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Class of 2009

Allie Bailey – Druid Hills

• Aspirations: College, writer or doctor
• Current Activities: Church Council Member, Model UN, French Club – Treasurer, Beta Club, DeKalb Youth Symphony – Clarinet, DK Library Teen Advisory Bd.
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Opportunities for students of lower socio-economic levels
• Definition of a Leader: An independent thinker; influences the masses; holds power in an environment

 

Malik Bradford – Southwest DeKalb

• Aspirations: GA Tech, Chemical Engineering
• Current Activities: Tutor
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Disrespectful students who are uncontrollable
• Definition of a Leader: someone who overcomes negative obstacles with head held high

 

Niki Campbell – Clarkston

• Aspirations: Emory University
• Current Activities: Morehouse Educational Talent Search Planning Committee
• Critical Issues Facing Students: students not passing classes
• Definition of a Leader: performs acts of leadership

 

Elijah Dean – Clarkston

• Aspirations:  Harvard, Environmental Engineering
• Current activities: Band – Drummer, Basketball, Track Team, Youth Choir, Church Nat’l. Orchestra – saxophonist
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Poor End-of-course and SAT scores; peer pressure
• Definition of Leader: Having the ability to influence others

 

Kelly Dwyer – Dunwoody

• Aspirations: College
• Current Activities: Class President, SGA, JV Basketball –Captain, JV Cheerleading, Soccer
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Language barrier for non-English speaking students
• Definition of a Leader: Courage of standing up for something or taking charge of a situation when no one else will stand up

 

Lauren Flanigan – Miller Grove

• Aspirations: UGA, Vanderbilt, Harvard, pre-law
• Current Activities: Golf, C.I.A – Treasurer, Library vol. clerk, SGA, Youth Services
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Students’ lack of motivation
• Definition of a Leader: Possessing the capacity and confidence to guide the masses toward positive change

 

Caily Forstall - Tucker

• Aspirations: College, Med School, Doctor
• Current Activities: Volleyball, NHS, Beta Club, Young Life
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Negative impact of society on young people; message that school isn’t a top priority
• Definition of a Leader: Simply a voice provided by someone who directs their followers onto a positive path

 

Tatiana Galiano – Lakeside

• Aspirations: College
• Current Activities: Beta Club, Holy Cross Youth Group, Hispanic Scholarship fund
• Critical Issue Facing Students: teen dropouts; school curriculums don’t fit students’ needs
• Definition of a Leader: Leadership is the ability to motivate a group of people to achieve a common goal.

 

Alanna Gardner – Chamblee

• Aspirations: NYU, Cornell, Public Relations or Law
• Current Activities: Volleyball – manager; Teacher’s Aid at Atlanta’s Shelter; Stillwater Orchestra – Cellist; past President Youth  Nat’l Assoc. of Negro Musicians & presentation speaker
• Critical Issue Facing Students: lack of appreciation of education in general
• Definition of a Leader: Leadership means fellowship; a leader is someone that people will follow

 

Nandi Geiger – McNair

• Aspirations: College
• Current Activities: Reading Bowl Team, Y Club, Ignite
• Critical Issue Facing Students: lack of interest in learning, disruptive behaviors
• Definition of a Leader: Leadership is a characteristic of a strong willed individual that is comprised of three major principles: ability to lead, a position of higher authority and actually taking the stance to lead.

 

Belan Hamad – Clarkston

• Aspirations: UGA
• Current Activities: Soccer, Softball, Miss ’07 International Club, Chorus, Hosp. Vol
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Violence – gangs, fights lead to dropouts
• Definition of Leadership: Leadership means to have the courage to do what’s right and lead those who don’t

 

Cambridge Horton – Southwest DeKalb

• Aspirations: Emory U, med school
• Current Activities: Young Orators – VP, Spanish Club
• Critical Issue Facing Students: class size
• Definition of a Leader: A leader is a person who helps others to become better people.

 

 

Diamond Howell – Avondale

• Aspirations: College, med school, neurologist
• Current Activities: Tech Club-Treasurer, NHS, Chorus, French Club-VP, Softball
• Critical Issue Facing Students: ways to interest students in subjects, No Child Left Behind
• Definition of Leadership: Leadership is giving guidance and direction in such a way others achieve objectives.

