Technical College

Presented on behalf of S. Truett Cathy,

this scholarship goes to employees completing 1800 hours of work and exhibiting

leadership qualities.

Dameya Allenwill attend Gordon College

Shaunte Cook attends Georgia Perimeter College

Kathleen Hall attends Strayer University

Melvin Shawn Kelly will attend Georgia Perimeter College

Dameshia Thomas M. L. King High School University of Kentucky

The $500 Partners in Service Scholarships

go to schools and colleges that have partnered with us

for 2008-2009.

Calissa R. Ramseur *Berean Christian Academy Savannah State University

Sherita Walker Towers High School

Stillman College

Terrel Champion Stephenson High School

Morehouse College

Miya Harvey Redan High School

Valdosta State University

Stephen T. Moseley Luther Rice University

Master of Divinity

Raketa Dobbins Lithonia High School

Stillman College

Jenise M. King New Birth Academy Howard University

Natanya Gordon Senior at University of Maryland

Jesse N. Oglesby Senior at Marshall University

Tony Royal Owner/Operator

Congratulates You!

Chick-fil-A at Turner Hill Road and Chick-fil-A at South DeKalb Mall

The annual graduation season is in full swing.

All week long the Class of 2009 has been celebrating its achievements at luncheons, parties, senior assemblies and pre-com-mencement exercises.

Now it is time to take that walk up to the podium to pick up the high school diploma that crowns the last 12 years of school life.

This season, DeKalb School Board members expect to release diplomas and certificates to about 5,854 seniors, one of the county’s largest senior classes.

As usual, south DeKalb schools, with more than 3,500 or 60 percent of the seniors, account for the bulk of the graduates.

But before they can get that well-earned piece of paper, graduates will listen to the class top students expound on their time together, what they will miss, and the road ahead.

Over the last week, valedictorians and salutatorians have written drafts after drafts of speeches, in search of the right words and tone to inspire their classmates to seize the

moment and reach for the stars.Clarkston valedictorian Zenobia Ingram

said the future is on her mind.“I really want to talk to my class about

what we are going to do in the future,” she said.

Lac Dang, the school’s salutatorian, says that more than anything she wants her classmates to hear her when she takes the stage at the Hallford Stadium to speak of success.

“Many of us have obstacles in our life but that should not stop us from being suc-cessful,” she said. “There is nothing that can really stop you from achieving success.”

Columbia High School resident valedic-torian Kelsey Johnson said that she will en-courage her classmates during her speech.

“ I want to encourage them to go to col-lege to fulfill their dreams, keep their heads up and to keep going for it,” she said.

Zenobia said she will discuss the journey they have been on.

“I want to tell them about how proud I am that we all have made it here,” she said.

CrossRoadsNewsMay 23, 2009 B3

By McKenzie Jackson

In 1998, Dennisa Thomas, LeAna Moore, Malia Hibbler and Jonathan Jones entered the third grade at Narvie J. Harris Elementary School in Decatur.

They were among the first students at the new school, which opened that August.

Fast forward to 2009, and the four stu-dents are graduating this weekend at the top of their DeKalb high school classes.

Dennisa, 18, is the valedictorian at Cedar Grove High School.

LeAna 18, is the resident salutatorian at Southwest DeKalb High School, and Malia, 17, is co-valedictorian at Martin Luther King Jr. High School.

Jonathan, 18, is the magnet valedictorian at Southwest DeKalb High School.

Even Marvin Strong, who taught them in the chorus at Narvie J. Harris, thinks that’s pretty remarkable – but not surprising.

“I’m not shocked that they achieved the goal,” he said Wednesday. “ I’m just shocked that it came to pass all at once.”

The four graduates, who attended Narvie J. Harris through fifth grade, remained friends even as their paths diverged after el-ementary school. This week, they all credited their participation in the Narvie J. Harris chorus, taught by Strong, with setting them on the path to success.

“To be in the chorus you had to have good grades and you had to have good conduct,” said Malia, who is going to the

Graduation “It was kind of sad to see our competition leave us, but it’s cool that all of us are now valedictorians.”

Chorus planted seeds of success for four of 2009’s best students

Graduating class at BaSix Academy includes 77-year-old student

CongratulationsStephanie Swindle

CongratulationsStephanie Swindle

Chamblee High SchoolClass of 2009

Chamblee High SchoolClass of 2009

Everybody finds happiness in his own way.

Happily…I can think of you.

Stephanie,

I am so very proud of you.

You make me so happy.

Love, Daddy

Jami Ffrench-ParkerSouthwest DeKalb High School

Class of 2009

Jami,

We are so proud of the

young woman you have

become. Your intelligence,

compassion and commitment

will carry you far in life.

We love you,

Mom, Dad, Shari and Kelli

Son,You've attained your goals – Top Ten Percent, AP

Scholar, Senior Class President – while working 2 jobs, interning at 21st Century Leaders, playing

saxophone in the Marching and Concert Bands and representing MLK Jr. H. S. well on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Board and as SCLC liaison. You have served as leader in many different roles at the school

and your drive will carry you as you continue your studies at the University of Pittsburgh to pursue

a degree in Business to reach your goal to become CEO of a major corporation.

You have made me so proud. May God continue to Bless You and Keep you.

Love,Mom

Marcus Kernizan, MLK Class of 2009Marcus Kernizan, MLK Class of 2009 Kirsten BaileyStephenson High School

Well Done, Big Sister.Love to You in Memory

of Our Mom, Erika.Love, Kaitlin

Ernest Lee Brown, Jr.

Class of 2009Southwest DeKalb High School

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”

Congratulations on completing this journey and beginning a new one!

LoveMom, Dad, Eman, Nettie, and Elijah

Congratulations! Christian & McKenzie Fahie

SHELTERING ARMS PRE-K CLASS OF 2009 You are moving on to Kindergarten. We

are so proud of you!!Love,

Mom, Dad, Grandma Shaw, Grandma Fahie, Grandpa Fahie, Auntie Meka, Auntie Melva, Auntie Debbie and a

host of family & friends.

University of Georgia. “It was like a privilege to be in chorus.” They were among the chorus’ inaugural

class. Strong, who has directed the chorus since the school opened, remembers them as great students.

