Grady Brag Sheet 2011-2012
As of May 7, 2012
Academics and Scholarships
Grady High School was named one of the Top 20 High Schools in the State of Georgia by
USNews and World Report. The ranking was based on schools' student to teacher ratio, rate of
college readiness and students' proficiency in math and English. According to a recent U.S.
News report, Grady High School is among America’s best high schools, ranking 19th in the
state of Georgia and No. 1,204 in the nation (out of 4877 schools). The ranking earned Grady
a silver medal. The report judged each school on its teacher to student ratio, students’ rate of
college readiness, and students’ average proficiency in math and English. It calculated values
based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on collegelevel coursework.
Grady High School was named an AP STEM School and an AP STEM Achievement School
by State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. AP STEM schools are those with students testing
in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC,
AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics B, AP Physics
C, AP Computer Science). AP STEM Achievement Schools are those with students testing in at
least two AP math courses and two AP science courses and at least 40% of the exam scores on
AP math and AP science exams earning scores of three or higher.
Our valedictorian is Julia Rapoport, our salutatorian is Shaun Kleber, and our STAR student
(highest SAT score) is Benjamin Dean. Ben chose Ms. Willoughby as his STAR teacher.
AP Scholars
According to the College Board, about 18 percent of the more than 1.9 million students
worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to earn an AP Scholar
Award. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’
performance on AP Exams. Grady students were 53 out of the 57 students from APS.
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Jessica Alexander, AP Scholar
Michael S. Baer, AP Scholar
Daniel F. Baggerman, AP Scholar with Honor
Lucas Bailey*, AP Scholar with Honor
Erin M. Bailie*, AP Scholar with Distinction
Davis C. Bishop*, AP Scholar
Willamae E. Boling*, AP Scholar with Honor
Ashley L. Brown, AP Scholar
Daniel A. Burch, AP Scholar
Jasmine G. Burnett, AP Scholar
Ethan J. Campbell Taylor, AP Scholar with Distinction
Zoe N. Cato, AP Scholar
Shah A. Cheyn, AP Scholar with Distinction
Holden R. Choi, AP Scholar with Distinction
Eloisa O. Cleveland, AP Scholar with Honor
Kenneth Cochran, AP Scholar
Dylan Coyle*, AP Scholar with Honor
Benjamin D. Dean, AP Scholar with Distinction and National AP Scholar
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Emily R. Drabik-Stevens*, AP Scholar
Alexander P. Fritzinger-Pitt*, AP Scholar
Grayson Fuller*, AP Scholar with Honor
Kristie S. Gadson*, AP Scholar
Grayson Garrett, AP Scholar
Mason T. Gepp*, AP Scholar with Honor
Maragh S. Girvan, AP Scholar
Benjamin W. Gittelson*, AP Scholar with Distinction
Zoe C. Hamilton, AP Scholar
Camille Harris, AP Scholar
Ryan Jones, AP Scholar
Marquis Q. Junior, AP Scholar
Shaun H. Kleber, AP Scholar with Distinction
Lucy C. Leonard, AP Scholar with Distinction
Elizabeth R. Mcglamry, AP Scholar with Distinction
Damon F. Melton*, AP Scholar
Audrey E. Miller, AP Scholar
Hai P. Nguyen, AP Scholar
David Olson*, AP Scholar with Honor
Lukas A. Olson, AP Scholar
Alexander M. Page*, AP Scholar with Honor
Julia B. Rapoport, AP Scholar with Distinction
Kamania C. Ray*, AP Scholar
Gabrielle N. Siegel, AP Scholar with Honor
Jeshua P. Silvers, AP Scholar with Honor
Phillip T. Suitts, AP Scholar
Isabelle K. Taft, AP Scholar
Zoe Taylor, AP Scholar
Steve W. Terry, AP Scholar
Ngoc T. Tran, AP Scholar
Micah C. Turpeau, AP Scholar
EjikeUzochukwu*, AP Scholar with Honor
Ngoc K. Vu*, AP Scholar
Samuel Y. Weinstock*, AP Scholar with Distinction
Alix E. Youngblood, AP Scholar with Honor
*Denotes Spring 2011 Graduate
National Merit Scholarship Program
Benjamin Dean, Shaun Kleber, and Julia Rapoport. Out of 16,000 students nationally, they
have advanced to the final stage of the National Merit Corporation scholarship program.
National Achievement® Scholarship Program
This is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black
American high school students. Eloisa Cleveland, Brandon Edmondson, and Camille Harris
have been named National Achievement Scholarship $2500 scholarship winners out of 800
nationally. Five of our students have been selected as National Achievement Scholarship
finalists, selected from 1,600 other applicants from around the country: Eloisa Cleveland,
Brandon Edmondson, Maragh Girvan, Camille Harris, and Jamil Williams. Please also
congratulate the semi-finalists: Chantil Coleman and Krysten Taylor.
2012 Gates Millennium Scholarships
Raven Ford, Abena Amoakuh, Chantil Coleman and Shafiq Gyagenda were among 22
Atlanta Public Schools students to receive the prestigious scholarship given to only 1,000
students from around the country. The Gates Millennium scholarship covers the students’ tuition,
room and board through their undergraduate education and beyond if students decide to pursue
advanced degrees.
Ben Dean has earned a Benjamin E. Mays scholarship to Emory University.
Shaun Kleber is one of 36 high school seniors to be offered the University of Georgia’s
Foundation Fellowship. The class of 2016 was chosen from 900 applicants.
Congratulations to Grady's Camille Harris for being named a McNair Scholar at the University
of South Carolina.
Holden Choi has been named a John Carrol Scholar at Georgetown University.
