The South Metro Scholastic Fund’s Pete’s Promise Scholarship at Dobbs

Pete’s Promise Scholarship
Pete’s Promise Scholarship in partnership with the South Metro Scholastic Fund is for the kindergarten and fifth grade class of 2012-2013 from Dobbs Elementary. The scholarship has been provided for those students who will meet the criteria listed below and more importantly will focus their efforts and energies on becoming an agent of change. The scholarship candidates are part of a world community that is shifting on a daily basis and their charge as they move through their educational journey is to take part in making their community, city, state, country, world better than its current status.
Pete’s Promise is made to the all kindergarten and fifth grade students attending Dobbs Elementary for the 2012-2013 school year who meet the following criteria:

•  Maintain a 3.0 GPA from Sixth (6th) through their first year in a college/university/technical school.
• Attend a mentor meeting twice a year with Pete Settelmayer (Pete’s Promise) and Sharon Pierre (South Metro Scholastic Fund).
• Graduate High School by 2020 (fifth grade) and 2025 (kindergarten).
• Complete one full-year of either college/university/technical/trade school while maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
• At the age of sixteen (16) scholarship candidate must be enrolled in a service organization or participate regularly (once a year) in service activities. Service Activities would include but are not limited to work in community food banks, student to student mentoring, community improvement organizations, social action groups, etc…
• Candidates and parent/guardians are responsible for updating contact information.

Pete’s promise will make monthly monetary contributions to the scholarship fund as well as hold an annual fund drive. All the proceeds raised between 2013 through the candidates first year of college/university/technical or trade school will be divided amongst the candidates successfully meeting all of the above criteria.

This is a worthwhile and wonderful opportunity for students at Dobbs! Thank you to Peter Settelmayer, Sharon Pierre and the South Atlanta Metro Scholastic Fund!

2013 National Merit Corporation Finalists!

Congratulations to the 2013 National Merit Corporation finalists from APS! Six seniors from Grady High School and one senior from North Atlanta High School achieved this significant honor.

Grady’s 2013 National Merit Corporation finalists are:

• Deborah Harris
• Troy Kleber
• Olivia Kleinman
• Jennifer Moody
• Isabelle Taft
• Patrick Wise

North Atlanta’s 2013 National Merit Corporation finalist is:

• Ian Katz

The National Merit and Achievement Scholarship is one of the most coveted recognitions a high school student could achieve. Out of 16,000 semifinalists in the nation, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has selected the finalists for the 2012-13 school year. This selection was competitively based on their GPA, SAT scores, personal essays/applications, and school evaluation. The corporation will select approximately 8,300 scholarship winners and will begin notifying those students in March.

Emory University Pipeline pins new students from the School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta

Dr. Patricia Ford, Principal, School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta

Pinning of the School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta students into the Emory Pipeline.

The Emory University Health Sciences Pipeline Program is a multiple-year mentoring and academic enrichment experience for high school students from the School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta. Founded in 2007 by medical students Samuel Funt and Zwade Marshall and managed by volunteer Emory student leadership, the program meets after school once per week for problem-based learning (PBL) sessions in health sciences. Three cohorts of high school students are paired with undergraduate mentors and led by graduate student instructors from the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing to study infectious disease and reproductive health (10^th grade), neurology and mental health (11^th grade), and predictive and community health (12^th grade), culminating in a student-led community needs assessment.

The program’s goals are to improve high school students’ knowledge of health and health science careers, promote healthy attitudes and behaviors, enhance college readiness, develop academic and leadership skills, and provide rewarding mentoring experiences. Through the Emory Pipeline, students improve their understanding of various health lessons, science lessons and the medical professions. Most importantly, they develop long-term mentoring relationships with college students pursuing careers in the health sciences. Pipeline’s mentoring focuses on enhancing students’ college readiness, academic planning, career awareness, leadership and study skills. “Pipeline helped me connect my passion with my future career goals through talking with my mentor as well as helping me gain a deeper understanding of what college experience will be like, ” says School of Health & Sciences at South Atlanta student Vernesha Moore.

Ms. Yolanda Hood and Dr. Robert Lee, Dean of Multi-Cultural Affairs at Emory Medical School

Last year’s graduating class of Emory Pipeliners were offered $2.5M in scholarships and included two Gates Millennium Scholars. This fall, those students are attending colleges including Spelman, Morehouse, University of Georgia at Athens, Agnes Scott, Clark Atlanta, and Emory University.

2013 National Merit Semifinalists Announced

Six students from Grady High School and one student from North Atlanta High School are named 2013 National Merit Semifinalists! The Grady High School’s students are Konadu Amoakuh, Troy Kleber, Olivia Kleinman, Jennifer Moody, Isabelle Taft, and Patrick Wise, and North Atlanta High School’s semifinalist is Ian Katz.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Approximately 1.5 million students in more than 22,000 high schools entered the program by taking the 2011 PSAT test. These 7 academically talented students are among 16,000 semifinalists nationwide who are competing for more than $32 million in scholarships that will be offered next year.

Apply Today: ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarships

Named for the first African American to walk in space, ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarships are available to 2012 graduating high school seniors in Atlanta Public Schools.

Four scholarships for two males and two females — $5,000 each — will be awarded to two African American and two Hispanic students on behalf of the former NASA astronaut, physician and businessman, Dr. Bernard Harris.

Deadline for submissions is April 2, 2012.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY or visit  www.cgcs.org for more details.