“They had the ability to listen, to absorb everything,” he said. “They would watch me, listen and follow through. They followed

through on everything I taught them. Some children just grasp at an early age the im-portance of discipline because they can see their future.”

The graduates are finishing high school with at grade point averages of 4.0 and above.

Jonathan, who is also headed to UGA in the fall, said the four were keen competi-

Academic standouts Dennisa Thomas (from left), LeAna Moore, Malia HIbbler and Jonathan Jones were all in the third grade at Narvie J. Harris Elementary when the school opened in 1998.

tors in elementary school, after which they separated.

“It was kind of sad to see our competition leave us, but it’s cool that all of us are now valedictorians,” he said.

Malia remembers it being a real privilege to be in chorus. She said they had to keep their grades up to keep their place and get to perform at metro Atlanta schools and colleges, as well as several times at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

On out-of-town chorus trips, Jonathan remembers them studying in the hotels.

“A lot of times we had to come back and go right back to class,” he said.

Throughout their middle and high school years, the four stayed in touch. All three girls are cheerleaders; Dennisa and LeAna are best friends and even share the same Jan. 28 birthday.

Malia and Jonathan went to the South-west DeKalb prom together.

Malia said it’s a great honor to be vale-dictorian.

“I will never forget that,” she said.LeAna is considering Clemson University

and West Georgia University.Dennisa , who is going to North Caro-

lina A&T University, said she expects all of them to be successful in college and stay in touch.

“All of us work hard and have good work ethic,” she said. “I guess we learned that at Narvie. We basically learned to put school first. It makes everything so much easier.”

BaSix Knowledge Academy is graduating its largest crop of graduates this year.

The non-traditional school will issue diplomas to 44 students at its May 23 gradu-ation at Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, up from 14 in 2008.

The 2009 graduates bring to 64 the num-ber of students who have graduated from the 11-year-old school.

The graduating class, which is the school’s fourth, range in age from early teens to 77 years old. Some are working adults who have returned to school to improve their chance

of getting better jobs.DeKalb Commissioner Lee May will de-

liver the commencement address.David Price, the school’s headmaster, said

this year’s graduating class includes a wide age range of graduates who are receiving diplomas versus a GED.

At 77, Ernest Tuggle, who dropped out of school in 1949, is the class’s oldest graduate.He is anxious to don his burgundy cap and gown and take that walk for the high school diploma.

“It’s 50 years late,” he said Thursday. “I

am anxious to go ahead with it.”Tuggle, who is an HVAC mechanic with

the DeKalb School System, says his diploma opens a whole new world of opportunities to him.

“There are some things I might want to do now that I have it,” he said.

Tuggle doesn’t know if getting his high school diploma will earn him a raise, but he is definitely taking a copy of his diploma to his job.

“I want them to put it in my file,” he said. David Price Ernest Tuggle


“These exams are more rigorous and require students to demonstrate a deeper knowledge of the subject, but student achievement continues to rise in these areas. The credit belongs to the teachers, students and school leaders who are working very hard to fully implement the new

Georgia Performance Standards.” Kathy Cox, State School Superintendent

Schools use the results to iden-tify students who need additional instruction to get a high school diploma.

Students who do not succeed on their first attempt have four more opportunities to meet the standards prior to completing 12th grade.

On the science portion of the test, 83 percent of DeKalb students passed, up one percentage point from 2008. Statewide, 88 percent of students passed the test, up from 86 percent last year.

Overall, 11 of DeKalb’s 28 high schools made improvements in the percentage of students passing English language arts, 16 increased their mathematics scores, 15 schools made improvements in science, and 13 in social studies. Gloria Talley, DeKalb’s deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction, did not return telephone calls.

State School Superintendent Kathy Cox said the results of the 2009 GHSGT show that Georgia’s students continue to make steady progress in all areas of the cur-riculum.

Joel M. BrownMount Zion High SchoolClass of 2009 Graduate

With all of our love, Your Mom (Melva),

Auntie Meka,The Fahie & Johnson Family,The England & Knox Family,

And a host of family & friends

We are so proud of you. We wish you much success in

college and in all of your future endeavors. Keep God first in

your life and as always he will continue to direct your path.

Graduation On the science test, 15 percent of the students scored at the “honors” level, an increase of three points from 2008.

DeKalb students show gains on state’s high school graduation test

You Made It!Congratulations,

Dr. Deborah Jackson!

On getting your Doctor of Philosophy in Community

Economic Development and Public Policy from Southern New Hampshire University,

Manchester, NH.

We are So Proud of You.Curtis, Jennifer,

Shari, Jami & Kelli

DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMGEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TESTS (GHSGT)

Percent Passing-First Time ALL Students Tested (11th Grade)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 +/- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 +/- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 +/- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 +/-

DeKalb 93 95 95 87 87 0 86 86 87 88 90 2 57 62 66 82 83 1 77 79 83 82 84 2

Georgia 95 96 96 89 90 1 92 92 92 93 94 1 68 72 74 86 88 2 83 85 87 86 87 1

Avondale 85 90 88 83 81 -2 78 80 81 88 87 -1 49 62 60 82 74 -8 65 68 75 84 82 -2

Cedar Grove 92 93 94 83 83 0 81 85 85 82 87 5 41 56 66 71 72 1 65 73 81 68 80 12

Chamblee 96 97 96 96 95 -1 94 95 93 97 95 -2 80 88 85 93 95 2 91 93 93 95 95 0

Clarkston 88 81 88 77 82 5 84 76 79 83 92 9 47 50 44 69 77 8 71 62 73 67 80 13

Columbia 92 94 94 83 86 3 81 87 82 84 89 5 39 61 61 80 82 2 65 78 81 82 79 -3

Cross Keys 85 82 89 81 81 0 76 81 86 92 94 2 42 52 53 84 89 5 62 67 75 77 86 9

DK Alt Day 84 58 77 65 94 29 71 74 55 76 81 5 27 21 33 54 75 21 58 34 55 55 69 14

DK Alt Night ** 64 86 ** 58 NA ** 80 83 ** 77 NA ** 36 43 ** 75 NA ** 80 57 ** 77 NA

DK Early College 100 NA 98 NA 94 NA 100 NA

DK Schl of Arts 100 100 100 98 100 2 96 100 100 100 100 0 77 90 97 98 97 -1 100 100 100 98 98 0