Cheyn Shah has been awarded a full ride to Macaulay Honors College at City University of New
York.
Taylor Allen has been awarded the Chik-Fil-A Scholarship to Virginia Tech.
Austin Williams has been awarded an Oprah Winfrey scholarship at Morehouse College.
Brianna Fairley has been awarded a full scholarship to Alabama State University. Her parents,
and her grandparents, met and graduated from ASU.
Marquis Junior has been named a Bonner Scholar and received the John F. Oberlin scholarship
at Oberlin College.
Senior Nick McFarlin has received a four year Georgia Military Scholarship. He was sworn in
with the Georgia Army National Guard on April 4 and will report for Basic Training at Ft.
Benning in June, then will attend North Georgia College and State University beginning spring
2013.
APS Posse Scholarships
Seven Grady students out of 50 chosen in Atlanta have been awarded 2012 Posse Scholarships!
Posse Scholars receive a full tuition scholarship at one of five colleges: Bard, Boston U,
Brandeis, College of Wooster, Syracuse U. Congratulations are extended to Paige Banks, Eve
Brown, Jacob Friesen-Grant, Quameeha Grandoit, Marius Jackson, Queen White, and
Jamil Williams.
Grady’s 21st Century Atlanta Scholars
Konadu Amoakuh, Abena Amoakuh , Eloisa Cleveland, Chantil Coleman, Quameeha
Grandoit, Marquis Junior, Sophia Maschinot , Diana Powers, and Olivia Viera .
2012 Governor’s Honors Program
Our 2012 Finalists for the Governor’s Honors Program are:
Archer Kinnane: Math
Rachel Klika:
Theatre
Adam Schatz:
Math
Grace White:
Communicative Arts
Patrick Scollard: Technology
The Grady students who qualified as semi-finalists are:
Career Education and Technology: Henry Peteet, Patrick Scollard, and Tatum Young
Communicative Arts: Deborah Harris, Olivia Kleinman, Sophia Maschinot, and Grace
White
Foreign Language: Rachel Citrin and Ana de Give
Mathematics: Troy Kleber, Archer Kinnane, and Adam Schatz
Science: Tucker Lancaster, Jennifer Moody, and Olivia Volkert
Social Studies: Samuel Heller and James Moy
Theater: Preston Choi, Rachel Klika, and Simon McLane
Visual Arts: Lauren Ogg
One Academic Fair Science and Engineering
Gold Key winners: Troy Kleber and Daniel Tehrani in science
Silver Key winners: J.D. Capelouto and Rachel Citrin, in mathematics; and Justin Williams in
science
Bronze Key winners: Archie Kinnane and Grace White, in science.
One Academic Fair Social Studies
Class III
Billie Levine
1st Place
Class IV
Lucy Lombardo
1st Place
Rex Peterson
2nd Place
64th Georgia Science and Engineering Fair Special Awards
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American Meteorological Society Award - Rachel Citrin
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Broad River Watershed Association Award - George Lowring
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NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Certificate of Excellence – Senior
Division - Rachel Citrin
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UGA Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department Young Dawgs Internship
Award– Troy Kleber
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UGA Genetics GSA Best Project in Genetics – Senior Division – Justin Williams
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Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Grand Award Top Ten State Recognition Justin Williams
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Regional Science Fair ISEF Trip Winners – Atlanta City Regional
o Troy Kleber
o Daniel Tehrani
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Georgia Science & Engineering Fair ISEF Trip Winner - Justin Williams
College and Career Readiness Assessment
This assessment was to determine student proficiency with respect to job opportunities in the state
of Georgia. Camille Harris earned a platinum certificate, 32 students earned gold certificates, 79
students earned silver certificates and 20 students earned bronze certificates.
Latin Certamen Academic Bowl
Our Upper Level team, consisting of Ethan Taylor-Campbell and Lucy Bradley, placed 3rd in
a very tough bracket. Our Lower Level team--consisting of Preston Choi, Deya Bowers, Allison
Rapoport, and Eli Mansbach--placed 5th and scored over 200 points during one of the rounds!
Additionally, Ethan Campbell-Taylor won a special award for answering the most number of
toss-up questions correctly out of all the tournaments' participants.
World Quest Competition
Isabelle Taft, Sammi Dean, and Sam Heller won second place in the state at the competition at
GSU despite being a player short due to a conflict with robotics. They called us the ‘Cinderella
Team’ and the kids took home medals, cash, mp3 players, and the respect of the university.
Congratulations to Maurice Evans III, who was one of eight $500 runners up in the Vernon E.
Carne Scholarship competition. Maurice has been accepted at Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Academies
Biomedical Science and Engineering:
Vidrine Jones, Imani Stanard, and Brianna Stewart were accepted into the UGA College of
Veterinary Medicine's Vet School For A Day program on September 28, 2011.
Grady HOSA Parliamentary Team won first place at the Georgia HOSA State Leadership
Conference. The Parliamentary Team was comprised of Natalie Anderson, JaTavia Butler,
Erin Fallen, Akilah George, Niquisha Ruff, Eric Spencer, Ngoc Tran, and Morgan Ukaonu.
They are on their way to National Competition June 20 – 23, 2012.
Business and Entrepreneurship:
Brandi Edmondson traveled to New York City to Compete in the National Foundation for
Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) on October 5 – 7. Brandi won 1st runner up in a citywide
business plan competition for Young Entrepreneurs of Atlanta (YE-Atl) with a $750 dollar
scholarship toward school or business idea. This competition will involve students across the
nation.
