On Friday, May 17, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate seniors revealed where they plan to attend college after graduation. The celebration was part of KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools’ annual College Signing Day event at House of Hope Atlanta.
State Rep. Kim Schofield poses with KIPP seniors
Seniors were joined by KIPP Metro Atlanta students from nine schools, their families, charter school advocates and board members of KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools as they cheered their success. Georgia Rep. Kim Schoefield, District 60; Michelle Olympiadis, District 3 Representative for Atlanta Public Schools; Matt Westmoreland, Post 2 At-Large member of the Atlanta City Council and Matt Underwood, Executive Director of the Office of Innovation for Atlanta Public Schools were also in attendance.
The celebration included step and band performances featuring KIPP Metro Atlanta students. Attendees also heard a touching story from Dr. Rashad Richey, event keynote speaker and a popular media personality and political commentator. Richey previously worked as Political Director and Chief Strategist for the Democratic Party of Georgia and started a foundation for at-risk youth.
He told students about a teenager who was in and out of several foster homes and ended up in jail. Eventually, the young man was bailed out of jail by one of his former foster mothers and decided to turn his life around. At that point, Richey revealed to students that he was the teenager in the story. Richey went on to take the GED, the SAT’s and earn five degrees.
“If you believe you can overcome everything, you actually can,” said Richey. “There is not a person on this planet who can stop you from being who want to be.”
Collectively, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate seniors received 400 college acceptances and more than $10 million in scholarship offers.
(Photos provided courtesy of KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools.)