DK Transition ** ** ** ** ** NA ** ** ** ** ** NA ** ** ** ** ** NA ** ** ** ** ** NA

DK HS Tech North 67 88 21 92 73 -19 67 54 -13 54 62 8

DK-RD PsychEd ** ** ** 5 ** NA ** ** ** 0 ** NA ** ** ** 0 ** NA ** ** ** 0 0 0

Destiny Charter 40 54 14 ** 73 67 -6 ** 20 42 22 ** 30 50 20

Druid Hills 93 94 97 93 93 0 89 92 93 95 96 1 77 71 87 91 88 -3 82 84 93 93 93 0

Dunwoody 94 94 95 93 90 -3 92 93 93 95 96 1 74 78 78 88 89 1 84 88 90 90 89 -1

Gateway Charter 92 100 ** 93 NA 71 77 ** 92 NA 40 33 ** 54 NA 50 50 ** 75 NA

Lakeside 99 95 97 95 92 -3 97 95 94 97 95 -2 88 86 87 95 92 -3 94 91 93 92 90 -2

Lithonia 91 92 96 85 84 -1 82 83 86 84 84 0 43 52 60 77 77 0 69 77 82 79 76 -3

M. L. King Jr. 94 95 95 86 87 1 87 88 86 86 88 2 58 60 62 76 77 1 79 81 84 76 80 4

McNair 90 86 92 74 72 -2 69 71 72 72 78 6 24 31 47 71 72 1 79 81 84 76 80 4

Miller Grove 94 98 88 90 2 80 86 90 91 1 52 61 88 87 -1 72 82 88 88 0

Open Campus 79 75 84 64 63 -1 68 59 58 70 74 4 17 22 21 56 55 -1 44 41 46 55 55 0

Redan 95 97 94 93 91 -2 90 93 88 93 92 -1 65 68 68 88 86 -2 82 89 87 90 91 1

Southwest DeKalb 96 97 96 92 88 -4 89 87 91 92 90 -2 61 64 71 87 86 -1 81 84 86 86 85 -1

Stephenson 97 98 98 91 90 -1 88 93 91 90 93 3 64 70 66 81 81 0 82 87 87 82 87 5

Stone Mountain 94 95 96 89 90 1 89 91 92 91 92 1 56 69 79 86 89 3 84 90 90 86 93 7

Towers 84 91 93 73 78 5 79 76 74 74 83 9 44 40 47 62 70 8 66 63 69 62 69 7

Tucker 95 91 96 89 89 0 95 90 90 93 90 -3 64 63 66 83 85 2 84 81 84 84 88 4

ENG. LANG. ARTS SOCIAL STUDIESSCIENCE

Blue Highlight = Content test fully aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards ** Too few students to report

MATHEMATICS

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb seniors are making strides on the Georgia High School Graduation Tests.

The school by school results, released May 13, show encour-aging gains in math, science and social studies, but district-wide, the DeKalb School System continues to lag behind the state.

More than 6,000 DeKalb 11th-graders took the test for the first time March 16-April 3. Statewide, 95,512 11th-graders took the tests.

Eighty-seven percent of DeKalb students passed the English lan-guage arts test compared to 90 percent who passed statewide. On the Math test, 90 percent of DeKalb students passed, up two percent-age points from 2008. Statewide, 94 percent of students passed the Math test. In DeKalb, 83 percent of students passed science, but 88 percent of student passed statewide. In social studies, 84 of DeKalb students passed, compared to 87 statewide.

The standout DeKalb schools

on the English language arts test were DeKalb Alternative Day which had 94 percent of its students pass-ing, a 29 percent jump from 2008, and Destiny Charter School, which had 54 percent of its students pass-ing, up from 40 percent in 2008.

Most of the schools had gains on the science test but again DeKalb Alternative Day and Des-tiny Academy Charter, posted the biggest gains. DeKalb Alternative Day had 75 percent of its students passing science, up 21 percent from 2008. Forty-two percent of Destiny Charter students passed, 22 percent more than in 2008.

Seventy percent of Towers High

School students passed science, up eight percent from 2008.

Ditto for DeKalb Alternative Day and Destiny Charter on the Social Studies test as well.

They were joined in the big gains by Clarkston High school which had 80 percent of its students passing social studies, up 13 percent from 2008.

The Georgia High School Grad-uation Tests assess a sample of the knowledge and skills that educators agree comprise a complete high school education.

Students take the state-man-dated tests for the first time in the spring semester of the 11th grade.

“This is especially noteworthy in the areas of science and Eng-lish language arts, which are fully aligned to our new curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards,” she said.

Cox pointed out that the per-centage of students performing at the very highest level on the English language arts and science exams rose significantly from 2008 statewide.

On the science test, 15 per-cent of the students scored at the “honors” level, an increase of three points from 2008. On the English language arts GHSGT, 14 percent of the students scored at the hon-ors level, an increase of four points from 2008.

“These exams are more rigorous and require students to demon-strate a deeper knowledge of the subject, but student achievement continues to rise in these areas,” Cox said. “The credit belongs to the teachers, students and school leaders who are working very hard to fully implement the new Georgia Performance Standards.”


Graduation “I believe that biomedical engineering is the future and incorporating technology into the world of medicine will be a great way to make our mark on the world.”

The 2009 Valedictorians South DeKalb’s 13 high schools have 16 class valedictorians because two schools – Southwest

DeKalb and Columbia High – have magnet programs and select valedictorians for both their magnet and resident populations. Martin Luther King Jr. High School also has two co-valedictorians this year.

Avondale

Whitney Neriah Turner

Cedar Grove

Dennisa Janee Thomas

Dennisa Thomas, 18, had her pick of the litter when it came to choosing a college.

Her 4.18 GPA helped her net of-fers from 10 colleges and a total of $901,300 in scholarships.

The Cedar Grove valedictorian wants to be an engineer and picked North Carolina AT&T University in Durham, N.C. for her school this fall.

Dennisa, who is no nerd, is the 2009 Miss Cedar Grove and a cheer-leader.

She is also a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, Ladies of Cedar Grove, student council and student advisory board.

– McKenzie Jackson

Two years ago, Whitney Turner knew that she would be the Avondale High School’s 2009 valedictorian.

