Community
Peachtree Corners Schools Celebrate the Class of 2020
A smiling, waving high school senior wearing a wide grin in the passenger seat. A proud, beaming family member behind the wheel. Their car cruising slowly past cheering, noisemaker-blowing faculty and staff. The inscription “Class of Covid 19” inscribed on a rear window.
That scene from Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) seemed to sum up a roller-coaster end of the year for graduating seniors from Peachtree Corners. Confronted with a deepening pandemic, school administrators scrambled for safer ways of honoring — and educating — students finishing their high-school careers and preparing to take on a vastly changed world. By all accounts, they succeeded.
Some Things Lost, Some Things Gained
“I don’t feel like we’ve missed out on anything crucial because we have been doing other things to make up for it,” said senior and Peachtree Corners resident Kaitlyn Williams.
From recorded, professional-grade virtual graduation ceremonies to at-a-distance video awards nights for academic and extracurricular achievements to parades to extracurricular club social media pages featuring check-ins and congrats, the Class of 2020 DID get its due.
“Sure, they’re disappointed they didn’t get to be with their friends,” said Dr. Eric Davidson, principal of Duluth High School. “That’s a lot of school anyway, time spent with friends, especially second semester of the senior year.” Missing out on in-person contact and encouragement from faculty members was another factor.
While that intangible buzz that courses through school halls prior to graduation this year was absent, along with proms, athletic competitions, senior day celebrations and other events, it was seemingly replaced by the students’ res olve to soldier through — and make a difference in the process.
As Gwinnett School Board member Dr. Mary Kay Murphy told graduates virtually, “you did not give into the uncertainty and fear caused by the pandemic. Instead, you went about your coursework with courage, common-sense and optimism.”
Administrators tasked with replacing “the real” with the socially distanced — whether coursework or senior recognition — got an A-plus for pivoting quickly and thinking creatively. The Greater Atlanta Christian School drive-through parade was one highlight.
“It was an opportunity for seniors to decorate their cars and drive through campus with an enthusiastic crowd of teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade and staff cheering them all the way,” said GAC School President Dr. Scott Harsh. The emotion was palpable…there were definitely tears…but all tears of joy.”
“It was fantastic,” said senior salutatorian Williams, who plans to head to Brown University in Rhode Island this fall to study applied math and play soccer. “We were sticking out of the windows and the sunroofs,” waving at the crowd and cruising past signs with their graduation pics.
The City Honors the Graduates
Out-of-the-ordinary kudos also came from the City of Peachtree Corners, which hired an outside firm to orchestrate a video tribute.
Mayor Mike Mason said the idea came from longtime resident Nancy Minor, who wanted special recognition of what he termed a “rite of passage.”
“We contacted 11 high schools, public and private, that serve our community asking for administrators to help get the word out,” he said in an email. The city also utilized social media and civic groups to spread the word.
City spokeswoman Judy Putnam said at least 140 students sent in photos and information, photos and footage from the schools was assembled, students were interviewed and information about congratulatory activities across the community at large was folded in.
The video was directed and produced by Jim Stone of Tytan Pictures, a production and media company that regularly works with the city.
Why all the effort? “The schools have gone to great lengths to make graduation special for their students,” explained Mason. “The city also thought it appropriate to do something special for these young people.”
The 2020 High School Senior Class video is available on the city’s YouTube channel, PCN Network. The video was also displayed May 29-31 on the big screen at the Town Green.
Virtual Graduations
The virtual high school graduations gave students perspective and context, a sense of gratitude and a challenge to do well in the world. They were viewable live and also archived on the district website.
It may sound like a contradiction in terms, but Norcross High School’s virtual ceremony, as did the others, worked on being “alone together.” Students pledged allegiance to the flag — individually — in videos submitted by their families. Technicians then assembled them into a group. Band members playing the National Anthem and a choral group got the same treatment.
Speeches from Principal Will Bishop, Supt. J. Alvin Wilbanks, the valedictorian and salutatorian were a prominent facet. The addresses then gave way to an alphabetically presented photo display highlighting each soon-to-be degree-holder by name and achievements.
The recorded graduations were set in a mold, but seniors at Paul Duke STEM High School added a lively touch: a senior class video which showed students hanging out with friends, dancing, skating, chowing down on pizza and mugging for the camera.
