Woodward Academy senior Ta'Neal Chandler was chosen for a QuestBridge Scholarship College Match to Pomona College in California. More than 12,800 applicants were narrowed down to finalists based on high academic achievement and financial qualifications. Chandler was one of 440 high school seniors from across the country selected by QuestBridge partner colleges to be admitted with a full four-year College Match scholarship.
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Two years ago, Jordan Piper of Powder Springs, was an insecure reader, but a dog named Drew taught him how to read. Since his experience with READing Paws and Better World Books, Jordan has been a voracious reader. Powder Springs Mayor Patricia Vaughn officially declared May 2 as "Jordan Piper Day" to recognize the positive impact he has made on the local community. Better World Books will donate 500 books, including 20 of Piper's top picks, to commemorate his legacy as he heads off to middle school.
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Anirudh Udutha, a graduating senior at Wheeler High School, has been named one of 565 semifinalists in the 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. He was selected from more than 4,000 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character, and involvement in community and school activities. Final selection will be announced this month. Scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C., in June to receive the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony.
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Ansel Ahabue, an eight-grader at Trickum Middle School in Lilburn, will represent Georgia at the 26th annual National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C., May 19-21. The top 10 finalist will compete in the May 21 final round, moderated by award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien, and taped to air on the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD at 7 p.m. May 22, and later on public television.
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Georgia’s two top youth volunteers of 2014, Colin Humble, 18, of Marietta and Remington Youngblood, 13, of Duluth, were honored in the nation’s capital May 5 for their outstanding volunteer service during the 19th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Humble and Youngblood, along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country, each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
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Alec Kumpf of Marietta was recently recognized by inventor and FIRST Founder Dean Kamen at the Dean’s List Award Ceremony April 25 in St. Louis, Mo. The 10 Dean’s List Award recipients – all FIRST Robotics Competition students nominated by their team mentors – were chosen based on their leadership skills, commitment to FIRST ideals, contributions to their team and their effectiveness in increasing of FIRST within their schools and communities.
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