Her 4.067 GPA gave her that much confidence.

“Its an extreme honor to be valedic-torian,” said the 18-year-old.

This fall she will be majoring in biol-ogy at the University of Georgia.

“I love medicine,” said Whitney who wants to be an obstetrician.

Her academic success helped her net more than $18,000 in scholarships from UGA, ($13,000), the Ronald E. Si-mon Scholarship Foundation, ($4,000), the Willie E. Day Davis Scholarship, ($1,000) and Delta Sigma Theta.


Clarkston

Zenobia Grace Ingram

Zenobia Ingram still has a big deci-sion on her hands.

The 18 year-old has to make a deci-sion between going to Emory University in Atlanta or Agnes Scott College in Decatur.

“I want to go into the medical field and be a pediatrician and both are close to home,” said Zenobia, the 2009 Clarkston High School valedictorian, who has a 3.87 GPA.

Zenobia was senior class president, an honor graduate, a regular on the Principal’s and High Achiever’s lists, and member of Future Business Leaders of America and Future Community Leaders of America.


Columbia (Magnet)

Alicia Nicole Wilson

Next year, Alicia Wilson will be 325 miles away from home; and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I need to get outside of Georgia,” said Alicia, the 2009 Columbia High School Magnet program valedictorian. “My parents said that will help me ma-ture and grow on my own. I need to be exposed to different atmospheres and more diverse atmospheres.

Alicia, who has a 3.99 GPA, will major in business and minor in public relations at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

As a 2009 Gates Millennium Schol-ar, she is getting a full ride to college.


Ronald McNair Sr.

Terica Sh’ron Banks

Terica Banks credits hard work and focus with yielding her the 3.98 GPA that got her the 2009 valedictorian po-sition at Ronald McNair Sr. High School.

Now she is headed to Spelman Col-lege to major in accounting.

“I have a passion for math and I know the salary I can make as an ac-countant,” she said.

Terica said she set out to be at the top of her class from elementary school.

“I had good grades and I stayed focused,” she said. “It’s important to remain focused and concentrate on your goal.”

– Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Miller Grove

Angela Louise Clark

Redan

Amelia Diane Henderson

Angela Clark must have one proud poppa.

Not only is she the 2009 Miller Grove High School valedictorian, she is going to the University of Georgia, her father’s alma mater.

Both things have made her dad, Wil-liam, a 1983 UGA graduate, very happy.

“He has been telling all his old col-lege friends that his daughter is going to UGA,” she said. ‘I’m a second genera-tion so he is very excited.”

Angela, who has a 4.052 GPA, plans to major in journalism at UGA.

To help her prepare for that career, she worked on Atlanta’s teen newspa-per VOX.


Amelia Henderson worked hard to be at the top of her class and a 4.161 GPA helped her become the 2009 Redan High School valedictorian.

“I know all of my hard work has paid off,” she said.

Amelia plans to take a six-year dual degree-engineering program at Spelman College and Georgia Tech University. She will start off at Spelman College on a computer science degree in the fall and follow it with a computer engineering degree at Georgia Tech.

Her father Al Henderson is happy. “She sacrificed and stayed up late

studying,” he said. “It’s good to have a daughter who wants to be smart.”


SW DeKalb (Magnet)

Jonathan Monterio Jones

Jonathan Jones has had one foot in high school and another in college since August.

Jones, Southwest DeKalb’s magnet valedictorian, already has 31 college credits from Clayton State University as well as seven AP classes.

Jones, 18, finished high school with a 4.188 GPA and will be at the Uni-versity of Georgia this fall majoring in biomedical engineering.

“It’s the best of both worlds,” he said. “I believe that biomedical engi-neering is the future and incorporating technology into the world of medicine will be a great way to make our mark on the world.”



Lithonia

Celeste Raycole Banks

Graduation “I’ve pretty much known since 11th grade that it would be between me and my best friend. So we pushed each other.”

The 2009 ValedictoriansValedictorians are graduating seniors with the highest cumulative grade point average in their school.

When there is a tie, students become co-valedictorians, as happened this year at Martin Luther King Jr. High School.

Towers

Sydney Michelle Swain

Sydney Swain already spends as much time on the University of Georgia campus as some current UGA students, so it make sense that she will attend the college.

Since her junior year, Sydney has gone to the Athens-based school at least one weekend every other month to visit friends and former Towers’ stu-dents.

Thanks to her 4.1 GPA, Swain will be a Bulldog next year.

She said she visited UGA in the 10th grade on a college tour.

“It just felt right to be on the campus walking and to talk to the faculty,” she said.


Columbia (Resident)

Kelsey Nicole Johnson

Becoming Columbia High School’s resident valedictorian was not a big surprise for Kelsey Johnson.

“In my 10th grade year one of my teachers told me that at the rate I’m going I could be valedictorian,” she said. Two years and a string of straight A’s later, Kelsey’s 4.125 GPA netted her the position.

“I kept up the work, kept up all my AP classes, and kept getting 4.0s every semester,” she said.

This fall, Kelsey, 17, will be majoring in business at the University of Georgia.

“Later on I might want to go into audio engineering or something in the sciences,” she said.


Celeste Banks just shrugged her shoulders when she was told she would be Lithonia High School’s 2009 valedic-torian.

“I’ve pretty much known since 11th grade that it would be between me and my best friend,” she said. “So we pushed each other.”

Banks, 18, and her 4.125 GPA is headed to Agnes Scott College in De-catur this fall.

She wants to be a doctor. “I fell in love with the campus,”

she said. “They have a good pre-med field. I got accepted into Emory, but I felt I would be more at home at Agnes Scott.”


Malia Dishon Hibbler Marriah Nicole Paige

Martin Luther King Jr.

Malia Hibbler is giving cheerleaders everywhere something to brag about.

The Martin Luther King Jr. High School co-valedictorian and three-year cheerleader, finished high school with a 4.086 GPA.

“Cheerleaders are smart too,” she said. “I’ve always tried to keep my grades up since I was little. My mom used to tell me that Bs stood for ‘bad.’

This fall, she will be at the University of Georgia majoring in business.

“I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do,” she said. “But there is so much you can do with a business degree.”


Marriah Paige surprised herself by becoming co-valedictorian of the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. High School class.

So much so that when her parents were summoned to school to discuss something important, she became very worried.

