17 DeKalb County Seniors Named 2021 Georgia Scholars

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — A total of 323 graduating seniors from across Georgia have been recognized as 2021 Georgia Scholars, State Superintendent Richard Woods announced Thursday.

Through the Georgia Scholar program, the Georgia Department of Education identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life.

The seniors from DeKalb County School District include:

Chamblee Charter High School

• Samuel Grant
• Victor Lim
• Rachel Lee

DeKalb School of the Arts

• Willa Pevey
• Alice Heranval

Druid Hills High School

• John Higgins

Dunwoody High School

• Megan Vander Wiele
• Grace Strickland
• Elijah Nicpon
• Landis Mangum
• Roma Joshi
• Madeline Fellner
• Kristin Crespo
• Isabella Baker

Lakeside High School

• Saitheja Pucha

Stephenson High School

• Blessing Love

Tucker High School

• Sofia Khemani

Students eligible for Georgia scholar recognition are high school seniors who exhibit excellence in all phases of school life, in community activities, and in the home. Each Georgia scholar receives a seal for their diploma.

These students have carried exemplary course loads during their four years of high school; performed excellently in all courses; successfully participated in interscholastic events at their schools and in their communities; and have assumed roles in extracurricular activities sponsored by their schools. Click here for a full list of Georgia Scholar program requirements. Note that the SAT and ACT score requirement was waived this year, as some students were not able to take or retake these exams due to the pandemic.

"As a state, we can all draw inspiration from the resilience and determination of the class of 2021," Woods said. "Like their counterparts in the class of 2020, they dealt with the sudden shutdown of in-person schooling in March of last year. Then they persevered through a school year that was, of necessity, unlike any we have ever seen before – and still, they found a way to excel. I am extremely proud of each 2021 Georgia scholar and can't wait to see what this outstanding group of students accomplishes."

The Georgia Scholar program is managed by the Georgia Department of Education's Excellence Recognition office and through local coordinators in each public school system and private schools throughout the state.

Patch Editor Kathleen Sturgeon contributed to this article.