Graduation 2016

Class of 2016

Dare to dream North Hall High’s Will Barrett impresses most everyone he meets as he spreads awareness of autism spectrum disorder with his nonprofit Ausometistic. PAGE 3 More seniors’ stories inside

MAY 15, 2016

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Dare to dream

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Table of contents ON THE COVER:

Will Barrett | North Hall High School

The seniors featured this year were selected from submissions to The Times from parents, teachers and community members. These students were described as “bright,” “passionate” and “dedicated.” One student stood out and will receive a $500 scholarship from The Times and Wilson Orthodontics.

Will Barrett was selected as the winner by a panel including Dr. Ron Wilson, Molly Potts, University of North Georgia’s interim director of undergraduate admissions, and Times Managing Editor Shannon Casas.

Multiple nomination letters were submitted for Will.

“Will has developed a passion to become a representative and vocal advocate for children and young adults with autism,” local attorney Shane Lazenby wrote.

Hall County Tax Commissioner Darla Eden wrote that Will “continues to expand his own knowledge and stretches his comfort levels by committing to public speaking engagements.”

His preschool teacher and former Challenged Child director Cathy Drerup said this about him: “Keep your eyes on this young man. There is much to anticipate as he navigates his purpose-driven life.”

Congratulations to Will and all of the members of the class of 2016.

Brooke Gilbert

Triston Cooper

Chestatee High School

East Hall High School

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Kelsey and Hannah McQueen

Luke Lovell

Jessa Warren

Flowery Branch High School

Lakeview Academy

Johnson High School

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Stephen Henderson

Claire Oliver

Danielle Johnson

Carla Suarez Lopez

West Hall High School

Gainesville High School

Maranatha Christian Academy

Wood’s Mill High School

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Olivia Henriques Lanier Charter Career Academy

Dare to dream

Will Barrett

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Speaking to spread awareness

North Hall High School

BY KRISTEN OLIVER

koliver@gainesvilletimes.com

ERIN O. SMITH | The Times

At 18 years old, Will Barrett commands a stage.

He’s more poised than men twice his age, as he shares a personal story of overcoming a challenge and discovering a strength.

The North Hall High School senior is co-founder of the Ausometistic Foundation, which increases understanding and awareness of autism spectrum disorder. Will has Asperger’s syndrome and is a graduate of Challenged Child and Friends.

“Ausometistic started as a book that my mom was writing,” Will said. “It was just a little, private project, and she wasn’t really intending for it to be a big thing. It was just for herself. But after I gave my first speech to the Challenged Child Women’s Advocacy Group about two years ago, we found out how well people responded to my story and decided we could make this a bestselling book for other parents of autistic children.”

Will and his mother, Kelly, hoped the book would motivate and encourage other parents.

“It can be a quieter of fears,” he said. “It can dispel their fears.”

Meanwhile, Will has shared his story dozens of times during the past two years, speaking to Gainesville Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Junior Achievement and others.

He turned Ausometistic into a nonprofit foundation and corporation, www.ausometistic.com. He credits Challenged Child for giving him the foundation to succeed and his parents for pushing him to be his best.

Will is a member of North Hall’s golf team, Future Business Leaders of America and DECA, which prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

“We go to these different conferences and you pick a topic,” he said. “You speak and compete, win awards and move on to the next level. I presented Ausometistic to the DECA judges.”

Will placed second in the state with his Ausometistic DECA presentation, but he’d hoped to go even further.

“From state I figured out what I needed to improve on and what needed to be clarified,” he said.

Will’s high school accomplishments continue. He was in the Key Club, Chinese Society, on the school newspaper staff and an International Baccalaureate student his junior year.

He plans to attend the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus to study business and communication.

“My intended major is going to be speech and communications,” he said. “And I also want to minor in English or literature, because I do also hope to be a best-selling author along with a public speaker.”

Will’s true aim is to continue to grow Ausometistic and spread its reach around the world.

“I’ve been local, but we do intend to branch out as months and even years go by,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be reaching out of state soon, and we intend to grow it in the very near future.”

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Brooke Gilbert Chestatee High School

ERIN O. SMITH | The Times

Experiencing healing through art

BY KRISTEN OLIVER

koliver@gainesvilletimes.com Brooke Gilbert knows the value of art and wants to share it with others.

The senior at Chestatee High School hopes to attend Brenau University on an art scholarship, after she rediscovered a passion for art amid struggles with an eating disorder.