“I knew I didn’t do anything, so I was like, ‘What are they going to do,’” she said. But the news was all good.

Marriah and her 4.086 GPA is headed to the University of Georgia this fall. She will major in public relations and plans to become a lawyer.

Leaving high school is bittersweet.“I’m ready to get out of high school,”

she said.– McKenzie Jackson

SW DeKalb (Resident)

Michelle Marie Autrey

Michelle Autrey didn’t learn to speak English until she was 10 years old but that didn’t stop her from getting a 4.03 GPA.

She only got to Southwest DeKalb in the 10th grade, but that didn’t stop her from becoming the school’s resident valedictorian.

Michelle, who was born in Panama, credits dedication and hard work for her academic success.

She admits to driving herself real hard.

“If I get a low A, I complain,” she said. Michelle will study biochemistry at Agnes Scott College this fall.

“I want to be a doctor,” she said. – Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Stephenson

Adelola Adeyemo

Adelola Adeyemo, 17, admits that she really didn’t think much about being Stephenson High School’s 2009 vale-dictorian until late in her high school career. Now that she has made it, she is satisfied.

“It feels like I’ve accomplished something,” said Adelola, who was a member of the girls’ soccer team and a number of academic clubs.

This fall, Adelola and her 4.123 GPA will be headed to the University of Mi-ami on a full academic scholarship. She plans to major in exercise physiology, while enjoying the nice weather.

“Miami is a beautiful location,” she said.


Stone Mountain

Tuyet Yen Lam

Tuyet Lam was six months shy of her 12th birthday when she arrived in Stone Mountain from South Vietnam, know-ing very little English.

“It was very difficult,” she said of her efforts to learn a foreign language.

Six and a half years later, Tuyet is at the top of the class with a 3.96 GPA and is Stone Mountain High School’s 2009 valedictorian.

“I feel happy and so proud of my-self,” Tuyet said.

This fall, she is headed to Agnes Scott College on a half scholarship with plans to become a pharmacist.

“I am the first one in my family to go to college,” she said.

– Jennifer Ffrench Parker


Graduation “I am extremely pleased that a number of my adult team members have elected to go back to school and are receiving the scholarship.”

Three students land Thorton Memorial scholarships

Congratulations Reginald! May you always be as happy, confident and

successful as you are right now. We are so proud of you! Love Mom and “Lil

Brother Brandon Sharpe”

Congratulations Reginald! May you always be as happy,

confident and successful as you are right now.

Congratulations Reginald! May you always be as humble,

confident and successful as you are right now.

We are so proud of you! Love Mom and “Lil Brother”

Brandon Sharpe

We are so proud of you! Love Mom and “Lil Brother”

Brandon Sharpe

Congratulations!My Darling Daughter, Christiana TorereStephenson High School

Class of 2009

Love, Mom &Mudea’s Soul Food

Jeffery,

Jeffery,

Thank you for making us proud. Our prayers and love go with

you to Albany State University where you will surely excel.

Love,Dad, Mom, Felicia, & Family & Friends

Thank you for making us proud. Our prayers and love go with

you to Albany State University where you will surely excel.

Love,Dad, Mom, Felicia, & Family & Friends

Dazze’a B. RockmoreClass of 2009Martin Luther King High School

We are so proud of you for all your accomplishmentsSpread your wings and fly my Dazz, fly…..

Love always your Mother & brother Donald Jr. Big Dad & Big Ma (Robert & Gloria Cook), Jeff & Robin, Wanda, Stacey and your cousins

Dazzéa B. Rockmore, Class of 2009Martin Luther King High School

We are so proud of you for all your accomplishments

Spread your wings and fly my Dazz, fly…..

Love alwaysYour Mother & brother Donald Jr.

Big Dad & Big Ma (Robert & Gloria Cook),

Jeff & Robin, Wanda, Stacey and your cousins

Congratulations, Kelli,on your promotion

from Kittredge Magnet School.

We wish you good luck and continued success

in middle school and beyond!

Love, Mommy, Daddy,Shari & Jami

Congratulations, Kelli,on your promotion

from Kittredge Magnet School.

We wish you good luck and continued success

in middle school and beyond!

Love, Mommy, Daddy,Shari & Jami

Best Wishes, Keya HugheyBest Wishes, Keya Hughey

We Are Proud of YouWe Are Proud of YouKevin & LaMarion Hughey

Dale Pullins And FamilyKevin & LaMarion Hughey

Dale Pullins And Family

Chick-fil-A operator hands out $14,500 in scholarships to team membersChick-fil-A operator Tony

Royal doled out $14,500 in scholar-ships last week on behalf of his two South DeKalb stores and Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy.

Cathy gave $10,000 Leadership Scholarships , and Royal gave $4,500 in Part-ners in Service Scholarships.

Te n h i g h school and col-lege students who work for Royal’s stores, each got $1,000 Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholar-ships from Cathy at the May 16 Graduate Awards and Scholarship Breakfast.

Across his company, Cathy awards Leadership Scholarships annually to team members pursu-ing continuing education and who exhibit superior leadership, work ethic, customer service and civic qualities.

The recipients from Royal’s stores are Natanya Gordon, a senior at the University of Maryland; Jesse N. Oglesby, a senior at Marshall University; Dameya Allen, Shaunte Cook, Kathleen Hall, Melvin Shawn Kelly, Hannah Lemons, Tommy L.

Reese III, Franchez Smith Roberts and Anthony J. Royal II.

Hannah Lemons is the first high school junior to get a Leadership Scholarship.

Royal said he joins with the parents of his teen employees in encouraging academic excellence and stressing the importance of seeking higher education. He also said that it’s never too late to go back to college.

“I am extremely pleased that a number of my adult team members have elected to go back to school and are receiving the scholarship,” he said.

Nine $500 Partners in Service Scholarships went to “the kindest and most considerate graduating seniors” at the high school and colleges that partner with Royal’s Chick-fil-A restaurants.

Royal said scholarship recipients exemplify his personal philosophy of service.

“It is important to serve oth-ers well through being very kind, considerate and helpful to everyone he or she meets in school including students, teachers and other mem-bers of the staff,” he said.