Thirty-four students from the Business & Entrepreneurship academy participated in a DECAorganized Job Shadowing event held on Thursday, February 2, 2012 celebrating Career &
Technical Education Month and Black History month.
The following ten organizations and individuals hosted our students: KiDazzle Child Care and
Enrichment Center; Five Guys Restaurant; Emory University Office of Undergraduate
Admissions and the Carlos Museum; Office of Mr. Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta; Judge
Kimberly Adams, Fulton County Superior Court; Fulton County District Attorney’s office;
DeKalb County District Attorney’s office; Mr. Justin Starnes – Attorney at Law, Atlanta; Le
Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts; Georgia World Congress Center/Georgia Dome/Phillips
Arena.
Chelsie Davis, who shadowed at KiDazzle Child Care & Enrichment Center, was offered a paid
summer job on the spot. Jewel Ford shadowed the District Attorney for DeKalb County was
offered a summer internship.
Other participants were Jada Luckett, Lylah Brown, Alana Edmonds, Thomas Cox, Taylor
Booker, Kyle Barry, Tylor Booker, Charles George, Kiera Hicks, and Grady Roberts.
The production crew was: Charles Eaddy and Scottie McWilliams were videographers; Ciena
Leshley was the photographer and Fabian Releford was the executive assistant.
On February 23, Grady’s B & E students participated in a project based workshop conducted by
Mr. Stephen McDowell of California’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
organized by Grady’s DECA. The high point of the workshop was that students were capable of
putting together a “trend board” from fashion magazines that they were given. The workshop
culminated with a spectacular student presentation by participating groups and an overview of the
Fashion Institute with explanations on majors and careers associated with fashion.
Congratulations to the following B&E students for being accepted into Usher’s New Look
Powered by Service Tour Program: Simone Howard, Sydni Dunovant, Marquise Eppinger,
Orlando Riley, Nena Dorsey, Maya Pines and Jayla Tibbs.
Communications and Journalism:
Please also see “Design” and “Publications and Broadcast Programs” below.
Greg Bluestein, legal affairs reporter for the Associated Press's Atlanta bureau, will visit a
tenth grade journalism class Friday, Feb. 10. Bluestein, former editor-in-chief of the University of
Georgia's independent, student-run newspaper, The Red & Black, was one of five reporters who
were present at the Troy Davis execution.
Cynthia Tucker, winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for commentary and former editorial page
editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is coming to speak with Southerner and Nexus
students on Tuesday, March 13. Tucker is a visiting professor at UGA's Grady College of
Journalism and Mass Communication.
Jeff Johnson, journalist, television personality, and voice over master, spoke with broadcast
journalist students on February 7, 2012.
Scott C. King, journalist, photographer, and musician, spoke with broadcast journalist students
on Tuesday, February 14, 2012.
Twelve students from the Communications & Journalism Academy participated in the SkillsUSA
Leadership & Skills Conference held on March 15-17, 2012, at the Georgia International
Convention Center. Queen White, Charles Eaddy, Jori Shorts, and Lauren Alford were
selected to be interviewed during the live telecast for SkillsUSA Live TV!
Congratulations to the following students for winning first place at the SkillsUSA Leadership &
Skills Conference held March 15-17, 2012: Jori Shorts and Dakota Moore for Audio/Radio
Production and Charles Eaddy and Hira Choudhry for SkillsUSA Georgia Commercial. Jori
and Dakota will compete in the SKillsUSA National Level Competition in Kansas City, Missouri
June 23-27.
Public Policy and Justice:
Grady Students represent Usher's New Look Powered by Service Tour on October 22, 2011, at
Emory University Goizueta School of Business. The PP&J students selected for the New Look
Program are Desiree Garrick, Jalliyah Obie, Gregory Partridge, Deondria Sorrells, Sergio
Weaver, Jimell Louis, and Zikiyah Battle.
The Public Policy and Justice Academy Sophomore class has been invited to participate in the US
Department of Justice's Youth Justice Summit for September 13 to be held at the GA State
University Hall. Students participate in mock trials and CSI exercises with select guest speakers.
Athletics
John Law and Hughston Leaks were selected to participate in the 1st Annual Georgia High
School Senior All-Star Bowl Game played on Sunday December 18, 2011 7:00 PM at the
Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Coach Millen was selected to be the Head Coach for this game and
Coach Jordan from Grady was also selected as an assistant coach for the game.
Please congratulate the following athletes for “signing on” at their college and universities for
next year. These athletes should be recognized for their excellence in both sports and academics:
Mendez Elder, Savannah State (Baseball)
Aaron Cooper, Lincoln University (football)
Dorian Greene, Morehouse College (football)
Kieno Jones, University of Richmond (football)
Quintavious Knight, Georgia Military College (football)
John Law, Appalachian State University (football)
Zane Coburn, University of Georgia (cross-country and track)
Zane Coburn finished 2nd overall in the AAA state cross-country championship on November 5,
2011. Zane won the AAA state championships in 800m and 1600m in April 2012.
Grady Swim girls qualified for state the third year in a row and swam all 3 relays at State--Julia
Rapoport, Lindsey Leonard, Lily Trapkin, Barri Jones, Kate deGive and Lia Pett all
swimming best times. Freshman Lia Pett also qualified and swam 2 individual events (100 Fly,
200 IM). Our first ever diver, Griffin Kish, qualified and dove.
Margaret McDonald, has been selected to represent the United States at the 2012 Junior &
Cadet World Championships in Women’s Sabre. These Championships will be held in
Moscow, Russia, from March 31 – April 8, 2012. Margaret won a silver medal in Budapest
which secured her place on the team.
Design
Formula for Success: Grady Graphic Design and Coca-Cola "Give It Back" in OutReach 2!
