The Foundation for Excellence in Public Education in Clarke County (FFE), a longstanding partner of the Clarke County School District, recently announced its 2023 student awards, which were presented in April and May. 

Every year, the Foundation for Excellence awards several thousand dollars to CCSD high school juniors and seniors who are chosen by school staff for their excellent work and dedication to their educations and are presented with their awards during their end-of-year awards ceremonies.

Here are the 2023 high school award winners:

• The Arthur Moog Middleton Writing Award for Juniors 

  • Cedar Shoals High - Kira Law

  • Clarke Central High - Isabella Westrich

• The Charlotte and Claude Williams American History Awards (Juniors)

  • Cedar Shoals - Tyquarious Brice

  • Clarke Central - Amya Hopkins

• The Marge Schneider Science Awards (Seniors)

  • Cedar Shoals - Dennis Posadas Palma

  • Clarke Central - Natalie Soper

• The Gregg W. Lewis Scholar Athlete Awards (Seniors)

  • Girl winner - Jane Michael, Cedar Shoals

  • Boy winner - Solomon Nackashi, Clarke Central

  • Girl runner-up - Pierce Alston, Clarke Central

  • Boy runner-up - James Xiao, Cedar Shoals

• Classic City High School Students of the Year: Kiriayana Faust and Eugene Rhodes

• Taylor Family Dual Enrollment Award for Seniors at the Athens Community Career Academy: Jacqueline Cuevas and Brisa Colunga.

Eve Carson Award Winners

Along with its high school awards, the FFE also announced in May the 2023 recipients of the annual Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit awards at every CCSD school in honor of the late Clarke Central High graduate. 

From the FFE: “The Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Awards honor the memory of 2004 Clarke Central honor graduate Eve Carson. Eve exhibited a selfless generosity that one yearns to achieve in a full lifetime. Her unconditional positive regard for all people, caring, encouragement, acceptance, open-mindedness, genuine love, and practice of inclusive acts of kindness to all are examples of the qualities that this award is recognizing and promoting.”

Every spring, each school selects one student in its exiting class (grades 5, 8, and 12) who best exemplifies these qualities. Here are the 2023 winners:

• Alps Road Elementary - Matinah Andani

• Barnett Shoals Elementary - Sofia Benitez-Reyes

• Barrow Elementary - Michaela Suiza

• Chase Street Elementary - Mackenna Kilpatrick

• Cleveland Road Elementary - Hailey Rodriguez

• Fowler Drive Elementary - Jan Carlos Reyes Vazquez

• Gaines Elementary - Sharon Xulinda Snead

• Howard B. Stroud Elementary - JaQuantay Coleman

• J.J. Harris Elementary - Emanuel Castro-Menjivar

• Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary - Celina Aguilar

• Timothy Road Elementary - Olivia Stitchtenoth

• Whit Davis Elementary - Luca McDonald

• Whitehead Road Elementary - Angel Laguna Gallares

• Winterville Elementary - Gabriel Marcos-Ventura

• Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle - Kamron Lawrence

• Clarke Middle - Eudora Dawson

• Coile Middle - Camilla Ramos-Ramirez

• Hilsman Middle - Savannah Rawls

• Cedar Shoals High - Ella Johnson

• Clarke Central High - Michael Campbell

• Classic City High - Jalayla Rose.