Partner scholarships went to Terrel Champion of Stephenson

Chick-fil-A operator Tony Royal (center) and his wife, Leslie (left), pose with recipients of the 2009 Chick-fil-A scholarships.

High School, who is headed to Morehouse College; Raketa Dob-bins of Lithonia High, who is going to Stillman College; Miya Harvey of Redan High School, who will attend Valdosta State University; Jenise M. King of New Birth Academy, who is headed to Howard Univer-sity; Calissa R. Ramseur of Berean Christian Academy who is headed to Savannah State University; Dameshia Thomas of M. L. King Jr. High, who is going to the University of Kentucky; and Sherita Walker of Towers High, who will attend Still-man College.

The other recipients are Ste-

phen T. Moseley of Luther Rice University and Joseph M. Nzioki of Beulah Heights University.

Partner recipients had to write 250- to 500-word essay on the im-portance of serving other students, teachers and staff by being kind, considerate and helpful.

Royal said the scholarships are a way for his restaurants to reinvest in the community that supports them.

“Each student not only receives the scholarship, but gets a free Chick-fil-A sandwich coupon for each week of the next school year,” he said.

S. Truett Cathy

Three Lithonia High School stu-dents got $4,900 in scholarships from the James L. Thornton Memorial Scholarship Fund on May 12.

Sasha Daniels got $2,200, Paige Holmes $1,600 and Kaiesa Peets, $1,100. All three students plan to enroll in college in the fall but have not yet made their final choices.

Sasha is contemplating Georgia State University or the University of Georgia; Paige, Georgia State Univer-sity or University of Missouri -Kan-sas City, and Kaiesa, Albany State University or Georgia Southwestern

University.The scholarship, established by

Lovell and Ora Thornton, honors the memory of their son, a 2002 Lithonia High rising senior who was killed in August 2002 in an automobile accident. It is awarded annually to Lithonia High School seniors.

Applicants must have a 3.0 or higher GPA, write an essay on safety, be in good academic standing, have no moving violations on their driver’s license, and must attend an accredited institution of higher education.

The 2009 James L. Thornton scholars are from left Kaiesa Peets, Paige Holmes and Sasha Daniels.


Graduation

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Gates Scholars can focus on studies without worrying about college costs

Journalism scholarship helps bring student’s career goals closer to fruitionFennell Wilkins holds a scholarship certificate she received from Jennifer Parker (from left), editor and publisher of CrossRoadsNews; Charis Hanberry, daughter of Elizabeth Andrews; and Sadie Dennard, Georgia Power manager and chair of the CrossRoadsNews Foundation’s Scholarship Committee.

By McKenzie Jackson

Dashika Ellis, 18, had a good reason to cry last month.

$72,238 reasons, that is.Dashika, who will graduate this

weekend with a 4.02 grade point av-erage from Lithonia High School, is one of seven DeKalb County Gates Millennium Scholars in the 2009 graduating class.

Dashika, who is heading to Emory University’s Oxford College in the fall, said the scholarship will make college possible for her.

“I cried and thanked God,” said Dashika, who will be the first per-son in her family to go to college. “If I hadn’t gotten the scholarship I probably wouldn’t have been able to pay for college.”

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, founded in 1999 by Mi-

crosoft Corp. founder Bill Gates, awards 1,000 scholarships annually to students from low-income fami-lies who might not otherwise make it to college. The scholarship pays all their costs to attend college.

The other 2009 DeKalb County Gates Scholars are Alicia Wilson, Columbia High School; Anna Cofie, Clarkston High School; Aaron Abram, Miller Grove High School; Sythea Lester, Greenforest

Christian Academy; Gilbert Bax-ley, Tucker High School; and Jan-Michael Archer, Stone Mountain High School.

In the fall, they will join 5,000 Gates scholars who attend more than 900 colleges and universities nationwide.

Dashika began her scholarship search during her freshman year after hearing about two Cedar Grove students who got Gates scholarships. Her inquiries led to her counselor nominating her for the scholarship.

She plans to major in chem-istry.

Anna Cofie, 17, is the third Clarkston High School student to get a Gates scholarship. She is headed to New York’s Syracuse Uni-versity in the fall with a 3.82 GPA.

“I’m happy because my mom

doesn’t have to worry about paying my bills and I don’t have to worry about paying things,” she said this week. “I am very grateful.”

During an awards ceremony at Clarkston High School on May 16, Ayan Hussein, one of Clarkston’s previous Gates Scholars, who now attends the University of Georgia, said she is proud of Anna.

“All of your hard work at Clark-ston High School has finally paid off,” she told her. “Getting this pres-tigious scholarship is a testament to all your hard work.”

Alicia Wilson, the 2009 Colum-bia High School Gates Scholar, is also her school’s magnet program valedictorian. She says she is both “honored and blessed” to have re-ceived the scholarship.

Alicia, who has a 3.99 GPA, is going to Wake Forest University in

North Carolina. Alicia said she is honored to

be valedictorian, but more excited to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship because it is going to pay for her education.

“It will enable me to do what I want to do in the future,” she said.

Alicia said the scholarship takes a lot of stress off her parents.

“The type of parents I have they would have found a way somehow, because they know how important education is, but it’s a big stress reliever,” she said. Sythea Lester of Greenforest Christian Academy is attending Emory’s Oxford Col-lege.Tucker High’s Gilbert Baxley is attending Jackson State. Miller Groves’ Aaron Abram is attending Florida State University. Jan-Mi-chael Archer of Stone Mountain is going to the University of Tampa.

Dashika EllisAnna Cofie

Fennell Wilkins knows a career in journalism beckons her, and she has been in hot pursuit of it.

Over the last four years, the 2009 Cedar Grove graduate has written and performed poetry, been a reporter for metro-wide teen newspaper VOX, and interned at an Atlanta radio station.

On May 11, Fennell became the first recipient of the $1,000 Elizabeth Andrews Memorial Journalism Schol-arship, offered by the CrossRoadsNews Foundation in memory of the late DeKalb County School Board mem-ber.

Fennell, who is headed to Bethune-

Cookman University in the fall to major in journalism, said the scholarship was her first.

“This will go a long way,” she said. “I am so happy.”

Fennell, who has two younger sib-lings, is the first person in her family to go to college.

She is passionate about writing and says she takes her pursuit of a journal-ism career seriously.

