Walking the Red Carpet
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Education Foundation honors Atlanta High’s top students
By Lee Ellen Benjamin
Journal Staff
For the fifth year in a row, the Atlanta Education Foundation (AEF) acknowledged the top 10 percent of the AHS senior class at a glittering gala “The Eddy Awards: Walk the Red Carpet 2015” at the Atlanta Middle School cafetorium May 28.
Rex Henderson was on tap to announce the honored guests and their parents as they entered the red carpet. An educator of the student’s choosing joined the honorees as they were escorted to tables adorned with silver stars and white hydrangeas in immense sparkling vases.
The cafetorium was decorated with gold trophies and silver table dressings. Big Jake’s Bar-B-Que catered the affair and members of the Junior Class of AHS were polite and efficient servers for the evening. Before the honorees were singled out for their accomplishments, a short video was shown, “Then and Now,” which included baby pictures each of the Eddy Winners. There was much “oooing and aahing” as the pictures scrolled through.
President of the AE Foundation, Kelly Joslin, greeted guests and stressed that the organization is “dedicated to academic excellence.”
Principal Nancy Rinehart pointed out that, “as observers we only see the public glory, but rarely understand the sacrifices. Indeed, the sacrifices have paid off for each of you and those sacrifices have been worth it. You are exemplary students.” She encouraged them to go the next mile, to make good choices.
To conclude, she quoted Walt Disney, “All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.”
One of the highlights of the Eddy Awards is the presentation of the educators who have influenced the academic careers of the honorees. There were several poignant moments when the mentors explained what a pleasure it had been to work with these gifted and willing learners.
The crowd was brought to tears, as each student explained the reasons they chose the adults who helped them reach this point in their academic lives.
Some picked, teachers, coaches, some even picked their parents, but one of the most touching was “Miz Becky” who work in the AHS cafeteria. Senior Dasha Williams explained, “Miz Becky always greeted me with a smile and I knew everything would be worth the effort. I knew I could get through another day, after I saw Miz Becky.”
Equally expressive was Becky Endsley who told the group how Dasha “…was a stand out. She was always so polite and had a lovely smile. I would be happy to call her my own child.”
Israel Medina told the attendees that he came to practice late once, but only once. After he bonded with Coach Will Allen, he knew he would not fall short of the mark again. Of course, the coach assured the crowd he did not miss. In fact, he said, ”because of Israel, I worked harder as an educator.”
Garrett Duke picked Jeff Siler. Prior to discussing the honoree, Siler was highly complementary of his mentors at AHS, who included Superintendent Sidney Harrist and Mr. and Mrs. Barron Christenson. He went on to tell Duke “If I had even a small impact on this fine student’s future, I feel as if I have accomplished much as an educator.”
Read the full article in the Wednesday, June 20, 2015 edition of the Atlanta Citizens Journal.
PHOTO by Lee Ellen Benjamin
The Atlanta Education Foundation honored 14 AHS students and their mentors at the fifth annual “Walk the Red Carpet” gala, which was held at Atlanta Middle School Thursday, May 28.
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