On May 12, the Peachtree Corners Festival awarded its Debbie Mason Memorial Scholarship for Drama to Norcross High School senior, James Lasley. Lasley has been involved in the NHS drama department for four years and has served as an officer of the Drama Club for the past three years.  

According to Terry Gabbard, Norcross High School’s theatre director, Lasley has had an unforgettable impact on the school’s theatre program throughout his time at NHS — and that dedication was recognized with the prestigious drama scholarship.

Talent and commitment to the theatre

“As president of the Drama Club, James led with both passion and purpose,” said Gabbard. “He was not only a familiar face in leading roles on the Norcross stage, but also a performer who consistently brought depth, commitment and authenticity to every production. His presence in rehearsals was just as meaningful as his performances — always positive, focused and encouraging those around him.”

Gabbard acknowledged that what truly set Lasley apart was his love for “every aspect of theatre. Whether he was under the spotlight, directing scenes with fellow students or working behind the scenes building scenery, he approached each opportunity with enthusiasm.”

Lasley’s talent was recognized outside of Norcross High School and the local community, as well. He earned a place on the GHSA One-Act Competition All-Star Cast for three consecutive years. 

Equally important was the impact Lasley had on his fellow students. “He served as a mentor by example, helping to create a supportive, welcoming environment where younger performers felt encouraged to grow and take risks,” Gabbard said. “His leadership helped shape the culture of Norcross Theatre in lasting ways.”

Lasley’s future plans include attending Kennesaw State University in the fall and studying business management. 

About the Debbie Mason Memorial Scholarship

This marks the fourth year that the Peachtree Corners Festival has awarded the drama scholarship in the name of the late Peachtree Corners Festival co-founder, Debbie Mason. 

In addition to being the first “First Lady” of the city of Peachtree Corners, Debbie and her family were long-time supporters of the drama program at Norcross High School. After her passing in 2023, the Peachtree Corners Festival established the scholarship as an appropriate way to honor her legacy.

Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) held a joyous commencement ceremony at the Long Forum on May 16. The event brought together family, friends, faculty and staff to honor the Class of 2026 and commemorate the accomplishments of the graduating class of 151 students. 

Noah An, of Atlanta, was the class valedictorian. He will attend the University of Georgia as a Foundation Fellow through the Morehead Honors College, where he plans to pursue a double major in chemistry and music performance.

Madeline Austin, of Peachtree Corners, was the class salutatorian. She will attend the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in the fall, where she plans to major in biomedical engineering.

The commencement address

Dr. Scott Harsh, president of Greater Atlanta Christian School, brought the community together with a commencement speech, congratulating the graduates and providing encouragement as the Class of 2026 enters the next stage of life. Harsh emphasized the importance of aligning their future endeavors with God’s purpose. 

“The world does not simply need more accomplished people. It needs people who are deeply rooted in truth, grounded in purpose and anchored in the presence of God. In a world marked by distraction, noise, hurry and constant striving, Scripture offers us a different invitation: not simply to achieve, not simply to perform, but to dwell with God, to make room for His presence in our lives and to become people who are deeply rooted in Him,” Harsh said.

Class of 2026 accolades

According to GAC, the Class of 2026 collectively received 582 acceptances to 165 top colleges and universities — from renowned national universities, such as Brown, Penn State, Howard, Indiana and Fordham University, to prestigious local institutions like Georgia Tech, Emory, Spelman and the University of Georgia. 

Several students will be studying at leading Christian universities next year, including Belmont, Baylor, Harding, Lipscomb and Texas Christian University.

Two members of the Class of 2026 will continue their academic and athletic careers at United States service academies this fall. Margo Pritchard will attend the United States Naval Academy and join the women’s soccer team, while Denzell Watkins will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point and play football.

Both students demonstrated outstanding leadership during their time at GAC and will continue stepping into new opportunities for service and leadership as they prepare to serve their country.