“I have already touched thousands of readers with stories on social issues ranging from education to pop culture,” she said. “I strive to empower others with knowledge.”

“I have already touched thousands of readers with stories on social issues ranging from education to pop culture. I strive to empower others with knowledge.”


Graduation

We have all materials and resources for parents and teachers to help produce an “A” student

GET YOUR SUMMER BRIDGE PACKETS AND READING MATERIAL

THE SCHOOL STOREAt Stonecrest

Your Education Resource Center8075 Mall Parkway, Ste. #106

Lithonia, GA 30038

Education Resources for Teachers, Students and Parents* Teacher Supplies/Teacher Aids* Books/Workbooks for all Subjects (Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, etc.) Grades Pre K-12* Early Learning Resources* Educational Toys * Learning/Teaching Materials* Classroom Supplies* Test Prep Material* Homeschool Materials and Resources * School Furniture, Equipment and Rugs

Scholar athletes rely on physical skills to help pay for college educationBy McKenzie Jackson

Next school year, Southwest DeKalb’s Kia Jackson will be at the University of Tennessee sprinting among the nation’s best and Mar-cus Vaughn of Columbia High will be driving to the basket in the Great South Atlantic Conference.

Cedar Grove’s Jeremy Kim-brough will be chasing down op-posing quarterbacks while playing defense at Appalachian State. Cyn-namon Bell of Southwest DeKalb will be hitting line drives for the Hampton University Lady Pirates, and Terrance Gaddy of Clarkston High will be wrestling opponents to the mat for Anderson College.

As another school year cul-minates, student-athletes from south and central DeKalb’s 14 high schools continue to advance onto college sports teams across the nation armed with full and partial athletic scholarships.

As of Tuesday, the DeKalb School District’s Athletics Depart-ment and local schools reported that 159 athletes from the DeKalb Class of 2009 have athletic scholar-ships totaling in the millions of dol-lars. This year’s haul is slightly less than the 168 DeKalb athletes that secured scholarships in 2008.

The majority of those 2009 scholar athletes – 124 of them – are from south and central DeKalb schools.

This year players hail from Avondale, Cedar Grove, Clark-ston, Columbia, Lithonia, Martin Luther King Jr., Miller Grove, Mc-Nair, Redan, Southwest DeKalb, Stephenson, Stone Mountain and Tucker high schools. Their rides to colleges and universities come because of their skills at football, basketball, baseball, track and field, softball, wrestling, volleyball and cheerleading.

Ron Sebree, director of the DeKalb School District’s Athlet-ics department, said any athlete in DeKalb has a chance to get a scholarship.

“Coaches are always coming to DeKalb County to recruit,” he said in Febuary. “Our coaches are always sending off tapes and giv-ing colleges players’ information

also, so there is always a chance to get signed.”

As of press time this week, MLK Jr. High had the most scholarship recipients, with 21 athletes earn-ing scholarships. Football players dominated with 11 scholarships; four track athletes, three baseball players and one cheerleader had scholarships.

Redan High followed in second place with 19 athletes with schol-arships; Miller Grove, 15; Tucker and Cedar Grove, 12 each; Stone Mountain, Southwest DeKalb and McNair with 11 each; Stepheson, nine; Lithonia, seven; Columbia, five; Avondale with four and Clark-

ston with three. On Thursday, Clarkston High

baseball player Jason Wynn, 18, signed a partial scholarship at Ala-bama A&M University in Normal, Ala., while Clarkston basketball player Isaiah Tyus signed a par-

tial scholarship with Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga. The two joined Terrance Gaddy, a wrestler who signed with Anderson in April.

Wynn, a first-team All-County baseball selection, said he is excited

about the chance to play college baseball.

“It’s going to be fun to play these teams I see on television – Georgia Tech, Auburn,” he said. “I’m going to go up there and see some good competition.”

Wynn, a pitcher and second baseman, said his parents, Jerry and Roxanne Wynn, are happy that they only have to pay half his tuition.

“They were shocked that I choose Alabama A&M because they wanted me to stay in state, but they love the cam-pus and trust my coaches,” he said.

Ty u s , 1 8 , s i g n e d w i t h Emmanuel af-ter looking at several colleges including LaGrange, Life, Albany State and Stillman. The 5-foot-8 guard said he has always dreamed of playing professional and college basketball but had lost some hope coming into his senior year.

“I became a leader [this year],” he said. “And coaches like leaders. Our team was hurt some because some of our players left, so I had to step it up.”

Tyus added that because of his height and the school he is graduating from, his signing of the basketball scholarship can be inspirational.

“Everybody is 6-foot-2 and over,” he said. “I didn’t think I knew that I was at a distinct disadvantage. I don’t know if you know the his-tory of Clarkston, but this is very rare to see someone go to the next level. I think this really opened eyes, not only of people at Clarkston, but some of my friends at other schools.”

Another recent signee was Marcus Vaughn, an 18-year-old, 6-foot-4 forward from Columbia High School.

Vaughn signed a basketball scholarship with LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga., on May 11.

Vaughn, who has a 3.9 GPA, transferred from Avondale High to Columbia coming into his senior year. He admitted that he thought it might be hard to secure a basketball scholarship because he was playing in a new system.

“It was actually kind of easy,” said Vaughn, who was also being recruited by Oglethorpe, Lime-stone College and the Air Force Academy.

Vaughn, who averaged six points a game this season, sent LaGrange coaches information about himself and coaches came and watched two of his games in January. Vaughn said his physical talents should help him on the college level.

“I’m athletic, I can run the lane,” he said. “I’m very confident.”

Sprinter Kia Jackson was one of the Southwest DeKalb athletes to sign scholarships.

The state champion signed with the University of Tennessee, the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Champions, on May 1.

Jackson said she wanted to go to a school that mirrored her team at Southwest DeKalb.

“I don’t want to ever go on a team and already be the number one person,” she said. “That is not a true team concept. That is what stands out about the Lady Volun-

Southwest DeKalb’s Kia Jackson will run track with the 2009 NCAA Indoor Champions at the University of Tennessee.

Clarkston wrestler Terrance Gaddy signed with Anderson College in April.

Marcus Vaughn, a 6-foot-4 forward from Columbia High School, will take his 3.9 GPA and basketball skills to LaGrange College this fall.

