Roswell Receives AmeriCorps Grant for After-School Program For a fourth consecutive year, the City of Roswell has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant to support local youth in select area elementary schools. This year’s grant for up to $77,099 will be used by the City and nonprofit partner STAR House Foundation to continue a collaboration in support of enhanced after-school programming. The program builds literacy proficiency as well as provides homework support, assistance with STEM activities, and health and wellness programming. To meet these goals, the City of Roswell and its nonprofit partner had to recruit 24 new AmeriCorps members in national service at the local level. These individuals will serve with after-school leadership and staff to provide additional instruction and academic support to participating students four days a week during the school year. Among the benefits AmeriCorps members will receive is a biweekly living allowance of $150. In addition, upon successful completion of service, the members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,311.11 and may be recognized by over 600 Employers of National Service. “Not surprisingly, this year’s effort is expected to look different,” said Megan Boynton, City of Roswell grant project coordinator. “Our partners at STAR House are working hard, alongside the school district, to determine how best they may serve students safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we know the need for support remains.” In addition to providing academic support to students, AmeriCorps members are also expected to engage participants’ parents through meetings and information sessions, enlist additional volunteers to help STAR House where possible, and serve the larger community on nationally recognized days of service. A core program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 75,000 Americans to meet community needs in areas such as education, the environment, public safety, and health. AmeriCorps works with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and its Commission for Service and Volunteerism to afford service opportunities statewide. The City of Roswell was the first organization to receive AmeriCorps State funding in the North Fulton area and contributes additional funds annually to facilitate its project. For 2020, the City will contribute up to an additional $43,282.
Fulton County Schools Outshine State on CCRPI Results Fulton County Schools (FCS) ranked above the state average in all grade levels on the annual College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). Compiled by the Georgia Department of Education, the CCRPI uses scores on a zero to 100 scale from multiple indicators within five main components: content mastery, progress, closing gaps, readiness, and graduation rates (high school only). According to data released by the state this fall, FCSs overall score in 2019 increased to 83.8, which is 7.0 points above the state average.
Johns Creek HS Excels at Bright Spark Invention Challenge Johns Creek HS had two major wins at the recent Bright Spark Invention Challenge competition. Junior Adi Bora won Best Overall High for his Independence 1000. He created his invention to help a fellow schoolmate with cerebral palsy to exercise his hand muscles, so he will be able to one day operate a motorized wheelchair. The Independence 1000, which is a portable device with a gamified joystick, strengthens fine motor skills while collecting data for the therapy field. Additionally, a team of five seniors created a prototype called the Life Protector, a device designed to help prevent hot car deaths in children and pets. Sagar Patel, Tyler Watson, Daniel Cooper, Ben Kleiner, and Thomas Tostenson researched models on the market and based their design on cost and accessibility. The Life Protector serves as a temperature sensor to trigger an alarm when a cars interior exceeds 102 degrees. Their plan is for future models to send a phone call to an emergency contact. Bright Spark is the education arm of design consulting firm Bridge Innovate. The Invention Challenge is a 30-day competition for students in fourth grade through college. Entrants are challenged to create a new service or product that solves an existing problem.
FCS Expanding Text4Help to Middle Schools Already available in FCS high schools, Text4Help has expanded to provide resources and support to middle school teens in crisis. Launched in 2018 in cooperation with Fulton County government, the program is an anonymous crisis text line aimed at providing a valuable resource for students seeking support or an outlet to share concerns. The program enables teens facing stress or in crisis to reach a licensed clinician who will respond within three minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Inaugural Milton Wall of Fame Induction Six names were recently etched in stone as inaugural inductees to the Milton Wall of Fame, located in Bell Memorial Park: Collin McHugh Major League Baseball pitcher and 2017 World Series Champion with the Houston Astros. Tim Godby 13-Time Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State High School Girls Lacrosse Championship coach at Milton High School. Evan Nolte 2014 ACC Basketball Champion with the University of Virginia. Ryan Gridley Mississippi State University baseball player who is currently in the Oakland Athletics minor league farm system. Michael Nugent Standout lacrosse goalie at Mercer College, played professionally with the Denver Outlaws and Boston Cannons. Lydia Witkowski Played softball at Hofstra University and Georgia Southern University.The Wall of Fame recognizes and honors the achievement and success of deserving Milton athletes, coaches, and contributors. A total of 15 individuals were nominated in 2019. Each nominee must be from Milton or have participated in or coached a sport in Milton. As an athlete, they must have achieved success in their respective sport beyond high school, each must be a good citizen, demonstrate great character and integrity, and be a worthy representative of their program and the City of Milton.Final selection was voted on by a nine-person voting committee comprised of all seven members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and one representative each from Cambridge HS and Milton HS, designated by the principals. Were thrilled to have such a successful and well-rounded group as the inaugural inductees to our Wall of Fame, said Milton Parks and Recreation Director Jim Cregge. The six being inducted were not only standouts on the field, but also great representatives of the City of Milton.Once an individual is nominated and meets selection requirements, he or she shall remain on the ballot for seven years. The City is now accepting nominees for the Class of 2020. To nominate someone, visit CityOfMiltonGa.us/parks-recreation/wall-of-fame-nomination-form. Nominations for the class of 2020 will close on March 31, 2020.