“Since about the end of middle school, I had a lot of issues with an eating disorder,” said Brooke, 19. “With all that kind of stuff, it really messes up your insides. One of the things I had was ulcers, which kept me

from digesting things like I was supposed to and made me sick.”

Brooke was hospitalized a few times and had to be pumped with fluids. She faced complications even after she began to heal.

“I’m much better now, but it’s a lot to recover from if you have a prolonged experience with an eating disorder,” she said.

At the same time, Brooke began to try her hand at art. By her senior year, she was president of the National Honor Society at Chestatee and had created two portfolios for Advanced Placement art courses.

She’s won a few art contests and small

scholarships and thrives in acrylic and oil painting.

“Ever since middle school I kind of rediscovered it, through animation and different kinds of comic artists,” she said. “Then it just kind of re-enlivened everything.”

As a senior, Brooke tried her hand at pottery and photography for the first time.

She hopes to study studio art at Brenau University and, maybe, become an art teacher.

For her, art is about more than an “easy elective.”

“It’s a lot of fun, even if you’re not a good

artist,” she said. “People think they have to be a good drawer or painter, but you can experience things tactically through clay. I think there’s a portion for everybody.”

Brooke said she’s interested in becoming a teacher because of a desire to help others.

“Now that I’m a senior, I’m one of the older people here,” she said. “I help people understand the photography, the pottery and all the other things we do since I’ve had a little bit of every kind of course from our art programs. I really get a lot of gratification from it and have so much joy from helping other people experience art.”

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Triston Cooper East Hall High School

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Pushing through to help team win

BY CLARK LEONARD

cleonard@gainesvilletimes.com Triston Cooper’s senior basketball season was winding down in style. He was getting in a rhythm from the 3-point line and really from everywhere.

The East Hall High sharpshooter scored a career-high 28 points in an 81-60 victory against rival West Hall. Then three days later, in the regular-season region finale at Franklin County, Triston went up for a rebound, landed on someone’s foot and came down with a torn ligament.

When he went to the doctor’s office, Triston learned it was a grade 3 ligament tear in his right ankle, and he could play through it if he wanted to, but the doctor

recommended against it.

Triston showed up at Atlanta Rehab every day during the next two weeks hoping to stay in good enough shape to help his team in the region and state tournaments.

“My mentality was I was just going to fight through everything,” Triston said. “I wasn’t going to miss my final few games.”

He wasn’t able to play all the time in the region or state tournaments, including missing the region championship, but his contributions paved the way to help the Vikings claim the Region 7-AAA title and reach the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.

Triston poured in 15 points on five 3-pointers in an 86-59 first-round win

against Ringgold. He called the injury “devastating.”

“I kept fighting through it,” Triston said.

“I was able to get back out there.”

Part of the reason Triston may have been successful in contributing after such a tough injury was his passion for the game.

“I cannot stand to lose in anything I do,” Triston said. “Whether it’s just out here playing a game of horse or in a regular game, I don’t like losing. So that’s where the emotions come from. I think as a player you need to have some emotion because it shows people that you care.”

Triston’s goal every season was to win the “Bombs Away” award for most 3-pointers. The senior collected the longdistance proficiency award all four of his

seasons at East Hall, hitting 52 3-pointers as a senior and 133 for his career.

Triston plans to attend the University of North Georgia’s Gainesville campus in the fall, then move to the Dahlonega campus in the spring. He hopes to play golf for the Nighthawks.

He ultimately wants to go to school to be a physical therapist. Back injuries over four years and a pair of broken thumbs have led to plenty of time in the therapy room for Triston, and one of his mentors is Brian Moore, a physical therapist at Atlanta Rehab.

“I really enjoy being around him, and I see what he does and how he’s able to help everybody,” Triston said. “I’m hands-on. I like to work with people.”

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CELEBRATING OUR GAINESVILLE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM CLASS OF 2016 On May 19, Wood’s Mill High School will graduate 23 students at the GHS Performing Arts Center at 5:00 p.m.

