Today’s high school seniors face so many challenges as they begin their journeys to college and ultimately to their careers. What is even more awe-inspiring is knowing they have had to battle through COVID-19 while trying to stay focused on finishing high school, maintaining strong grades, and participating in extracurricular activities. The nine young people you are about to meet have earned this year’s ALTA Foundation L. Keith Wood Memorial College Scholarship. Each will receive $2,500 for college expenses. Not only did we learn these future leaders are talented and impressive, but we also discovered some fun facts about each unique personality.
Grace Wilson
College Attending: California Institute of Technology
Major: Bioengineering
Graduated from: Forsyth Central High School
Do you have a nickname? My older sister nicknamed me her twin since we get asked all the time if we are identical twins. We can unlock the face ID on each other’s phones, but I still don’t think we look anything alike.
If you could pick a superpower, what would it be? I would choose telekinesis. I could move objects with my mind, and I could also move myself with my mind. That way, I would have the ability to fly as well. It’s a two-in-one superpower.
Is there a Disney or Nickelodeon show you still love today? I still LOVE the animated show “Chowder.” This show is what made me want to own my own restaurant when I was younger.
What is the best vacation you ever had? The best vacation I ever had was a trip I took with my family to Cancun, Mexico. The food was amazing, and I got to ride ATV’s for the first time.
What motivates you to work hard? One day, I would like to be a doctor, so I believe that working hard now will help me become the best doctor possible.
Henry Edmeades
College Attending: University of Georgia
Major: International Affairs
Graduated from: Grady High School
What was the best vacation you have ever had? When I was 15, I was fortunate enough to go on a trip with my family to Iceland. I loved the volcanic deserts, waterfalls, geysers, and mountains. I felt like I was on a different planet
What was the first thing you said you wanted to be when you grew up? A magician.
Do you collect anything? I started collecting skateboard company stickers in eighth grade to put on a huge mirror I found on the street. It turned into a bit of an obsession, and I ended up covering every square inch of the mirror and still had tons of stickers to spare.
If you could travel in time to any place, where would you go? I would travel to Hawaii in the 80’s and just be a beach bum, surfing every day because it seems like a nice, simple lifestyle.
Do you live by any motto? If you can’t change it, don’t sweat it. I made up this motto to remind myself that if I make a mistake to not dwell on it and to just move forward.
Lauren Griffin
College Attending: Appalachian State University
Major: Business Management
Graduated from: Lambert High School
What is the best vacation you ever had? My most memorable trip was to New York City where we shopped, saw the sights, and went to a bunch of Broadway shows.
If you could pick a superpower, what would it be? The power to freeze frame so I could get more done in a day.
Is there a Disney or Nickelodeon show you still love today? “Phineas and Ferb”
What movie or song title best describes your life? “Food Wars”
Do you live by any motto? Finish what you start.
Jacob Lehmann
College Attending: Rhodes College
Major: Undeclared
Graduated from: Dunwoody High School
Who is your favorite professional tennis player? Nick Kyrgios. Love him or hate him, he always puts on a show for the fans and draws attention to the sport.
What talent do you have that most people don’t know about? Bracketology (crossword puzzle clue)
What is the best vacation you ever had? Turks and Caicos Resort.
If you could travel in time, where would you go? The future — to the year 2050 and to Mars to see if it has been colonized yet.
If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pickles.
Liam Hosfeld
College Attending: University of Georgia
Major: Computer Systems Engineering
Graduated from: Greater Atlanta Christian High School
What talent do you have that most people don’t know about? Maybe not so much of a “talent,” but I can cook.
If you could travel in time to any place, where would you go? I would like to see the Earth in…say…about 500 years.
What is the best vacation you ever had? Every year, we go down to the beach for Thanksgiving with our grandparents, and it is always super fun.
What move or song title best describes your life? Right now, before going to college, I would say “No Hurry” by the Zac Brown Band. I’m just trying to make the best of every moment before college.
If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Ignoring health problems, I could probably eat about 20 bags of kettle corn in one sitting.
Emmanuelle Lamarche
College Attending: Georgia Institute of Technology University
Major: Environmental Engineering
Graduated from: Centennial High School
What was the first thing you said you wanted to be when you grew up? Everyone joked that I should be a lawyer when I was young because I was very self-assured, aka argumentative.
Do you collect anything? I keep all the cards people have written to me, or heartfelt gifts they have given me throughout my life.
What is the best vacation you ever had? I’m from Quebec, Canada, and my favorite vacation has been to the Canadian Rockies. The natural, uncivilized beauty of the mountains, lake, and rivers was incredible to witness.
Who is your favorite professional tennis player? Denis Shapovalov because I believe he can be one of the next-gen players to become very successful (and he’s Canadian).
Do you live by any motto? “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” –Henry David Thoreau
Matthew Stevens
College Attending: University of Georgia
Major: Accounting and International Business
Graduated from: North Paulding High School
Do you hope to study abroad? I plan to study abroad! My international business co-major allows me to choose a primary language. I have chosen Italian, and through experiential learning, I plan on doing a summer program at UGA’s campus in Cortona, Italy!
What talent do you have that most people don’t know about? I am a very good trumpet player.
If you could travel in time to any place, where would you go? Living in the moment is the most important thing we all can do.
Is there a celebrity you would like to hang out with for an afternoon? Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I would love to just grab coffee and talk about how he has pushed himself to be so successful in so many areas of life and find out the best ways to push your own self to success.
Do you live by any motto? Someone taught me that when you meet someone, you see where they are now, not where they have been and the struggles they have endured. Same with yourself, so treat everyone in the world with respect and kindness, and it will take you a long way.
Trinyty Turner
College Attending: Southern University and A&M College
Major: Pre-Veterinary/Animal Science
Graduated from: Tucker High School
Do you hope to study abroad? If I could go anywhere, I would want to go to South Africa or Thailand.
Do you collect anything? When I was younger, I used to love to collect acorns. I’m not entirely sure why my mom would hate it when I would come home from the bus stop with a handful of acorns. Now, my mom and I have an impressive collection of candles.
Is there a Disney or Nickelodeon show you still love today? I still love watching Disney’s “Kim Possible” and the “Princess and the Frog.”
If you could travel in time to any place, where would you go? I would go to a Christmas from my childhood. I would enjoy being with both of my grandfathers again.
Do you live by any motto? “There will sometimes be obstacles in your path, and they can be really tough, but it is always worth it to push through.”
Caelyn DeSouza
College Attending: Duke University
Major: Economics
Graduated from: Chattahoochee High School
What talent do you have that most people don’t know about you? I can type 85 words per minute and can code in two languages.
If you could pick a superpower, what would it be? Teleportation would be a cool superpower because I could travel and explore different countries and places instantly.
If you could travel in time to any place, where would you go? It would be amazing to go back to England in 1954 and witness Alan Turing break crypto codes during World War II.
What movie or song best describes your life? “Life is a Highway”
Do you live by any motto? If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