The Grady Graphic Design program celebrates their second year of participation in OutReach 2,
an original design challenge sponsored by the Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design,
Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) and The Coca-Cola Company's "Give It Back"
recycling program.
Grady Design students were recruited to attend a special focus group discussion at the CASE III
(Council for Advancement and Support of Education) regional conference. During this
presentation they discussed their perspective on the effectiveness of college
promotional/recruitment materials in general and three college catalogs in particular with
attendees who design these campaigns for their respective colleges. Their background as
designers recommended them as much or more as did their current interest in selecting a college.
The students in attendance were: Abrahana James, Bria Griffin , Camille Harris , Cheryn
Moore, Liz Nace , Danny Baggerman, and Sonny Romeo.
Faculty/Staff Accomplishments:
Kate Carter was named 2012 Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Advisor of the Year in a
ceremony at UGA in April 2012.
Henry W. Grady High School English teacher, Susie Mercer, was one of several winners of
Classroom Editions from Dow Jones News Fund (DJNF), Inc. Twenty-one high school media
teachers have won free subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition through a
contest offered by the Dow Jones News Fund and the publishers of the newspaper. To win,
teachers write essays describing how they will use the paper to teach journalism. Whether
starting a school newspaper, transitioning from a media career to the high school classroom or
focusing on improved writing and literacy, the teachers presented a glimpse of how the
newspaper will enhance their curriculum.
The Classroom Edition, a co-sponsor of the National High School Journalism Teacher
Awards program, will also provide subscriptions to the 2011 Teacher of the Year and eight other
honored teachers. This is the third year of free subscriptions. Each essay winner will receive
copies of The Classroom Edition, a Teacher Guide, and unlimited use of WSJclassroom.com.
JROTC
Grady High School JROTC (Army) Annual Awards Day
Grady High School JROTC (Army) Program celebrated their Annual Awards Day Program on
April 11, 2012. Cadet Officers coordinated an impressive ceremony, with the Presentation of
Awards by honored guests, including Grady's Principal, Dr. Vincent Murray, Grady JROTC Sr.
Army Instructor Lt. Colonel (USA Ret.) Charles E. Johnson, Atlanta Public Schools Director of
Army Instruction, Colonel Holmes and Lt. Colonel Quick, followed by a formal Pass In Review
procession of Cadet Battalion Staff, Color Guard and 180 uniformed cadets.
Awards of note include:
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE:
C/2LT Lotin Tangdonfor - 12th grade
C/CPT Natasha Wilson - 11th grade
C/CPT Tia Borrego - 10th grade
C/SGT Jefferson Martin - 9th grade
OUTSTANDING CADETS:
4th Year - C/LTC Jewel Battle
3rd Year - C/CPT Natasha Wilson
2nd Year - C/MSG Kylah Clark
1st Year - C/SGT Aliyah Dumas
SAI DISTINGUISHED CADET:
C/SGT Jada Luckett
SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY AWARD:
C/LTC Jewel Battle
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
C/CPT Jason Lathbury
Distinctions were awarded to Merit 3rd & 4th Year Cadets, Most Improved, DAI Commendations
and Leadership Awards. Trophies, badges and awards were presented to members of the Raider
Team, Rifle Team, State Drill Competition and Championship Drill Teams.
The Grady High School Knight Battalion Drill Team competed at the Area 6 (state qualifying)
Drill Meet on Saturday, 4 February 2012. Grady participated in 10 events and received awards
for nine, not including two individual awards that were received in a competitive game. We
would like to give special recognition for exceptional work to the following commanders:
● Sergeant Major Brianna Johnson- 1st place with her female color guard
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Master Sergeant Kylah Clark- 1st place with her female armed squad
Captain Tia Borrego- 1st place with her female unarmed platoon
Captain Stayce Evans- 1st place with his unarmed squad
Major Nick McFarlin- 1st place with his unarmed platoon
Master Sergeant April King- 2nd place with her female unarmed squad
Master Sergeant Titus Zeigler- 2nd place with his armed squad
Captain Jasmine Russell- 3rd place with her female armed platoon
Second Lieutenant Malcolm Baldwin- 4th place with his armed platoon.
We would like to congratulate the following individuals: Major Nick McFarlin for receiving
first place in armed knock-out and Second Lieutenant Travis Patrick for receiving second
place in armed knock-out. We would also like to congratulate and commend Lieutenant
Colonel Jewel Battle and Command Sergeant Major Demarcus Howard for their hard and
exceptional work. Special thanks go to Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, Sergeant Major Stewart
and Master Sergeant Bleach.
The following students participated at the Area 6 2012 competition: Demarcus Howard,
Jasmine Russell, Stayce Evans, Brianna Johnson, Jewel Battle, Lyah Brown, Gregory
Tillmon, Khyree Render, Darion Gibson, Travis Patrick, Brianna Pope, Corey Peterson,
Orlando Brown, Tia Borrego, Jason Lathbury, Malcolm Baldwin, Nick McFarlin, April
King, Kylah Clark, Lydia Justice, Cameron Tucker, Shaquandra Shropshire, Titus Zeigler,
Ebony Smith, Chris Drayton, Lonnie Parham, Armani Owens, Ebony Booker, Theodejah
Dixon, Jasmine Moon, Jahna Howard, and Myiesha Smith.
The Grady High School Knight Battalion received 1st place in the JROTC Annual Saber Day
Ceremony. In addition, members of the Knight Battalion participated with the Junior
Achievement Program at Cook and Hope-Hill Elementary Schools this year, and school officials
were exceptionally pleased with our students’ presentations.
