Schools

As we close out our Super Senior profile series, we're excited to announce our Super Senior of the Year, Banneker High School's Xavier Shankle. He has been not only a tremendous asset to his school and community, but also to The Observer in helping us to cover school news. We were delighted to present Xavier with a $100 gift card to celebrate his accomplishments and to thank him for his hard work. Xavier's is a model student. He is graduating third in his class having maintained a 4.0 GPA all four years, and has been named by Fulton County Schools as Banneker's Star Student. He's served as both president of his senior class and Banneker's DECA Chapter where he placed Top 7 twice this year at the state competition. The gifted orator is also an alumnus of the nationally acclaimed Harvard...

It's the last day of school for Fulton County Schools seniors, and we're celebrating our Super Senior nominees. Meet Zuriel Jimpson, a member of Westlake High School’s Class of 2020. He’s excelled in both football and track, making the varsity rosters each year of his high school career. The National Honors Society member has also excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 3.5 GPA. He’ll attend Carson-Newman University in the fall where he’s been awarded a dual scholarship for football and track. He plans to major in computer science with a minor in graphic design.Zuriel is described as a shy and humble young man who puts God first. He is always compelled to lend a helping hand to both his peers and those less fortunate. These are just some of the reasons he was the 2020 recipient of th...

This month, we’re celebrating South Fulton’s Super Seniors! Meet SaVion Smith, one of the top 25 students in Hapeville Charter Career Academy's Class of 2020 and a dual enrollment scholar at Georgia Military College. He's a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and Exchange Club. Committed to community service, he has been a Boy Scout for 11 years, and was recently named Youth Leader of Pack 3353. To top off a heaping list of accomplishments, he has received a full scholarship from 5STRONG and will attend Alabama A&M University in the fall. Q1: What are some of the things that you've been proud to accomplish during your high school career? A1: I am extremely proud to have accomplished a plethora of things. My first accompli...

This month, we’re celebrating South Fulton’s Super Seniors! Meet Kelsey Henderson, a member of Westlake High School's Class of 2020. This SGA president and Georgia Youth Leadership Award winner has been a force both inside and outside of the classroom. She is well-known for leading the effort to implement a mental health break room at Westlake and expand counselor services on campus. She's headed to Howard University in the fall and aspires to be a television producer and writer. Q1: What are some of the things that you've been proud to accomplish during your high school career? A1: Throughout my high school career, I have accomplished so much. I was class president from 9th-11th grade and became SGA president senior year. Holding these positions allowed me to build relationshi...

This month, we’re celebrating South Fulton’s Super Seniors! Meet A’nya Bostick, a member of Langston Hughes High School's Class of 2020. She'll graduate with both her high school diploma and an associate degree from Georgia Military College. She is headed to Tennessee State University in the fall. Her goal is to later attend Meharry School of Dentistry and become a pediatric dentist. Q1: What are some of the things that you've been proud to accomplish during your high school career? A1: My biggest accomplishment was to challenge myself by participating in the Dual Enrollment Program at Georgia Military College. As a dual enrollment student, I had to learn to balance my classes and work independently.  In May 2020, I will proudly graduate with my high school diploma and associate ...

This month, we’re celebrating South Fulton’s Super Seniors! Meet Francesca Noel-Achele McDaniel, a member of Westlake High School's Class of 2020. She's an IB and honor student with over 20 college acceptances and a half-million dollars in scholarship offers. She is a member of the National Honor Society and HOSA, served as lead photographer on the yearbook staff and held the roles of president of the Beta Club and Miss Beta Club 2019-2020. Earlier this year she was named as a District 6 appointee to the Fulton County Government Youth Leadership Commission. And with an already full plate, she still finds time for shifts at Kupcakerie. Francesca is admired by both her peers and the Westlake staff. "Francesca is considered by both students and teachers alike as a student to b...

Hapeville Charter Career Academy has announced the top 25 students in the Class of 2020. Chloe Pierre Mitchell and Abigail Anochie earned the top two spots. Valedictorian Chloe Pierre Mitchell has been an active member of her school community, participating in Future Buisness Leaders of America, National Society of High School Scholars, National Beta Club, Skills USA, Student Ambassadors of Georgia and the Student Government Association. She’s received acceptance letters and scholarship offers from multiple colleges. In the fall, she plans to study behavioral neuroscience. Mitchell gives all glory to God for her success. Her favorite scripture and source of encouragement is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” Salutatorian Abigail Anoc...

This month, we’re celebrating South Fulton’s Super Seniors! Meet Christopher Michael Gonzalez, a member of Langston Hughes High School's Class of 2020. This scholar plans to attend Queens University of Charlotte in the fall and pursue a career in pharmaceuticals. Q1: What are some of the things that you've been proud to accomplish during your high school career? A1: I'm very happy and proud of myself for completing high school. High school is the most challenging of your school years. Q2: How have you given back to your community? A2: Before moving to Georgia one year ago. I participated in a program where we would contribute to our community by cleaning the school grounds and other areas that needed beautification. Q3: What are your plans after high school? What are yo...

This month, we’re celebrating South Fulton’s Super Seniors! Meet Chloe Pierre Mitchell, the Class of 2020's valedictorian at Hapeville Charter Career Academy. In addition to her academic achievements, she has served as president of her school's Future Business Leaders of America club and Skills USA, and is a praise team member at World Changers Church International. She's received acceptance letters and scholarship offers from multiple colleges. In the fall, she plans to study behavioral neuroscience. Chloe also gives all glory to God for her success. Her favorite scripture and source of encouragement is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." (Profile continues below...) Q1: What are some of the things that you've been proud to accompli...

This month, we’re celebrating South Fulton’s Super Seniors! Meet Alaysha Randall, a member of Riverwood International Charter School's Class of 2020. She's pushed herself in the classroom and her community service has taken her as far as South Africa. This Girl Scout is prepared to take on the world. She'd headed to Spelman College in the fall and plans to later attend medical school. She aspires to become an obstetrician. Q1: What are some of the things that you've been proud to accomplish during your high school career? A1: I am proud of so many things. I have maintained a 3.7 GPA while challenging myself to take IB/AP courses. I traveled so far and long on my first mission trip without my parents to South Africa. I've pushed myself to take on leadership roles within clubs and...