Isaiah Tyus

“Coaches are always coming to DeKalb County to recruit..., so there is always a chance to get signed.”


By McKenzie Jackson

In the scholarship hall of fame, Dennisa Thomas is almost a million-dollar scholar.

The 2009 Cedar Grove High valedictorian raked in $901,300 in scholar-ships from 15 colleges, universities and organizations from Texas to Washington, D.C.

“It feels really good,” said Den-nisa, 18, who admits that seeing all those zeros is kind of overwhelm-ing. It’s just a pity that she can only go to a single school at a time.

When the announcement was made during Cedar Grove’s Senior Assembly on May 15, her class-mates erupted in applause and

Graduation “Some of my friends tell me that when I succeed it makes them feel like they can succeed.”

Cedar Grove student rakes in nearly $1 million in scholarship offers crowded around her with congratulations, hugs and pats on the back.

This fall, she is headed to North Carolina AT&T University in Durham, N.C. on an $110,00 schol-arship.

Dennisa, who has a 4.18 GPA, said she never

dreamed she would be offered that many scholarships.

“I thought I may get around $100,000,” she said

Dennisa, who wants to be a an electrical or biological engineer, said she chose North Carolina AT&T over the other schools be-cause of its engineering program. Her scholarship covers full tuition, books, a $1,000 semester stipend,

an internship and a laptop. “I don’t have to pay anything,”

she said. “I don’t have to worry about student loans or being a burden on my mom.”

Other offers include Howard University, $92,000; Hampton University, $92,000; Florida A&M, $142,000; Tuskegee University, $104,000; North Carolina A&T Dowday Scholarship $80,000; Mercer University, $70,000; Baylor University, $44,000; University of Georgia, $4,000; Delta Sigma Theta–Decatur, $300; Delta Sigma Theta-Lithonia, $500; Texas A&M, $48,000; Tuslusmn, $48,000; Alpha Kappa Alpha-Decatur, $200; and Agnes Scott, $66,300. Her mother, Janice Thomas, is happy about all the fuss over her daughter. She said

that last year, Texas A&M officials flew her out to their campus in Col-lege Station, Texas.

“They treated her like a football player,” she said. “She stayed on campus and they gave her all types of incentives to go there.”

Thomas also loves that she won’t have to worry about paying any college tuition.

“It is a wonderful feeling,” she said after the senior program. “I am extremely proud of my daughter.”

Thomas said that when Den-nisa was in the eighth grade, people tried to convince her to send her to a North DeKalb high school.

“We wanted to stay in our neighborhood,” she said. “She wanted to set an example that you can achieve your goals if you

work hard even at schools in South DeKalb like Cedar Grove.”

Cedar Grove counselor Hycine Robinson, who read aloud Den-nisa’s list of scholarships, called her smart and talented. Dennisa, who is the 2009 Miss Cedar Grove, said her friends have been very supportive – not jealous.

“Some of my friends tell me that when I succeed it makes them feel like they can succeed,” she said.

Thomas said that her daughter has shown Cedar Grove students what they can accomplish.

“If one college doesn’t give you what you need, apply to another college until you get it,” she said. “There is no reason that a kid should have to pay for college when there are scholarships out there.”

Dennisa Thomas

Fellow students erupt in applause for Dennisa Thomas after her total of $901,300 in scholarship offers was announced at Cedar Grove’s Senior Assembly.

Kyle Lacy Grand Prize Winner $1,000 DeKalb School of the ArtsChristopher Haigler ................... $750.................Martin Luther King Jr. HSAlexia Wynn............................... $750............................Decatur HSBerenice Arias ........................... $750............................ Tucker HSElizabeth Sumpter ..................... $750..................... Stone Mountain HSMichael Abdalla ......................... $750.............................Redan HSAmelia Henderson..................... $750.............................Redan HSFaith Adams .............................. $500.............................Redan HSSharqundria Adams................... $500............................Towers HSJoyya Baines ............................. $500........................ Stephenson HSYemesrach Tadesse .................. $500............................ Tucker HSKayla Ward ................................ $500........................ Stephenson HSAshley Wrenn ............................ $500.......................... Clarkston HSCedric Brown............................. $500.............................Redan HSSaree Jones .............................. $500..........................Chamblee HSPhylicia Mills .............................. $500..............................SWD HSCarmen Moon............................ $500........................ Miller Grove HS

Dustin Reese............................$500 ........................... Redan HSAlexzaundria Batchan ..............$500 ........................... Redan HSBrandon Cosey.........................$500 ........................... Redan HSTimka Lockheart .......................$500 ........................... Redan HSJacleena Hunt ..........................$250 .......................Miller Grove HSVashun Lemmons.....................$250 ...........................McNair HSSaadiq Yarbrough.....................$250 .......................Miller Grove HSDonna York...............................$250 .......................... Decatur HSDemetrius Edwards ..................$250 ...................Carver Early CollegeIbrahim Shabazz ......................$250 ...........................Towers HSJonathan Davis.........................$250 ........................... Redan HSAkilah Johnson .........................$250 ........................... Redan HSImani Morris..............................$250 ........................... Redan HSBahjah Morrison .......................$250 ........................... Redan HSCayla Roby...............................$250 ........................... Redan HSDanielle Winfrey .......................$250 ........................... Redan HS


Graduation SceneSLight rain no match for Sunday’s Pre-Commencement Exercises

Area churches became a sea of school colors as the Class of 2009 from high schools like (left to right) Columbia, Lithonia and Southwest DeKalb held Baccalaureate exercises.

Ronald L. McNair High School seniors flash smiles for family and frieds as they march out of the sanctuary of Beulah Baptist Church following their Pre-Commencement Exercise on May 17.

Jerry Perkins (left) and his mom, Sheila Perkins, share an umbrella en route to Greenforest Baptist Church for Towers High’s Pre-Commencement exercise.

Cedar Grove student Constance Ogletree gets a hug from counselor Melanie Calloway-Davis during Pre-Commencement Exercises.

Towers High senior Tracey Willis (right) helps Michelle Brown with her tassle prior to their Pre-Commencement program.

CrossroadsNews Photos by MCKeNzie JaCKsoN, JeNNifer ffreNCh ParKer aNd Curtis ParKer


crossroadsnews, may 23, 2009, section b

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