Graduation ceremonies across the world have been delayed or canceled as efforts continue to learn more about the coronavirus and slow its spread.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wants to celebrate the best of metro Atlanta’s graduating seniors in projects to be presented both online and in the newspaper, including words of wisdom from the region’s valedictorians.
Georgia's schools began migrating online on March 12, with plans to close buildings for at least a week in some instances after Gov. Brian Kemp issued a call for school district leaders to shutter buildings if they felt it was necessary. The plans were extended several times until Kemp announced on April 1 that school buildings would remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
In announcing on Monday that some businesses and places of worship would reopen soon, Kemp reiterated that schools would remain closed, saying he consulted with education leaders who said it would be tough to reopen buildings and get staff and students geared up for the last few weeks of the year. The school year is ending early in some places, several district officials across the state have announced.
Across metro Atlanta, districts have made tentative plans to host ceremonies of some sort in late June or July. Atlanta Public Schools is seeking feedback on how it should hold graduation ceremonies, with one option to hold ceremonies at a drive-in theater in May.
By then, many of the region’s seniors will be shifting gears toward college, learning when they can move into dorm rooms and when classes will finally begin.
Each year, The AJC highlights top students from across metro Atlanta. Given the nature of the pandemic, which has led to school buildings being shut and graduations upended, The AJC wanted to give valedictorians space to give their speeches around the time classes end.
For this project, The AJC is asking valedictorians to send an email to CoronavirusEducation@ajc.com including a portrait (graduation photos are preferred), a two-minute graduation speech (shot landscape, with a phone tilted on its side) and the following information:
•Name
•Age
•High School
•Extracurricular activities
•College
•Intended major/area of study
•Advice to other high school students
The project is open to students from private schools, state charter schools and school districts in Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties. The deadline for the information will be May 4, 2020.