The Knight Battalion Drill Team received 1st place in the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Parade
and received 2nd place in the Veteran's Day Parade.
Congratulations to Grady High School’s Drill Team for an exceptional performance at the
Georgia State Drill Competition:
Cadet Major Jasmine Russell received 2nd place.
Cadet Captain Tia Borrego received 5th place.
Cadet Titus Zeigler received 5th place.
Cadet Major Nick McFarlin received the Georgia Military Scholarship worth $70,000.
Mock Trial
Grady High School finished first runner-up in the National Mock Trial Championships in May
in Albuquerque, NM.
Grady High School's Mock Trial Team won the 24th Annual Georgia State Championship.
This was Grady's fourth consecutive win of the State Title. This is unprecedented in the state of
Georgia. The following students won best attorney awards: Jasmine Burnett, Shaun Kleber,
Troy Kleber, Atiana Johnson, Nally Kinnane, and Elizabeth McGlamry. The following
students won best witness awards: Orli Hendler, Alix Youngblood, Kenny Cochran, Archie
Kinnane.
Grady High School’s award-winning Mock Trial Team won its 15th regional championship.
This recent victory was the 14th consecutive regional championship for Grady and the 15th
regional win in the team’s 16 year history.
Grady High School was awarded the Chief Justice George H. Carley State Championship
Gavel. This is the inaugural year of the award, which was dedicated to Chief Justice Carley in
honor of his years of service to Mock Trial in the state of Georgia.
The Champion Grady Mock Trial Team is comprised of Abena Amoakuh, Christopher Brown,
Jasmine Burnett, JD Capelouto, Kyle Cobb, Kenny Cochran, Molly Daniel, Michael
Dillard, Orli Hendler , Atiana Johnson, Archie Kinnane, Nally Kinnane, Griffin Kish,
Brandon Kleber, Shaun Kleber, Troy Kleber, Olivia Kleinman, Madeline Lansing, Ciena
Leshley, Elizabeth McGlamry, Quinn Mulholland, Olivia Volkert, Josh Weinstock, and Alix
Youngblood. Coaches include Carl Gebo, Elizabeth Campbell, Crystal Genteman, Trihn
Huynh, Cecily McLeod, and Brian Leahy.
Music/Performing Arts
The Grady Drum-line performed during the opening of the National Prevention Network
Conference.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Nace for her outstanding performance with the Spivey Hall Honor
Chamber Orchestra.
Two of our student made the All-State Jazz Band this year: Jeffery Cox (trumpet) and Jordan
Holiman (drums).
Andrew Cleveland won the Ruth Kern Young Artists Concerto Competition, sponsored by
the Atlanta Music Club.
Kate Marani won a seat at All State GMEA festival and will represent Grady High School in Savannah.
For the second year in a row, Grady won the Region 5AAA One Act Competition. Grady also
won several other awards, including:
Best Actress: Olivia Simonton
All-Region Cast member: Ethan Campbell-Taylor
Best Ensemble
Best Tech Crew
Grady went on to place 5th at the State competition.
Grady Thespians:
Caitlin Wade has attained the rank of National Honor Thespian, representing over 1200 hours
of quality theater work.
The following students have attained the rank of Honor Thespian, representing over 600 hours
of quality theater work: Preston Choi, Simon McLane, Ethan Campbell-Taylor, Quameeha
Grandoit, Katie Edge, Daniel Gilstrap, Krysta Lamotte, and Cheyn Shah.
64 students have attained the rank of Thespian representing 100 or more hours of quality theater
work.
The Grady Jazz Band attended a Jazz Workshop on February 15, 2012, at the Lovett School.
The students who attended were Malcolm Baldwin, Iesha Brooks, Decker D’Alesio, Jamila
Hubert, Archer Kinnane, Brandon Kleber, Jasmin Moon, Daniel Tehrani, Zachary Carter,
Jeffrey Cox, Liam Henry, Jesus Sanchez-Ros, Deborah Harris, Jordan Holiman, Joseph
Lavine, Matthew Kovacevich, Jamie Perez, Rodreck Smith, Alexander Munger, and Sais
Key.
Two Grady Chorus Students, Jeffrey Cox and Shivangshu Tandukar, were selected for Georgia
Music Educator's Association's All State Chorus.
Jeffrey Cox was also selected for All State Sightreading Chorus.
The Grady Intermediate Chorus and the Grady Advanced Mixed Chorus both scored
Excellent ratings at the 2012 GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE) held in
February. The Intermediate Chorus sang in Class C and the Advanced Mixed Chorus sang in
Class B.
The Grady Chamber Singers scored Superior ratings at LGPE in the most difficult division,
Class A.
Grady’s advanced philharmonic orchestra won excellent in performance from all the four
judges at GMEA music festival. Please congratulate all our orchestra students for a job well
done! They performed Mozart Divertimento No. 1, Molly on the Shore by Grainger and
Reflexions by Nunez.
Publications/Broadcast Programs
2011 National Scholastic Press Assn. Newspaper Pacemaker Winners
The Southerner, Henry W. Grady HS, Atlanta, Ga.