 

Mohamed Kande – DeKalb Early College Academy

• Aspirations: GPC
• Current Activities: NHS, Brothers of Distinction, Earth Tomorrow
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Pregnancy causing girls to drop out
• Definition of a Leader: A leader is like a quarterback. He has smart, disciplined, patient, and  socially comfortable

 

Sydney Mason – Redan

• Aspirations: college, doctor
• Current Activities: Basketball, softball, AAU basketball
• Cum GPA 3.8, Cum avg 92.22
• Critical Issue: skipping and missing school, disrupting the class
• Leadership is when you have the knowledge of what is right nd putting it into play by helping yourself & everyone around you.
• Expects to develop into a better leader & learn about DeKalb.

 

Nolan Meadors – Southwest DeKalb

• U of Miami, U of South Carolina, Business Major
• Cum. GPA 4.0         97.6
• Football, Church Choir
• Critical Issue: Out-dated textbooks, poor parental support, and poor attendance
• Bringing together people to achieve one positive goal
• Gain leadership skills

 

Te’lisha Middlebrooks – Druid Hills

• Howard, Tuskegee, UGA, Broadcasting
• Cum. GPA 4.0                  92.77
• Class President, Delta Gems, People-to-people
• Critical Issue: Absenteeism
• Ability to have full responsibility and serve as a role model to those who follow
• Gain knowledge on the true qualities of a leader

 

Yantria Moore – Avondale

• Aspirations: College
• Current Activities: ROTC
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Teenage Pregnancy
• Definition of a Leader: Being in control, showing strength and guidance; displays integrity

 

 

Nicole Morrison – Dunwoody

• Aspirations: College and Grad School
• Current Activities: Swim Team, Class Secretary, SGA, Beta Club, Girl Scout Silver Award recipient, Church mission trip leader
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Commitment to education
• Defnition of Leadership: The ability to take control of a situation, when no one else will and not want credit.

 

Kasa Neselu – Avondale

• Aspirations: College
• Current Activities: Track & Field, Cross Country, NHS, ROTC
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Lack of confidence & and passion
• Definition os Leadership: Act of willingness to be corrected if wrong; and being responsible for the action you take while setting a good example for others

 

Johnathan Putmon - McNair

• Aspirations: College
• FBLA, Math Club, Reading Bowl, Science Club, Lit. Club

 

 

 

 

Caroline Reed – Westminster

• Aspirations: College, med school, pediatrician
• Current Activities: Hands-on-Atlanta Youth Advisory Board, Fernbank Museum Naturalist Vol., JV Soccer Manager, Piano, Church Nursery Caretaker, Girl Scouts
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Competition for grades rather than the education; pressure
• Definition of a Leader: A leader Positive motivation in the right direction

 

Bre Robinson – Tucker

• Duke, Emory U, Xavier U, med school, OB/Gyn
• Beta Club, JV Cheerleading, FCCLA – VP, Gymnastics, Track & Field
• Critical Issue: Dropout rate
• Courage to step up and decide to take matters into your own hands instead of following the crowd

 

 

Riane Sharp – Woodward Academy

• Law school, Child Advocacy Law
• Jack & Jill – Pres, Recording Sec., Excel Club – Sec., Church Youth Usher, Golf, Yearbook staff
• Critical Issue: Standardized testing
• Definition of Leadership: Ability to positively and effectively get things done by taking risks and accepting responsibility when things go  wrong

 

Cherrica Smith – Stone Mountain

• Aspirations: College, Criminal justice, Federal agent
• Current Activities: Sophomore Council, Track & Field
• Critical Issue Facing Students: School violence, gangs
• Definition of Leadership: Effectively direct a group of people in the right direction

 

 

TaShamber Smith – Cedar Grove

• Aspirations: College
• Current Activities: Praise Dancer, All-star Cheerleader
• Critical Issue Facing Students: NCLB puts different learners in class together
• Definition of a Leader: Being a role model; a willingness to take a stand for what one believes in

 

Ramone Sutherland – Cedar Grove

• Aspirations: College
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Poor Funding and poor student conduct
• Definition of a Leader: Someone who does not show fear when confronted with a problem; won’t crumble under pressure

 

 

Taylor Wimbly – Tucker

• Aspirations: Spellman, child psychology, open own practice
• Current Activities: Kids Connect – Sec., Beta Club, Cheerleading. E___ Ladies
• Critical Issue Facing Students: classrooms filled with students not serious about learning
• Definition of a Leader: Working for what you believe in and getting others to help you accomplish your goal

 

Kurt Zellner – Dunwoody

• Aspirations: College, Politician
• Current Activites: Cross Country, Nature Center Counselor, Model UN
• Critical Issue Facing Students: Lack of motivation in teachers & students
• Definition of a Leader: The ability for someone to go against the normal way of doing things; leaders do not follow the masses