Schools

Last year, an all-black team of high school debaters took the top prize at Harvard University’s prestigious summer debate tournament. This year, they’ve done it again. And two South Fulton schools are represented among the victors. Banneker High School’s Xavier Shankle and Westlake’s Keith Harris are participants in the Harvard Diversity Project, an Atlanta-based pipeline program of the Harvard Debate Council. After a week-long tournament, their team outperformed experienced debaters from 15 countries, bringing home an incredible consecutive victory. In the quarter-finals, the team held five of the eight top spots, showcasing their dominance. Harris, along with North Atlanta High School’s Don Roman, Jr., achieved an unprecedented, undefeated record despite having no prior debate e...

South Fulton’s top students are being celebrated throughout the community as they count down to their graduation day. This year’s valedictorians from Fulton County Schools in the South Learning Community and surrounding areas are: Zerian Hood, Banneker; John Igieobo, Creekside; Rayna Marie Wynn, Langston Hughes; Eddie Matthews, IV, McClarin; Camryn Banks, Tri-Cities; and Aaron Woolfolk, Westlake. For Wynn and Hood, being named valedictorian came as no surprise. It’s a goal they set for themselves long ago. “I set out that I wanted to be valedictorian,” said Wynn, who will attend Hampton University and study computer science. “My friends and teachers have all been pushing me and encouraging me to keep going forward for my dream.” “I declared that I would be the valedictorian of...