STAR Student & Miss GHS Pramoda Karnati

On May 20, Gainesville High School will graduate 355 students at City Park Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

CONGRATULATONS TO THE 2016 SENIORS OF DISTINCTION Bleu Bell, Ashleigh Bishop, Margaret Carpenter, Carlee Cosper, Breana Fair, Sophie Goode, Logan Harr, Zoe Head, William Hood, Lee Hughs, James (Billy) Jackson, Pramoda Karnati, Jack Langford, Michelle Nguyen, Joy Nish, Ana Oropeza, Mayra Razo, Houston Roberts, Sydney Sanchez, Max Sumner, Heidi Vandiver & John Wagner

NJROTC Scholarship Recipient Talisa Soto

89 students will be recognized as Honor Graduates: •16 Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 grade point average •29 Magna Cum Laude with a 3.7-3.999 grade point average •44 Cum Laude with a 3.5-3.6999 grade point average 58 students are eligible for Zell Miller Scholarships.

117 students are eligible for HOPE Scholarships.

National Merit Commendation Scholars Pramoda Karnati, Henry Moen & Hannah Martin

Student Council President Ana Oropeza

50% plan to attend 4 year colleges or universities 26% plan to attend 2 year colleges or technical schools 22% plan to enter the workforce 2% plan to enter the military

*The Class of 2016, to date, has earned over $800,000 in Academic, Arts, Athletc and NJROTC Scholarships.

OUR 2016 GRADUATES WILL ENTER THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES & MILITARY SERVICES: Agnes Scott College, Auburn University, Bacone University, Belmont University, Brenau University, Chattahoochee Technical College, Clark Atlanta University, Clemson University, College of Coastal Georgia, College of Charleston, Columbus State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Emory University, Empire Beauty School, Florida A&M University, Fort Valley State University, Georgia College and State University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Military College, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Gwinnett Technical College, Johnson and Wales University, Kennesaw State University, Lanier Technical College, Life University, Louisiana State University, Mars Hill University, Massachusetts Institute of Tech (MIT), Mercer University, Middle Georgia State College, Miles College, Mississippi State University, Morehouse College, North Georgia Technical College, Oglethorpe University, Piedmont College, Reinhardt University, Saint Louis University, St. Andrews University, Toccoa Falls College, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Tri County Technical College, University of Alabama, University of Georgia , University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), University of North Georgia, University of Michigan, University of San Francisco, University of West Georgia, US Marine Corps, Valdosta State University, Wake Forest University, Washington and Lee University, Western Carolina University, Young Harris College Best Wishes to Our Graduates in Advancing our Traditon of Excellence!

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Olivia Henriques Lanier Charter Career Academy

Changing cultures and starting over

BY RON BRIDGEMAN

rbridgeman@gainesvilletimes.com Olivia Henriques came to Hall County as a senior in high school from Jamaica — only to be told she would have to repeat her high school work to that point.

“I had to start all over,” she said about attending Lanier Charter Career Academy.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years, and Olivia has completed four years of work in that period, will graduate May 25 and plans to study nursing at Lanier Technical College. She plans to be a midwife nurse.

Olivia, 19, has reached that point despite being “not really at ease with the whole culture thing.” She spoke English when she came here, but she admitted culture changes have been difficult to navigate. Everyday American phrases are still foreign to her.

But being in America has its perks, too.

“The opportunities are not as advanced (in Jamaica) as they are here,” Olivia said.

Olivia takes continuing education courses at Lanier Technical College.

“It is really, really awesome to go” to Lanier Tech, she said.

She said the courses are online and in class with a teacher.

“I love math — I’m not an English person — and science,” she said.

The courses offered at Lanier Tech are broader than what was available in Jamaica.

She also took cosmetology and health care at LCCA. Because of more opportunity and better economic conditions, Olivia intends to stay in the U.S. after she finishes her nursing education.

One hurdle she may still overcome is learning to drive. She said she rides the school district’s buses.

“We do not have that back home, so I’m really, really grateful to have that,” she said.

“I thought it was the end of my life — to start all over again,” Olivia said. “It turned out great.”

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Dare to dream The Times, Gainesville, Georgia  | JEMC_Graduation_Halfpg_TIMES_JEMC 5/12/16 11:09 AM Page 1

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AS YOU GO FORWARD

Graduate...promote...advance...elevate...succeed...progress. You've achieved this goal.

You face so many new opportunities, choices, challenges. We wish you the power to make your dreams a reality.

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Kelsey and Hannah McQueen Flowery Branch High School

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Challenging each other to the end

BY RON BRIDGEMAN

rbridgeman@gainesvilletimes.com Hannah and Kelsey McQueen have much in common in addition to being twins, but their paths will diverge for college.

