The Race Beyond the Blue Doors: Soaring to New Heights
This year’s Senior Celebration was themed The Race Beyond Blue Doors – Soaring to New Heights. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) staff, families, and volunteers gathered on May 18 to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of Class of 2023.
The fun-filled night of recognition took place at the Riverside Epi Center honoring 30 Club seniors who crossed the proverbial “Blue Doors” as BGCMA alumni. The event featured a moving performance of spoken word written and performed by Warren Club member Nicole C. Guests also witnessed a compelling charge to our seniors from our keynote speaker and serial entrepreneur, Richard Dunn, as well as BGCMA’s President & CEO David Jernigan.
“Let your dreams be the fuel that propels you to new heights. But remember, the path to success is not always smooth,” said President & CEO David Jernigan, “There will be setbacks, failures, and moments of doubt. In those moments, remember the strength that lies within you and the support of the community you have found here at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.”
Collectively earning more than $825,000.00 in academic and band scholarships to support their dreams and career aspirations, 15 Club seniors will embark in the world as members of the military, students in two or four-year colleges and technical & trade schools, and as members of the workforce.
Congratulations to the resilient Class of 2023 and to the village of parents, family, mentors, and BGCMA & College & Career Readiness Team who helped our seniors reach this milestone.
BGCMA Scholarship Recipients
Great Futures Scholarship
● Kyle Whatley-$250
● Najayah Williams-$250
Blue Door Scholarship
● Kameron Finley-$5000
● Zada Washington-$4000
● David Evans-$3,000
● Taniyah Lupoe-$1625
● Zachary Rye-$1625
● Tre’Vion Hill-$500
● Chloe Carthon-$500
● Seaborne Amofa-$500
● Tashyanna Owens-$500
● Kory Varner-$500
● Mia Torregano-Jones-$250
● Melissa Smith-$250
● Shanece Daniel-$250
All-Star Scholarship
● Kelcei Rivers-$10,000
● Summer Matthews-$8000
● Justice Swint-$7000
● Octavious Gardner-$6000
Gensler Design Dreamers Scholarship
Architecture partnership selected these two young men based on their applications, creative drive, leadership, and community engagement.
● David Evans-$2000
● Tre’Vion Hill-$2000
Youth of the Year-Selected by Clubs and competition with the state of Georgia and the region for varied amounts of scholarships.
● Melissa ‘Nila’ Smith-$4000
● David Evans-$1500
● Neo Doe-$1000
● Taniyah Lupoe-$500
● Kelcei Rivers-$500
● Seaborne Amofa-$500
● Justice Swint-$500
● Shaniyah Rasheed-$500
● Summer Matthews-$500
● Tashyanna Owens-$500
Thank you to our volunteers and community partners.
● 3M Foundation
● Accenture
● Boys & Girls Clubs of America
● Champions Club for Girls-Senior Gift Bags
● Gensler Architecture
● Georgia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc.
● Taco Bell Foundation
● Toyota
● United Way of Greater Atlanta
● UPS Foundation
● U.S. Department of Labor
● Yum! Brands