Ben Gittelson, Sam Weinstock, editors
Kate Carter/Dave Winter, advisers
http://studentpress.org/nspa/winners/npm11.html
2011 National Scholastic Press Assn. Broadcast Pacemaker Winners
Grady News Now, Henry W. Grady HS, Atlanta, Ga.
http://contests.schooltube.com/contests/showentry/795478
Thaddeus X Roberts, adviser
http://studentpress.org/nspa/winners/bpm11.html
National Scholastic Press Assn. Story of the Year
http://studentpressblogs.org/nspa/?p=325
Finalist -- "Black and White," Ben Gittelson and Sam Weinstock, Diversity Reporting
Honorable Mention -- "Pencil Me Out," Shaun Kleber, News Story
http://studentpress.org/nspa/winners/story11.html
National Scholastic Press Assn. Broadcast Story of the Year
Honorable Mention -- Staff, Broadcast News
Honorable Mention -- Staff, Broadcast Feature
http://studentpress.org/nspa/winners/bcstory11.html
National Scholastic Press Assn. Design of the Year
Honorable Mention -- "Pencil Me Out," Grayson Fuller and Shaun Kleber, Infographic
http://studentpress.org/nspa/winners/design11.html
The Southerner newspaper and Nexus magazine were both named Columbia Scholastic Press
Association Crown Award finalists for 2012. This is the first time that Nexus has been named a
finalist for one of the three most coveted national press association awards. The award is based
on issues that were submitted last year.
The Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society has awarded the 2010-2011 Southerner staff
the society's highest honor: the 2011 George H. Gallup Award.
Two Grady students worked as Production Crew for the “Inside APS” shoot on February 1, 2012
at Mays High School: Dakota Moore, Camera and Reporter; Ngoc Tran, Camera.
Dakota Moore was featured as a student reporter for “Inside APS” which follows the “APS
Signing Day” broadcast. This program features our student reporters interviewing the athletes.
Dakota’s picture, along with Mendez Elder’s photograph, is currently being featured on the main
page of the APS website.
JEA Write-Off Contest Fall 2012 (Minneapolis, MN): Broadcast Sports Story, Excellent,
Ngoc Tran and Madison Keiger; Broadcast Feature Story, Excellent, Zoe Taylor.
2012 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Junior Champion Journalist, Winner: Isabelle
Taft
2012 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Junior Champion Journalist, Runner-up: Troy
Kleber
2012 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Champion Journalist, Third Runner-Up: Shaun
Kleber
Georgia Scholastic Press Association General Excellence Awards
• Publication/Program Ratings
- Excellent, GameTime (2011-2012 broadcast competition)
- Excellent, thesoutherneronline.com (2011-2012 news website competition)
- Excellent, The Unmasking (2010-2011 literary magazine competition)
- Superior, Grady News Now (2011-2012 broadcast competition)
- Superior, Nexus (2011-2012 newsmagazine competition)
- Superior, The Southerner (2011-2012 newspaper competition)
• General Excellence Award winners
- Grady News Now
- The Southerner (best newspaper in GHSA 3-A classification)
• All-Georgia Award winners
- Grady News Now (best broadcast program in Georgia)
- The Southerner (best newspaper in Georgia)
Georgia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Individual Award Winners
Broadcast
• News Package
- All-Georgia: Madison Keiger, “Teacher Overpayment,” Grady News Now, Feb. 3, 2011 episode
• In-Depth News Package/Documentary
- All-Georgia: Zoe Taylor, ”APS Cheating Scandal,“ Grady News Now, Nov. 11, 2011 episode
• Feature Package
- Superior: Zoe Taylor, “Sugar-Coated Radical,” Grady News Now, Dec. 2, 2011 episode
• Sports Package
- Superior: John Webster, “Field Dedication,” GameTime
• Production
- All-Georgia: Lukas Olson, “Activism Club,” Grady News Now, Feb. 24, 2012 episode
Magazine
• Cover Design
- Superior: Christopher Drayton, “The ART-lanta Issue,” Nexus, March 2012 issue
• Spread Design
- All-Georgia: Abby Orlansky and Kate Taber, “Instagram,” Nexus, March 2012 issue, page 7
Newspaper
• News Story
- Superior: Konadu Amoakuh, “Teachers missing from equation in classrooms,” The Southerner,
Oct. 24, 2011 issue, page 1
- Superior: Shaun Kleber, “APS budget cuts forces school to scrounge for funds,” The
Southerner, Dec. 9, 2011 issue, page 6
- All-Georgia: Isabelle Taft, “Review may spell end of small learning communities,”
thesoutherneronline.com
• Feature Story
- Superior: Claire Hasson, “Rowling reinvents Hogwarts online,” Nexus, October 2011 issue,
page 30
- Superior: Isabelle Taft and Jolie Jones, The Southerner, “Overlooked share homeless tales in
The Overlook,“ The Southerner, Dec. 9, 2011 issue, page 8
- All-Georgia: Shaun Kleber, “AJC reporters put careers on line to expose scandal,”
thesoutherneronline.com
• Feature Profile
- Superior: Isabelle Taft and Jolie Jones, “Student loses home, keeps hope,” The Southerner, Dec.