The girls are co-valedictorians at Flowery Branch High School, graduating with straight-A averages.

“We were really competitive and ended up not being able to beat each other,” Hannah said.

They challenged themselves, too.

“If there was an AP course, we took it,” Hannah said.

Hannah leans more toward math and science courses, but Kelsey maybe more

toward history.

“We even took computer science this year,” Kelsey said. She added she felt “so out of my element” in the course. Hannah agreed — “not my thing.”

They have had similar extracurricular activities and both work at Shane’s Rib Shack.

“We share a car,” Kelsey pointed out.

The extracurricular activities are broad, including National Honor Society, Beta Club, math honor society, yearbook, swim team, Chinese club and Dead Poet Society. Hannah was the chapter and state president for NHS this year.

Hannah said they have “tried everything in high school.”

Their college paths reflect their differences.

Both will attend the University of Georgia and live in dorms, but they will have separate roommates and different majors.

Hannah plans to major in pre-med, biochemistry and/or microbiology.

Her intention is to be a surgeon — cardiothoracic or neurosurgeon “because that would be really cool.”

She got involved with a medical mission group to the Dominican Republic about three years ago, and she plans to stay involved “the rest of my life.”

She worked as a volunteer in Gainesville, preparing supplies for two years and went

on the mission in January.

“It was, by far, the most incredible experience of my life,” Hannah said.

Kelsey will be an English major because it can “help me be a novelist.”

She said she has been writing a novel, but “I have a terrible habit of not liking it and erasing it and starting over.”

She said the story is “definitely a ‘coming of age’ story.” Influences include “Catcher in the Rye” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”

Kelsey said she knows “nothing is guaranteed” as a writer.

“I don’t know if my book will come out next year or in 20 years. I hope before I’m out of college,” she said.

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WEST HALL HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMICS OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Jarrett Turner awarded UNG associate’s degree - only 6th dual enrollment student to receive the UNG diploma.

John Matthew Stewart, Jr. – perfect attendance for 13 years.

STATE CHAMPIONS Jake Thompson, Literary, Humorous Interpretation; Bryson Jones, Josh Reuter, DECA, Growing Your Own Business; Daryan Karimzedah, HOSA, Life Support Skills STATE – RUNNER-UP Charmie Adajania, HOSA, Medical Spelling ALL-STATE WINNERS Andrew Gale, Chorus, All-State SightReading; Andrew Gale, Matthew Gale, Chorus; Kaleb Kemp, Chorus; Drama Program, Main Stage Performance, Georgia Thespian Conference ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS – FOUR YEAR Manuel Mata, USC, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps; Chrysta Avers, Oglethorpe University Trustee; Andrew Gale, Selene Delacruz, Piedmont College; Fredi Hernandez, Michael Galicia, Community Assistance Migrant Program; Nicholas Quatraro, Presbyterian College Belk Merit; Rachael Millwood Brenau Faculty Excellence ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS Chad Newstrom, Madison Tasker, National Beta Club; Meaghan Kelling, Jenny Melton; Leyla Karimzedah, NGMC; Madison Tasker, Georgia College Dean’s; Chad Newstrom, Sawnee EMC; Holden Koger, Young Harris Spark; Pandora Crumpton, Ariel Gravely, AMDA Merit and

VIP; Leida Cardenas, UNG Foundation for the Carolinas; Christian Dyal, Lee University Dean’s; Katherine Pearce, Wesleyan College’s Mrs. Fletcher M. Johnson; Hykeem Bennett, Guilford; Lauryn Griffin, Michigan State; Yovana Campos, Robin Oliver, Diana Zamarippa, Brenau Trustees; Jake Thompson, DAR Good Citizenship.

REGION CHAMPIONS Jake Thompson, Humorous Interpretation; Anna Grace Brock, Hunter Crawford, FBLA, Introduction to Business; Region One-Act Play Best Technical Crew REGION – RUNNER UP Region One Act Play; Literary Pandora Crumpton, Enoch Lee, Ariel Gravely, Lexi Hunsbusher, Andrew Gale, Matthew Gale, Gabe Gantt, Jarrett Turner, Hanna Alfredsson, Morgan Burgess, Kaylee Orr REGION/AREA/DISTRICT ALL-STARS Gabe Ezeta, Hannah Wetzel, District Honor Band; Christian Dyal, Gabe Ezeta, Will Martin, Selah Murawski, Chris Turner, Hannah Wetzel, County Honor Band; Enoch Lee, Ricky Garcia, One-Act Play FACULTY HONORS Matt Phillips, Hall County Teacher of the Year; Director Ernie Phillips and the “Band of Silver” performed at Chicago Field Museum of Natural History; Angela Pirkle, Industry Certified through Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation; Cindy Herford, Bagwell Insurance Infinity Award; ALL Career Tech programs are industry certified!