In addition to the universities they will attend, the Class of 2026 received over $23.6 million in scholarships, a testament to their remarkable accomplishments and character. Among the graduates are 20 AP Scholars (including nine as an AP Scholar with Honors and seven as an AP Scholar with Distinction), two National Merit Finalists and one Commended National Merit Scholar.

Twenty students received athletic scholarships, showcasing their achievements both in academics and sports as student-athletes. 

Commitment to academics and service

GAC’s college counseling staff was instrumental in guiding these students through the college application process. GAC teachers played a crucial role in the acceptances through their dedication and commitment to preparing the students well and providing powerful recommendations on their behalf. This year’s graduating class completed a total of 1,231 applications.

Beyond academic success, the Class of 2026 demonstrated a profound commitment to service and community. Throughout high school, they volunteered over 16,000 hours, bringing light and hope to Atlanta and beyond through various projects and mission trips, their impact reaching beyond campus borders.

For more about Greater Atlanta Christian School, visit greateratlantachristian.org.

As the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close, Norcross High School is celebrating the academic achievements of three of their top students.

Class of 2026 Valedictorian – Joanne Lu

Joanne Lu, daughter of Laura Wang and Jingqiao Lu of Peachtree Corners, has been named this year’s valedictorian. A strong student academically and active in several extracurriculars as well as in the community, Joanne has been a committed and inspiring student throughout her years at NHS.

She was honored through Georgia’s Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, which recognizes the state’s highest-achieving seniors based on SAT performance and class ranking, is a National Merit Commended Scholar and was named Outstanding Attorney at Mock Trial three times.

She is also a third-year oboe player and member of Wind Symphony (top band ensemble), an IB Student Ambassador and Diploma Candidate and an executive member and worship team leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Additionally, Joanne is co-president of the National Honor Society and French National Honor Society and treasurer for the Science National Honor Society.

Outside of the classroom, Joanne has worked as a counselor and ballet instructor at Camp All-American, as a front-of-house team member at Chick-fil-A and as a Sunday school leader and volunteer pianist at the Atlanta Chinese Christian Church.

She has been accepted to UGA Honors College where she plans to major in political science with the goal of going into environmental law.

Class of 2026 Salutatorian – Eva A. Ballerstedt

Eva Ballerstedt has been named this year’s class salutatorian.

An accomplished scholar, Eva has received numerous awards and accolades during her years at NHS, including an Accelerated Geometry award, AP PreCalculus award and AP Statistics award. She is president of the Math Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.

Musically, Eva is a talented pianist who has received superior ratings in the Guild Gold program and the National Federation (for piano) and is also an advanced percussion ensemble member.

In the community, she has taught at Next Generation Focus, an after-school program, and also started a math tutoring business and piano teaching business.

The daughter of Anila and Andrew Ballerstedt, Eva will attend Princeton University in the fall where she plans to major in mathematics.

Appointment to West Point – Sophie Katz

Norcross High School has also announced that Sophie Katz has accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. This prestigious appointment is a testament to her academic excellence, leadership, character and commitment to serving the country.

A top scholar, athlete and leader, Sophie was ranked 4th out of over 500 students with a GPA of 4.429 and has demonstrated unwavering academic excellence across a wide range of rigorous coursework, completing more than 10 AP and IB-level courses and earning multiple awards for her achievements in U.S. History, English, Physics and Calculus.

Outside of the classroom, she is a goalkeeper and team captain for both her high school and club soccer teams and has earned numerous athletic honors, including Region Goalkeeper of the Year, All-County and All-Region recognitions and selection to the ECNL National Selection Game.

Demonstrating leadership both on and off the field, Sophie founded the Norcross Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), a pioneering initiative that brings together student-athletes for community service, tutoring and education around nutrition, recruiting and mental health.

Her ability to juggle academics, athletics, leadership roles and meaningful service exemplifies the qualities NHS seeks to instill in their students: drive, discipline, compassion and courage.