9, 2011 issue, page 9
- All-Georgia: Lucy Leonard, “Local photographer focuses on future after exhibit,”
thesoutherneronline.com
• House Editorials
- Superior: The Southerner editorial board, ”A HOPE-less state,” “Death is not delightful,” and
“Toga rules not clear,” The Southerner
• Column
- Superior: Alex Stearns, “Modern-day life easy compared to homesteaders,” “Laziness leads to
discomfort in wildnerness,” The Southerner
• Commentary
- Superior: Emma Aberle-Grasse, “When jobs are scarce, who comes first?” and “Obama
announces MLK Day as a National Service Day,”
thesoutherneronline.com
- Lauren Harper, “Republican campaigns lack personalized ideas,” and “Media portrayal of
Qaddafi alarming,” The Southerner
• Critical Review
- Superior, Jack Douglas, Nexus
- Superior: Hunter Rust, The Southerner
- Superior: Gabrielle Siegel, The Southerner
• Sports News Story
- Superior, Mary Claire Morris, thesoutherneronline.com
• Sports Game Coverage
- Superior, Nile Kendall, thesoutherneronline.com
• Sports Feature Coverage
- Superior, Phillip Suitts, thesoutherneronline.com
• Sports Column
- All-Georgia, Phillip Suitts, thesoutherneronline.com
• Caption Writing
- Superior, Isabelle Taft, The Southerner
• News Photograph
- All-Georgia, Lucy Leonard, The Southerner
• Feature Photograph
- Superior, Lucy Leonard, thesoutherneronline.com
- Superior: Simon McLane, The Southerner
- Superior: McKenzie Taylor, Nexus
• Sports Photograph
- Superior, Joe Lavine, The Southerner
- Superior, Lucy Leonard, thesoutherneronline.com
- All-Georgia: Diana Powers, The Southerner
• Photo Essay
- Superior: Joe Lavine, The Southerner
• Editorial Cartoon
- All-Georgia: Will Staples, The Southerner
• Illustration
- Superior, Taylor Barnes, Nexus
• Photo Illustration
- Superior: Kate Taber, Nexus
Robotics
Grady Gearbox Gangstaz Robotics Team Wins 2nd Place Trophy at Georgia BEST
Competition and Qualifies for Regionals
The team won the trophy for 2nd place for the BEST Award and placed 8th in the robot
competition. The BEST Team 115 is led by Project Manager Henry Peteet, Chief Engineer
Patrick Scollard and President of Marketing David Carlock.
The Grady Gearbox Gangstaz Robotics Team attended South’s BEST Robotics regional meet on
December 2nd and 3rd at Auburn University.
G3 Robotics competed in March at the FIRST Peachtree Regional Robotics Competition and
finished the tournament in the 3rd place alliance after a very close 1-2 match loss in the semifinal
round.
Congratulations to the M3 Junior Team: Troy Kleber, Justin Williams, Jenny Moody,
Mezmure Dargie, and Alex Munger for advancing to the second round of judging; they were
134 of almost 1000 teams that competed. They are now eligible for a portion of scholarship
prizes totaling $115,000! They had 14 hours to use their applied mathematics skills to solve an
open-ended, realistic, applied math-modeling problem focused on a real-world issue. Panels of
Ph.D.-level applied mathematicians serve as judges in the three rounds of judging. Teams
selected for the top six prizes are required to present their papers at the confirmation (third)
judging round in Manhattan to determine final rank-order of those papers.
Speech and Debate
Ben Dean and Holden Choi won the Urban Debate National Championship in April 2012 in
Washington DC. Selected from among more than 7,000 urban debaters nationwide, these
debaters earned the right to compete in Washington, DC by winning local qualifying
tournaments. For two days they debated whether the United States should significantly increase
its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.
Past and present Grady HS students are featured in The Rostrum, the magazine of the National
Forensic League. Taylor Walker, Class of 2011, and National Forensic League Student of
the Year, wrote an article for the magazine about her experience in forensics while at Grady.
Taylor Walker article: http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/Rostrum/0911_022_023.pdf,
http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/Rostrum/0911_051.pdf Grady HS is the only school in the
nation to ever have had two finalists for National Student of the Year- Walker in 2011 and
Michael Robinson, Class of 2009.
Grady HS students recognized in the magazine:
http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/Rostrum/0911_076.pdf
Grady students competed at the National Earlybird Speech and Debate Tournament at Wake
Forest University. In Public Forum Debate: Carson Shadwell and Grace Power, Olivia Viera
and Sammi Dean, Lauren Ogg and Becca Martin.
In Policy Debate: Holden Choi and Ben Dean, Samantha Chiang and Zoe Hamilton, and Sam
Heller and Regan Lowring
In Lincoln Douglas Debate: Rachel Citrin and Zak Fields
In Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu: Isabelle Taft
In Dramatic Interpretation and Impromptu: Lukas Olson
In a tough Varsity Policy Debate division of 111 teams, the Grady team of Ben Dean and Holden
Choi reached the final round. They debate Dunwoody H. S. for the title. Holden was also
recognized as the seventh place (out of 222) speaker. Isabelle Taft advanced to the semi-final
round in Impromptu Speaking, and the Final round and placed third overall in Extemporaneous
Speaking. Lukas Olson reached the semi-final round in Dramatic Interpretation.
George Mason University 2011 Patriot Games Round Robin Extemporaneous Speaking,
December 2, 2011. Isabelle Taft is one of only eight extempers from around the nation that was
selected.
Rachel Citrin advanced to the top 36 LD debaters out of a field of 160. Isabelle Taft won the
GMU National Extemporaneous Speaking Round Robin (only eight were chosen to compete in
this event from all over the country), and she ALSO won Extemporaneous Speaking division at
the main tournament, beating out 141 speakers. The tournament had 1,300 students competing
from 32 different states.
In Lexington, Kentucky, Holden Choi and Ben Dean were competing against 110 teams from
15 states. They were the 18th seed after the preliminary rounds and reached the double octa-final
round. Holden was named the 18th speaker out of 220.