ATHLETICS STATE CHAMPIONS Mia McKensey, Girls High Jump; John Burt, Basketball, Special Olympics DIVISION I SCHOLARSHIPS Football - Anthony Lotti, Wisconsin Badgers; Tyquan Statham, Cincinnati Bearcats; Kwon Williams, Georgia State Panthers ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS Volleyball - Mia Mckensey, Emmanuel College; Izzy Diaz, Reinhart University STATE ALL-TEAM Boys - Anthony Lotti, Tyquan Statham, Football; Roberto Cervantes, Manuel Mata, Juan Regina, Boys Soccer. Girls - Anna McKendree, Macy Passmore, Basketball REGION CHAMPIONS Girls - Basketball; Mia McKensey, High Jump; Kristine Hunter, Shot Put; Mia KcKensey, Volleyball Player of the Year REGION/AREA/SECTIONAL - RUNNER UP Jesse Bridgewater, 2nd Wrestling 145lbs; Jared Mathews, George Lira, Darius Coleman-Blair, Patrick Hudson, 4X100m Relay REGION ALL-TEAM Boys - Esteban Ulloa, 1st Basketball; Michael Kline, Golf; Anthony Lotti, Tyquan Statham, Kwon Williams, Cesar Villa, 1st Football; Manuel Mata, Juan Regina, 1st Soccer; Tyquan Statham, 2nd Basketball; Hykeem Bennett, Justyn Derico, Tristian Hester, 2nd Football; Roberto Cervantes, 2nd Soccer. Girls - Anna McKendree, Macy Passmore, 1st Basketball; Lucy Ibarra, Tammy Pham, 1st Soccer; Amanda Burris, Lexxi Bagley, Tennis; Angela Benitez; Mia Mckensey, 1st Volleyball; Shelley Anderson, 2nd Soccer; Izzy Diaz, 2nd Volleyball SCHOLAR ATHLETES Jesse Bridgewater, Anthony Lotti, Jarrett Turner, Tyquan Statham, Football; Andrew Gale, Manuel Mata, Soccer; Kandice Adams, Alexa Benson, Morgan Burgess, Katie Canham, Carly Childers, Caitlyn Kingrey, Robin Oliver, Taylor Reed, Catherine Webb, Karley Maynard, Cheerleading COACHING AWARDS Tim Gale, Boys Soccer Coach of the Year; Bryan Richerson, Girls Basketball Region Coach of the Year

West Hall also congratulates the “unnamed 300” who won countless awards.

Scott Justus, Principal Michael Negley, Assistant Principal We ALL are Sparta!

Ethan Banks, Athletic Director Amy Brock, Assistant Principal

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Getting an early start in business

BY RON BRIDGEMAN

rbridgeman@gainesvilletimes.com

Luke Lovell Lakeview Academy

It’s an understatement to say Luke Lovell is not the typical high school student. Businessman might be a more accurate description.

The Lakeview Academy senior owns rental properties.

“I’ve got a few of them” was his response when asked how many.

The first one came when he was 11.

“I felt that I’d found a really good deal,” Luke said.

He said Phil Forrester at Gainesville Jewelry “loaned an 11-year-old some money.” Forrester was “influential in helping me get started,” he said.

“I’ve always been influenced by real estate from a really young age,” Luke said, because he often rode with his dad, John, who worked in commercial real estate.

That purchase, however, was not his initial entry into business. Luke sold snow cones on Riverside Drive, where his family lived, for a couple of summers.

“Why go out and spend time in the sun if you can’t get a $1 out of someone?” he asked, explaining why he picked snow cones over a lemonade stand.

He made $150 to $200 some days with his sales, he said.

When he was 10 he owned vending machines. That was “a really eye-opening experience,” Luke said.

“The main problem with vending machines is the candy’s very expensive.” And not very profitable, he implied.

But “I did well on it when I sold it,” he said.

Now he works at Zip Cash on Pearl Nix Parkway. He said he usually is there from about 3:30 to 8 or 9 p.m.

