This year, the end of the school year comes with heartbreak for many students across metro Atlanta as the coronavirus pandemic has led to changes to traditional moments surrounding graduation.
Despite that, however, the AJC Cup has not been canceled. Area high schools still had the chance to choose an individual picked by the school’s faculty and administration. The selected student best represented academic excellence, leadership, community service and extra-curricular involvement.
Each year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution honors local high school seniors who have been selected for the aforementioned attributes. Although 2020 graduations look different than others have before, a trophy will be given to students at a later time.
Since 1927, the AJC has recognized high school graduates with the newspaper awards program, which is one of the oldest in the U.S.
Like year’s past, the 2020 AJC Cup features winners with a variety of post-graduation aspirations.
Some, such as Frederick Douglass High School’s Camryn Turnipseed, plan to attend a historically black college or university (HBCU). Turnipseed will major in engineering at Howard University. Others, like Marine Corps. bound Ashantay Boyd of Phoenix Academy, plan to serve their country in the military.
Some students have have made unique strides in their high school years.
Hillgrove High School’s Logan Mossor is a second-degree black belt and certified Taekwondo instructor. Morgan Perkins, who graduated from Cambridge High School, has received national recognition for her efforts with SkillsUSA and video production. Meanwhile, Creekside High School’s Sensoury McKay got accepted into more than two dozen colleges and universities.
Although there won't be a ceremony or program for the students to be recognized in front of their peers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will recognize each winner in the newspaper and on AJC.com.