Isabelle Taft is a points leader in extemporaneous speaking. Click here for the info:
http://speechgeek.com/extemp/?p=5900
Congratulations to the Jesters for another fine performance at the First/Second Year State
Speech and Debate Championships! This tournament is for students in their first or second year
of forensics competition, held this year at Gainesville State College. Here is how Grady fared:
Novice Duo Interpretation: Ryan Switzer and Deya Bowers- 2nd Place
Novice Prose/Poetry:Qri Montague- CHAMPION
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: Max Rabb- 3rd Place, Emily Dean- 2nd Place, Rachel
Libman- CHAMPION
Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Tiger Li- Quarterfinalist
Novice Public Forum Debate: Alice Antia& Penelope Realff- Quarterfinalists; Quinn
Mulholland and Olivia Volkert- Semifinalists; Riley Erickson and Ellen Ericson- CHAMPIONS;
7th Place Speaker- Quinn Mulholland; 3rd Speaker- Olivia Volkert; 2nd Speaker- Riley Erickson
JV Public Forum Debate: Kathy Zakharova& Salome Kakalashvili- CHAMPIONS; 8th Place
Speaker- Sammi Dean; 6th Place Speaker- Grace Powers; 5th Place Speaker- Becca Martin; 3rd
Place Speaker- Katherine Zakharova; 1st Place Speaker- Salome Kakalashvili.
Congratulations to the Jesters for another fantastic showing at the Catholic Forensic League
National Qualifier held Saturday, February 11, 2012, at The Marist School. The Jesters also
brought home the inaugural “Phillip Wertz Sweepstakes Trophy.” Here are the qualifiers:
Lauren Ogg- Public Forum Debate
Grace Power- Public Forum Debate
Sammi Dean- Public Forum Debate
Olivia Veira- Public Forum Debate
Salome Kakashivili- Public Forum Debate
Katherine Zakharova- Public Forum Debate
Jamie Reid- Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Tiger Li- Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Rachel Citrin- Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Mallory Akard- Original Oratory
Isabelle Taft- Extemporaneous Speaking
Ben Simonds-Malamud- Extemporaneous Speaking
Rex Petersen- Dramatic Performance
Ryan Switzer- Dramatic Performance
Qri Montague- Prose/Poetry
Khadijah Brown- Prose/Poetry
Jahra Gholston- Duo Interp
Marius Jackson- Duo Interp
Ben Dean- Policy Debate
Zoe Hamilton- Policy Debate
Alternates:
Quinn Mulholland and Olivia Volkert- Public Forum Debate
Sam Heller- Lincoln-Douglas Debate
The Grand Nationals Tournament is over Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore, MD.
Members of the Jesters, Grady’s Speech and Debate Team, competed over the President’s Day
holiday weekend at the Harvard University High School Speech and Debate Tournament in
Cambridge, MA. The tournament is the largest high school speech and debate invitational in the
nation, with 345 schools competing from 36 states.
Jamie Reid- top 64, JV Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Tiger Li- top 64, JV Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Marius Jackson and Jahra Gholston- top 40, Duo Interpretation
Maya Grandoit- top 40, Dramatic Interpretation
Isabelle Taft- 3rd Place, Extemporaneous Speaking
Congratulations to the Jesters who qualified to attend the National Speech and Debate
Tournament in June. We will be traveling this year to Indianapolis, IN.
Isabelle Taft- International Extemporaneous Speaking
Rex Petersen- Dramatic Interpretation
Jahra Gholston- Duo Interpretation
Marius Jackson- Duo Interpretation
Tiger Li- LD Debate
The Jesters won 2nd Place Sweepstakes in the Debate division, 1st Place Sweepstakes in the
Speech division and, for the third year in a row, the Jesters won the Overall Sweepstakes Award
at the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association Varsity Speech and Debate Tournament! Here
is how individual students fared:
Ben Dean and Holden Choi- Semifinalists, Policy Debate
Jessica Alexander- Semifinalist, Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Jamie Reid- Quarterfinalist, Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Rachel Citrin- Quarterfinalist, Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Grace Power and Olivia Veira- Quaterfinalists, Public Forum Debate
Sarah Dillard- 5th Place, Prose/Poetry
Qri Montague- 4th Place, Prose/Poetry
Jahra Gholston- 2nd Place, Prose/Poetry
MARIUS JACKSON- CHAMPION, PROSE/POETRY
Rex Petersen- 4th Place, Humorous Interp
Quameeha Grandoit- 2nd Place, Dramatic Interp
Jahra Gholston and Marius Jackson- 2nd Place, Duo Interp
Mallory Akard- 3rd Place, Original Oratory
ISABELLE TAFT- CHAMPION, IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
Ben Simonds-Malamud- 6th Place, Extemporaneous Speaking
ISABELLE TAFT- CHAMPION, EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING
2nd Place Sweepstakes, Debate
1st Place Sweepstakes, Speech
OVERALL CHAMPION- 1ST PLACE SWEEPSTAKES!
Volunteerism/Community Engagement
Congratulations to Rachel Citrin, Class of 2013. She is one of 50 rising high school juniors and
seniors selected to become 2012 ANNpower Fellows. ANNpower Fellows are committed to
creating positive and sustainable change in their communities and across the globe.
Congratulations to Grady High School senior Chantil B. Coleman on her selection as The
Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Atlanta 2012 Atlanta Youth of the Year Award
winner.
Two Grady students were recognized by the Atlanta INtown Paper as among the 20 Under 20
Honorees: Preston “Stone” T. Persons, 15; Eve Brown, 18:
http://www.atlantaintownpaper.com/2012/01/20-under-20/
Over thirty GHS seniors attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the first federal
building named in honor of Dr. King’s work and legacy. Please congratulate Taylor Allen and
Kiera Hicks for winning the event’s scholarship contest. Both students beat out seniors from five
other high schools making Grady the only high school with two winners.
Alumni Update
Visual Art
Rachel Feinberg (Class of 2010) was named a Ford Scholar at Eckerd College in St.
Petersburg, FL. Each year up to twenty rising Juniors are chosen to pursue a two-year course of
study to prepare them for graduate school and a career in college or university teaching.