Milton Students Selected by LLS as Students of the Year Anglica Davis and Erin Cleary, sophomores at Milton High School, have been chosen by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to fight forces against blood cancers as co-candidates for Students of the Year. To raise money and awareness, they are writing letters, sending emails, meeting with business executives, and hosting community events. Their goal is to raise $50,000 before the seven-week campaign ends on March 23.The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as the largest contributor to blood cancer research in the nation, funds cutting-edge treatment, provides peer support groups, develops informational booklets, and holds free educational conferences for patients, survivors, and caregivers. Each year, LLS selects students to participate in fundraising.Both girls have a personal connection to the LLS mission. Cleary has volunteered at Lighthouse Family Retreat, serving families battling childhood cancer. Davis cousin, Nina Davis, was diagnosed with high risk ALS leukemia as a baby. As scared as her family was, they received support from organizations like LLS, and she was miraculously cured. In donating to this campaign, you enable other families like Davis to experience a loved ones cure.Please consider helping these girls in their fight to create a cancer-free world. With your tax-deductible donation, you save lives. You can donate online at Events.LLS.org/ga/atlantasoy19/tcurecreat. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 404-226-4458.
Roswell Gymnasts Commit to Division I Schools Local gymnasts Caroline Williams and Lauren Rutherford have been awarded full athletic gymnastics scholarships after honing their craft in the City of Roswells gymnastics program since the age of two.Sixteen-year-old Williams, a junior at Centennial High School, is currently a level-10 gymnast, the highest level prior to the elite/Olympic level. She was offered full athletic gymnastics scholarships to the University of Arkansas, Utah State, Brigham Young University (BYU), and the University of Nebraska, as well as a walk on position at the University of Georgia. Williams accepted the scholarship to University of Nebraska in October 2018 and will begin classes there in fall 2020.Fifteen-year-old Rutherford, a sophomore at Johnson Ferry Christian School, is also a level-10 gymnast. She has been actively recruited by numerous Division 1 colleges and was offered full athletic gymnastics scholarships to BYU, Utah State, and North Carolina State. Rutherford has chosen North Carolina State and will begin attending in fall 2021.Williams and Rutherfords achievements are a testament to the hard work and leadership of their coaches, Lorenzo Wyatt, Karla Monterroso, J.P. Monterroso, Julia Yurkina, and Olga Yurkina. Roswell Gymnastics Program Director Cindy Furman praises the young athletes triumphs.Only 3 percent of athletes obtain this level, and we are most proud to have had both Caroline and Lauren, who have trained solely at Roswell for their entire career, reach this level of achievement, said Furman.
Roswell High School Student Ranked Regionally, Nationally for JROTC Riflery Roswell HS junior and JROTC Cadet Anusha Pakkam has scored first place in the Southern Region and third nationally in the 2018-19 JROTC Air Rifle Postal Competition. Pakkam will compete this month in the Army Service Championship in Anniston, AL, representing Roswell HS JROTC and Fulton County Schools. If Pakkam qualifies, she will continue to the National JROTC Championship in March, which is also in Anniston, AL. The JROTC National Air Rifle Championship is sponsored and conducted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program in cooperation with the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force JROTC Commands.
Roswell High School Teacher Selected for Outstanding Educator Award Roswell High School teacher Christi Chilton was recently selected for the University of Chicagos Outstanding Educator Award. Chilton is in her seventeenth year of teaching, thirteen of which have been at Roswell High School. She teaches honors and AP chemistry and sponsors four student organizations. Members of the incoming freshman class at the University of Chicago are asked to nominate a teacher who has inspired, helped, and influenced them. We receive letters back from hundreds of students, inspired by teachers who have changed the course of their lives, who taught them to reimagine texts, to delve deeper into problem-solving, and to think beyond the borders of the classroom in the pursuit of their own education, said James G. Nondorf, dean of admissions and financial aid at the University of Chicago. Chilton was nominated by Cassie Manrique, a graduate of Roswell High Schools class of 2018. Manrique had Chilton during her sophomore and junior years for honors and AP chemistry. Manrique plans to study biochemistry on a pre-medical track at the University of Chicago. I nominated Ms. Chilton because of her commitment to her students, said Manrique. She inspired me with her constant passion for the material she taught. Ms. Chilton shares her love of chemistry with her students and inspired me to explore beyond the coursework. She constantly challenges her students with in-class problems meant to reinforce what we just learned, as well as actual AP problems to better prepare students. For more information about the University of Chicagos Outstanding Educator Award, visit CollegeAdmissions.UChicago.edu/counselors-educators/outstanding-educator-awards.
Blessed Trinity Catholic High School Lacrosse Teams Recognized for State Championship Wins Senator John Albers recently honored the Blessed Trinity Catholic High School Boys and Girls Lacrosse Teams with a Senate Resolution commending their 2018 State Champions titles. It is an honor to recognize these two teams and phenomenal athletes, said Sen. Albers. Their achievements are truly commendable, and their coaches, parents, fellow students, and our community are proud of their accomplishment. I look forward to their future successes and wish all of the athletes and coaches the best, as they prepare for another great season.The boys lacrosse team has 36 players. They defeated Greater Atlanta Christian School for their teams first State Championship in school history. Four of the players earned All-State honors, and Bric Nicholl received All-American honors.The girls lacrosse team has 27 players. They won their third consecutive State Championship in class 1A-5A. Of the 2018 State Championship team, five players earned All-State honors. Additionally, two members, Kaley Attaway and Elise Hammelrath, were recognized as U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans.