DeKalb County Office of Communications | Manuel J. Maloof Center | 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor | Decatur, GA 30030

MEDIA CONTACTS Burke Brennan, Press Secretary P: 404-371-6305 | M: 678-201-7209

Angela Walton, Communications Manager P: 404-371-3688 | M: 404-964-0357

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2014

DeKalb Interim CEO May, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, DeKalb School District and City Schools of Decatur

Present $65,000 in Scholarships

DECATUR – DeKalb County, in partnership with the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, the DeKalb County School District and City Schools of Decatur, presented $65,000 in college scholarships to 24 high school seniors at the second annual DeKalb County Education Scholarship Fund Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 6, at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center. The students, who have been accepted to postsecondary institutions, received up to $5,000 in scholarships. “This award is a great example of public-private partnerships that benefit DeKalb’s youth,” said interim CEO Lee May. “Students will have the opportunity to advance their education and future goals.” The DeKalb County Education Scholarship Fund was created with the goal to award scholarships to DeKalb County students based on their financial need and merit. A selection committee formed by the DeKalb Chamber reviewed more than 90 applications. The following high school students were chosen to receive scholarships: Abhijith Bathini, Chamblee Charter HS Alexis Davis, Decatur HS Ashley Lauterbach, DeKalb School of the Arts Azziza Robinson, DeKalb Early College Academy Brianna Thompson, Arabia Mountain HS Brittanny Thomas-Pearson, Stone Mountain HS Brittany Sears, Arabia Mountain HS Elahn Little, Clarkston HS Isabella Stork, DeKalb School of the Arts Jade Zachery, Arabia Mountain HS Jazlyn Grier, Miller Grove HS Jorge Sandoval, Clarkston HS Kim An Ta, Clarkston HS

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DeKalb County Office of Communications | Manuel J. Maloof Center | 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor | Decatur, GA 30030

DeKalb Education Scholarship Awards – Page 2 Krista Williams, Arabia Mountain HS Monique Boyd, Arabia Mountain HS Naud Bahdurai, DeKalb Early College Academy Nicholas Collins, Stone Mountain HS Nicholas Rawls, McNair HS Phat Chang, Clarkston HS Saundra Latimer, Southwest DeKalb HS Thi Thong, Stone Mountain HS Tung Son Do, Druid Hills HS Victoria Bailey, Arabia Mountain HS Vy Huynh, Stone Mountain HS Scholarship sponsors included Wells Fargo, Gas South, Georgia Power, Mercer University, Selig Enterprises, Kroger, Georgia Pacific Foundation, Silverman Construction Program Management, Kaiser Permanente, Piper Jaffray, Emory University, Oglethorpe Power Corporation and Publix Supermarket Charities. Presentations were made by DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Leonardo McClarty, 2014 Education Chair and DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Member JaKathryn Ross, DeKalb County School District Superintendent Michael Thurmond and Decatur High School Principal Lauri McKain.

Leonardo McClarty of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce served as Master of Ceremonies

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DeKalb County Office of Communications | Manuel J. Maloof Center | 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor | Decatur, GA 30030

DeKalb Education Scholarship Awards – Page 3

Interim CEO Lee May meeting with students and family members during awards ceremony

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DeKalb County Office of Communications | Manuel J. Maloof Center | 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor | Decatur, GA 30030

DeKalb Education Scholarship Awards – Page 4

(L-R) Superintendent Michael Thurmond, 2014 Education Scholarship Fund Chair JaKathryn Ross,

Chamblee Charter High School Senior Abhijith Bathini and DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May

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DeKalb County Office of Communications | Manuel J. Maloof Center | 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor | Decatur, GA 30030

DeKalb Education Scholarship Awards – Page 5

(L-R) Superintendent Michael Thurmond, 2014 Education Scholarship Fund Chair JaKathryn Ross, DeKalb

School of the Arts Senior Ashley Lauterbach and DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May

(L-R) Superintendent Michael Thurmond, 2014 Education Scholarship Fund Chair JaKathryn Ross,

Clarkston High School Senior Jorge Sandoval, Clarkston and DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May -more-

DeKalb County Office of Communications | Manuel J. Maloof Center | 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor | Decatur, GA 30030

DeKalb Education Scholarship Awards – Page 6

(L-R) Superintendent Michael Thurmond, 2014 Education Scholarship Fund Chair JaKathryn Ross, DeKalb

Early College Academy Azziza Robinson and DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May DeKalb County’s DCTV broadcasted the event live at www.DCTVchannel23.tv. The event will rebroadcast on DCTV, Channel 23 for Comcast subscribers in DeKalb County. DeKalb County is Georgia’s third largest county with more than 700,000 residents calling it home. Known for its business and education hub, growing international community and natural wonders, DeKalb County Government is administered by Interim Chief Executive Officer Lee May and legislative policy is set by a seven-member Board of Commissioners. Stay informed with news from DeKalb County by signing up at www.onedekalb.com or send a text message with the word ONEDEKALB to 22828 (message and data rates may apply).

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