Luke will go to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., in the fall and “probably major in finance or something in the business field.”

He picked Wofford over the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia because “I fit in” at Wofford.

Luke said the smaller setting was better for him, much like Lakeview Academy, which he has attended since the first grade.

“It really is a big family,” he said of Lakeview.

He is active in the school. He is the student council president and has been involved in that all four years — vice president as a junior, treasurer as a sophomore and freshman class president. He might get involved with student government at Wofford, he said.

Luke has been on the Lakeview honor council three of his four years. Wofford also has an honor code — an attractive feature for him.

Luke also plans to “stay involved” with his rental business, although he will be two hours away.

His parents are John and Janna Lovell, and he has two brothers, Spencer and Hunter, who work with him in business.

“Everything’s always changing. You have to be ready to change with it in the business world,” Luke said.

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Congratulations to the Class of 2016!

2015!

Riverside Pharmacy...

Continuing to grow & serve Hall County since 1954.

FULL SERVICE PHARMACY • UNIQUE GIFTS • MONOGRAMMING PACKAGE PRESCRIPTIONS • FRIENDLY HONEST PEOPLE

935 Green Street • Gainesville • 770.532.6253 • www.callriversidepharmacy.com

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SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Jessa Warren

Johnson High School

Discovering her career path

BY KRISTEN OLIVER

koliver@gainesvilletimes.com For most teens and their parents, seeing a radiologist is a nightmare. For Jessa Warren, it was a blessing.

Jessa had a slight health scare last year that introduced her to her dream profession.

The senior at Johnson High School plans to attend Lanier Technical College after graduation to become a radiologist.

“I went to the doctor when I was in my

junior year,” the 17-year-old said. “He thought something was wrong with my stomach, so we went to a radiologist. And I just had a moment like, ‘This is what I want to do.’ It just hit me.”

Jessa said her doctor found nothing abnormal, but the newfound determination to study radiology motivated Jessa to improve her grades.

Her teachers praised her hard work and her father, Steven Warren, said his daughter has “bloomed the past couple of years.”

She credited her parents, who motivated her to find her passion.

“They’ve been encouraging me to try to figure out what I’m going to do for college,” she said. “I had kind of been unsure, and then it just hit me, like I said.”

Her doctor’s concern, she said, is something she’s grateful for to this day.

“It was weird because he thought something was going on, but it wasn’t,” she said.

“I guess it was just what I was meant to do.”

Dare to dream

Class of

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Voted Best Heating & Air of North Georgia!

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Earning discipline, self-confidence

BY KRISTEN OLIVER

koliver@gainesvilletimes.com At The Dojo American Karate Center in Flowery Branch, Stephen Henderson lines up students in his afterschool class.

He leads the elementary schoolers in drills, shouting commands and waiting for a “Yes sir” in response.

Stephen, 18, is a student at West Hall High School who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in elementary school.

He struggled socially and academically, his mother Amy Stephen said, until he found a passion for karate in sixth grade.

“I’ve been doing karate six years now,” Stephen said. “And I earned my black belt my sophomore year.”

Today, Stephen teaches in the after-school program at The Dojo, where he first took karate.

The experience brought him full circle, he said.

“I started teaching just a few weeks ago,” he said. “So I’m basically a karate instructor and an assistant for classes, even some evening classes I help out with on occasion.”

He said karate gave him selfdiscipline and self-confidence.

His favorite part, he said, are drills and sparring, a training method that doesn’t involve landing actual blows.

Stephen also excelled academically, joining the Beta Club. He plans to attend Lanier Technical College in the fall.

“I plan to go there for my first two years, and after that I will go wherever God wants me to go,” he said.

Regardless, he plans to stay involved as much as possible at The Dojo.

In an essay he wrote on earning his black belt, Stephen said, “I used to look up to those kids wearing the black uniform and wearing their black belts. I am proud to say now I am one of those kids that others can look up to and I hope they will follow my example.”

Stephen Henderson West Hall High School

ERIN O. SMITH | The Times

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Hopping globe, graduating at home

BY KRISTEN OLIVER

koliver@gainesvilletimes.com

Claire Oliver Gainesville High School

ERIN O. SMITH | The Times

Claire Oliver lived in Gainesville before her family packed up and moved to Saudi Arabia.

She returned to her hometown, leaving her parents and little brother still abroad, to graduate from Gainesville High School with her friends.

