Society Press Releases
Black High School Graduates Celebrated at Ceremony Featuring Essence Editor Angela Burt-Murray
Posted on April 25, 2009
Atlanta-based W.E.B. Du Bois Society is concluding its fifth year of engaging successful, high-achieving black high school students in The WEB--a program focused on profiling and rewarding academic excellence, while confronting the stigma among many black students that being smart is "uncool." Essence magazine editor-in-chief Angela-Burt Murray will join the W.E.B. Du Bois Society in promoting academic excellence among African American students at the organization's Fifth Annual "Celebration of Excellence" Graduation Program.
Twelve graduating W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars will be recognized for high achievement at the event, which will also engage several prominent metro Atlanta community and business leaders. The metro Atlanta high school graduates hail from as north as Duluth High School to Douglass High School in central Atlanta, and from private institutions such as The Westminster Schools to religious academies such as Holy Innocents Episcopal School. These African American students are successful athletes, musicians, school leaders and community advocates who also excel academically as honors students.
"Students are influenced by their peers just as much as they are parents and other public figures, so it is important to spotlight academic achievement by recognizing successful students who are cool AND smart," said Etienne LeGrand, president and CEO of the W.E.B. Du Bois Society. "Our ultimate goal is to influence a shift in youth culture and community culture, one in which academic achievement is just as respected as achievement in the entertainment and sports arenas."
Woodruff Arts Center, Circle Room
1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309Bl
CONTACT:
Kinetra Smith: (Phone) 404-932-2126 / (Email) kinetra@kls-pr.com