 

APS Students LEAD by Example

by Rendell Jackson, Program Manager- Middle Schools, Department of Athletics At Grady Stadium

Several Atlanta Public School student-athletes were treated to a star studded weekend of opportunities and recognition as they were honored as “Ambassadors” for their hard work with the L.E.A.D. Organization.

During the 6th Annual L.E.A.D. Celebrity Baseball Clinic at Turner Field, the athletes were coached and worked alongside C.J. Stewart formally of the Chicago Cubs, Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves, and a  variety of other M.L.B. players.  The weekend continued as Founder of L.E.A.D. Atlanta’s own CJ Stewart organized their 3rd Annual Dinner with Champions Awards Celebration at the Turner Field 755 Club.  Hosted by 680 The Fan Radio Personalities Chuck Dowdle and Sandra Golden, the dinner provided the back drop for a spectacular evening.

3rd Annual L.E.A.D Dinner with Champions Awards Celebration at the Turner Field 755 Club.

The elite of L.E.A.D., the Ambassadors are selected from the best of The Legacy League and represent L.E.A.D. and the city of Atlanta in summer college exposure baseball tournaments and in community service/civic engagement experiences in the metro Atlanta area from November – July.

Also on hand to recognize the students were APS Board Chairperson Ms. Brenda J. Muhammad, City Councilman Michael Julian Bond, Operation HOPE Chairman and keynote speaker for the evening Mr. John Hope Bryant, and Program Manager for Middle School Athletics Mr. Rendell Jackson.

What is L.E.A.D.?
L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct), a 501c3 nonprofit organization operating in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to having a significant impact on the number of inner city middle and high school student- athletes playing competitive baseball to prepare them to compete for college baseball scholarships.

2011-2012 L.E.A.D. Ambassador Carlos Twine.

L.E.A.D.'s Annual Celebrity Clinic.

Five Atlanta Ballet Scholarships Awarded to North Atlanta Students

Carla Cuba, Community Programs Director of the Atlanta Ballet awards 5 scholarships to dance students at North Atlanta High School

The Community Programs Director of Atlanta Ballet, Carla Cuba, visited North Atlanta High School on October 5, 2011 to award five scholarships to Center for the Arts dance students, Endiya Bivins, Andre Goddard, Ameera Hill, Danielle Jackson and Sylvia Mensah.

The scholarship will allow the Modern III and IV students access to unlimited free classes in the Adult Open Division of Atlanta Ballet’s three locations, Midtown, Buckhead and Cobb.

“I am proud to revamp our partnership and I am excited about the opportunities ahead for our students!” Tamara Irving, Dance Teacher.

These scholarships have been awarded as a part of a partnership between Atlanta Ballet and North Atlanta High School Center for the Arts.

APS teacher and alum Matt Westmoreland speaks to Vals and Sals

You may recall Matt Westmoreland from our Atlanta Educator profile on the Carver Early College teacher and Grady High grad (Class of 2006). Here we get to watch him speaking to the valedictorians, salutatorians and “STAR” students during the annual breakfast honoring their work, hosted by Georgia Power and featuring APS Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall. It’s a moving speech that touches on a racial divide that challenges the city in general and our education system in particular. Westmoreland left them with a touching reminder: As you embark on an amazing college adventure, don’t forget your home. He clearly didn’t.

Enjoy.

Dr. Hall honors valedictorians, salutatorians and ‘STAR’ students & teachers with breakfast

UPDATES: Check out the photo gallery here. Watch speech by Carver Early College’s Paul Harris, Jr., and Douglass’ Edward Furman Mosley, III, here. Watch speech by Carver Early College teacher Matt Westmoreland here.

Atlanta Public Schools‘ valedictorians, salutatorians and “STAR” students were honored Wednesday morning with a breakfast hosted by Georgia Power and featuring Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall.

“This celebration is one of my favorite events – for two very good reasons. First, it kicks off graduation season in Atlanta Public Schools. And second, this event represents the school district’s collective opportunity to publicly and proudly acknowledge the work of our valedictorians, salutatorians, STAR students, and STAR teachers,” Dr. Hall told the gathering.”

Dr. Hall went on to acknowledge sponsor Georgia Power, APS Associate Superintendent of High Schools Randolph Bynum, and the school principals, staff members, teachers and counselors. Dr. Hall also singled out the STAR teachers and students, the latter of whom scored the highest on their college entrance exams. The STAR student then selects the teacher who they believe made the difference in their education.

“STAR teachers were chosen for their significant contribution to students’ scholastic development,” Dr. Hall said. “Through their talent and passion, these teachers have left an indelible mark on their students’ lives – and for that, again, we thank them.”

APS students invited to engage with state lawmakers at national conference

Students from Atlanta Public Schools were invited to engage with state lawmakers from around the country during the 34th Annual National Black Caucus of State Legislators Legislative Conference Youth Congress Day. Two concurrent sessions, a youth house and youth senate session allowed students to discuss, debate and pass a range of bills into law. Legislative topics included school bullying, youth driving privileges, student performance-based teacher salaries and a standardized HOPE Scholarship eligibility reporting system.

Following the youth house and senate sessions, students attended the Youth Congress Day luncheon with state law makers, motivational speaker Dennis Rahiim Watson, and actor Hosea Chanchez. During the luncheon, Raven Tukes of South Atlanta High, Dorrian Swinger and Shaundrika Baker of Therrell High, and Marquez Allen of Washington High were awarded $500 scholarships for their demonstrated commitment to their community.