Claire, 18, lived in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, for about a year and a half and then moved to Moscow, where she spent the summer before her senior year.

Now she lives here with a cousin and her older brother.

“I wanted to finish off my senior year where I started,” she said. “I was in the Gainesville city school system since I started school.”

The move back home challenged Claire to be more independent and dependable without parental supervision, according to her grandmother Rebekah Oliver.

Claire has traveled to Spain, Cambodia, Honduras, Bahrain and Colombia for field trips and family vacations. Her favorite place, she said, was Saudi Arabia.

“There’s so much diversity there,” she said. “You might not think there is, but there’s a lot of international jobs that are located there.”

While she was able to attend school in Saudi Arabia, the decision to return to Gainesville for her senior year was necessary for her family, too.

“Schools in Russia, because they are private and international schools, are as much as universities,” she said. “They’re like $20,000 a year.”

Claire attended an American school in Saudi Arabia and maintained a cumulative 3.5 gradepoint average despite the many moves. She’ll go home to Moscow in June to spend the summer with her family before college.

She plans to attend Reinhardt College, and though she hasn’t decided on a specific major, she is interested in business.

She said “it was a little weird to come back” to Gainesville after years away, but it’s good to be back with her childhood friends.

Dare to dream

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Sunday, May 15, 2016

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Sunday, May 15, 2016

Danielle Johnson

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Dare to dream

Maranatha Christian Academy

Thinking differently

BY CLARK LEONARD

cleonard@gainesvilletimes.com When Danielle Johnson reads, words can float to another line. The same thing happens with musical notes.

But the Maranatha Christian Academy senior has developed coping skills to deal with her dyslexia, and she has excelled in voice, earning a superior rating at Georgia Association of Christian Schools competition this year.

She’s taking steps toward a career in musical theater.

She played Lady Macbeth in a school production this year. In the fall, she plans to attend the University of North Georgia for her core courses before transferring to Brenau University to study musical theater. It’s all building toward her desire to do musical theater early in her career, then transition to teaching voice. “(Dyslexia) can be a hindrance, but it also can be an advantage because I do think differently than others,” Danielle said. “In a roundabout way, if I think differently, I can solve more problems in an easier fashion.”

She said music teacher Kimberly Johnson (no relation) has helped her hone her voice skills and make connections at Brenau.

The teacher also directed her to Lakewood Baptist Church, where she has grown vocally by singing in the choir.

The Macbeth experience also gave her a chance to help with makeup and costumes in addition to her starring role.

“I loved that opportunity because I got to see everything,” Danielle said.

One of the most daunting parts of the production was learning her approximately 400 lines.

“That was a bit stressful,” Danielle said. “In the beginning, I was a bit nervous, but I got through it.”

She said her coping skills have developed through the years, with her learning to subconsciously correct what she sees because of her dyslexia.

“It just flows naturally because I’ve done it so long,” Danielle said.

She compared it to having a filing cabinet with the files all in the wrong order.

“My mind has to sort them,” Danielle said.

ERIN O. SMITH | The Times

Dare to dream

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Sunday, May 15, 2016

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Sunday, May 15, 2016

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Dare to dream

Carla Suarez Lopez Wood’s Mill High School

Planning for future, college

BY RON BRIDGEMAN

rbridgeman@gainesvilletimes.com

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Carla Suarez Lopez “technically got kicked out” of Chestatee High School.

Her family — Carla and her mom, Mary — had to move when a landlord wanted the rental unit.

She no longer was in the Chestatee school district, so she planned to attend Gainesville High School.

However, that would be difficult in the middle of a school year, she said she was told by school officials.

Now Carla, 17, will graduate from Wood’s Mill High School.

Teachers there “helped me get back on track” in the 1 1/2 years she attended.

Carla has dealt with a learning disability that requires more time than normal for her to understand material. She credits teachers and others with spending extra time with her.

With her degree, she hopes to eventually go to veterinary school.

Carla said she has always loved animals . In fact, she is more comfortable with animals than with people.

She said speaking to people, especially in groups, “gets me really nervous, and I start to stutter.”

She would like to volunteer at the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia or work in an administrative position when she turns 18 in October.

Carla admitted she has trouble thinking about putting animals to sleep, “but I understand it’s so they can get the pain away.”

Carla said she is working with school officials to obtain a scholarship and hopes to attend the University of North Georgia.

Dare to dream

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Sunday, May 15, 2016

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