Grady debate team Harvard bound

Last week, Grady High School was named an AP STEM School and an AP STEM Achievement School by State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. Let’s take a look at more good news from the school.

National Merit Scholar Finalists

Three Grady seniors, Benjamin Dean, Shaun Kleber, and Julia Rapaport, have been named National Merit Scholar finalists. Out of more than 16,000 students nationally, they have advanced to the final stage of the National Merit Corporation scholarship program. The National Merit Scholarship is a prestigious and competitive award with a rigorous application process.

Jesters Debate Team News

Congratulations to the GHS Jesters Debate Team on a fine performance at the First/Second Year State Speech and Debate Tournament.

Novice Duo Interpretation: Ryan Switzer and Deya Bowers- 2nd Place

Novice Prose/Poetry: Qri Montague- CHAMPION

Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: Max Rabb- 3rd Place, Emily Dean- 2nd Place, Rachel Libman- CHAMPION

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Tiger Li- Quarterfinalist

Novice Public Forum Debate: Alice Antia and Penelope Realff - Quarterfinalists; Quinn Mulholland and Olivia Volkert- Semifinalists; Riley Erickson and Ellen Ericson- CHAMPIONS; 7th Place Speaker- Quinn Mulholland; 3rd Place Speaker- Olivia Volkert; 2nd Place Speaker- Riley Erickson

JV Public Forum Debate: Kathy Zakharova and Salome Kakalashvili- CHAMPIONS; 8th Place Speaker- Sammi Dean; 6th Place Speaker- Grace Powers; 5th Place Speaker- Becca Martin; 3rd Place Speaker- Katherine Zakharova; 1st Place Speaker- Salome Kakalashvili. JV Lincoln-Douglas Debate-Jamie Reid, 2nd Place.

Varsity team members also had fine performances at last month's national Barkley Forum held at Emory University with schools from all over the country in attendance. Congratulations to Isabelle Taft, who placed 3rd in Extemporaneous Speaking, Maya Grandoit who placed 5th in Dramatic Interpretation, and Marius Jackson & Jahra Gholston who placed 6th in Duo Interpretation.
 
The Grady Jesters Varsity team will be participating at one of the most prestigious debate tournaments in the country at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., February 17-20. 

Knight Battalion Drill Team

The GHS Knight Battalion Drill Team competed at the Area 6 (state qualifying) Drill Meet earlier this month. Grady participated in ten events and received awards for nine, plus two additional individual awards earned in a competitive game. The school gave special recognition for exceptional work to the following commanders:

Sergeant Major Brianna Johnson- 1st place with her female color guard

Master Sergeant Kylah Clark- 1st place with her female armed squad

Captain Tia Borrego- 1st place with her female unarmed platoon

Captain Stayce Evans- 1st place with his unarmed squad

Major Nick McFarlin- 1st place with his unarmed platoon

Master Sergeant April King- 2nd place with her female unarmed squad

Master Sergeant Titus Zeigler- 2nd place with his armed squad

Captain Jasmine Russell- 3rd place with her female armed platoon

Second Lieutenant Malcolm Baldwin- 4th place with his armed platoon

Also, congratulations to Major Nick McFarlin for receiving first place in armed knock-out and Second Lieutenant Travis Patrick for receiving second place in armed knock-out.  

In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Jewel Battle and Command Sergeant Major Demarcus Howard were recognized for their hard and exceptional work. Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, Sergeant Major Stewart and Master Sergeant Bleach were given special thanks by the school.   

Three presenters from Grady’s Public Policy & Justice Academy at PTSA Day at the Capitol

Three Grady students, Teryn Shipman, Tatyana Sampson and Jack Arnold, presented on issues of concern to today’s youth to more than 375 attendees on Feb. 9 at the Fulton Country Government Center during PTSA Day at the Capitol. After the program, the students ate lunch at the Gold Dome and enjoyed learning about the civil justice system from representatives of the field trip sponsor, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. The students also toured the Senate chamber accompanied by Senator Jason Carter (D-42, Atlanta) and Representative Margaret Kaiser (D-59, Atlanta). 

- Grady High School contributed to this report