More sedately, Norcross Valedictorian and Peachtree Corners resident Luke Gries set an optimistic but cautious tone in his address: “Over the last month I’ve had an extraordinary amount of time to self-reflect while procrastinating on my digital work and here are a few of the things I’ve recognized. Number one, live each moment to the fullest because you never know when it might be taken away.”
And: “I don’t think I realized how important going to a graduation ceremony was to me until I couldn’t do it anymore.”
The Importance of Connection
Fellow Norcross grad and Peachtree Corners resident Feben Simeneh echoed the reflective mood as she told a reporter that yes, it was sad to lose a major part of the senior year, “but it didn’t stop me from connecting with the ones I love.”
Many ways to be recognized and connect came their way, she said. One such instance involved the track team. “Our coaches would have Zoom calls where we would all work out together and see each other twice a week. Then I’d go out on a run. We’d run together but not physically,” Simeneh explained.
Simeneh, who plans to attend UGA this fall and major in international affairs, also put her expressed love into action by helping her church prepare care kits (hand sanitizer, gloves, etc.) and deliver them to the elderly and needy.
At Paul Duke STEM High, Principal Dr. Jonathon Wetherington said they instituted a weekly conference call for the entire senior class, all 120 or so of them. Some 40 to 90 would take part each week utilizing the Google Meets platform.
He said they were opportunities for seniors to connect, recognize one another and share events in their lives as well as a vehicle for the administration to pass along updates on the school year and Coronavirus developments.
“One of the stresses with the students has been uncertainty, and by having regular meetings we were able to reduce a great deal of that uncertainty,” he said.
A welcome stressbuster came for Greater Atlanta Christian grads who were treated — as a surprise — to personal home delivery of yard signs celebrating their achievements, plus their caps and gowns. Jaws dropped. Addressing still another stressor, said administrators, counselors took time to talk to students feeling thrown for a loop by the pandemic. Some of them were left feeling lost by the cancellation of in-person events that couldn’t be converted.
Duluth High, by way of example, saw its senior day go by the wayside, where students gather outside to get their yearbooks signed, chow down on burgers, play games and hang out with each other faculty members.
“That’s a difficult thing to replicate virtually,” noted Principal Davidson.
The prom also was scuttled. And as for the time-honored senior skip day?
A chuckle. “That was every day,” said Davidson. And as Wilbanks noted while addressing graduates, ‘’It’s no fun skipping home.”
Facing It Together
This year’s Peachtree Corners seniors have faced other hurdles. Williams, for example, told of a friend’s father who passed away from COVID-19, sparking sadness and an outpouring of support. The school’s soccer team and others rallied around, she said.
At Paul Duke STEM, Wetherington said, there was also a come-together spirit as some families faced economic hardship.
“Many of our seniors wound up being the primary sources of income in their families, especially in a scenario where a single mom would get laid off,” he added.
Some worked 40-hour weeks while juggling academic requirements and “I think their character showed in that they didn’t quit school; they didn’t give up.”
Do students feel the events of 2020 took something from them?
Some may, but there’s a much vaster appreciation for the “makeup recognition work” their schools, friends, parents and others have done. And that disappointment may be tempered down the road — Gwinnett Schools and GAC are working toward a physical midsummer graduation, public health concerns permitting.
At GAC, Williams thinks the crisis has represented an exercise in personal growth.
“I think it’s taught us all to be hopeful and resilient…and to search for the good in seemingly bad situations.” ■
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) donated a check for $3,500 to the Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer at their October Business After Hours event. The organization was selected by the PCBA Community Outreach Committee and board, who are dedicated to identifying and selecting charities whose mission aligns with supporting the community.
Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer — formerly It’s the Journey — is a registered 501c3 non-profit that supports Georgia’s breast cancer community by raising funds for breast health and breast cancer programs throughout the state.
Since 2002, the organization’s Georgia 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer has raised over $19 million to fund 554 grants that provide breast cancer education, screening, early detection, support services and continuing care for Georgians. Their mission is to engage with Georgia’s breast cancer community to increase access to care and reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.
“Since [our] donations are made possible through our members and sponsorships, we wanted to award this check at our recent PCBA Business After Hours Speaker’s event, allowing our members the opportunity to celebrate with us and learn how this organization supports our community” said Lisa Proctor, PCBA president. “This check represents the first of three charities we raised money for at our annual charity event, Tailgates and Touchdowns, in August of this year. We will be awarding a check to the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries in November and Spectrum Autism Support Group in December.”
Supporting the community
“We are so proud of our continued commitment to supporting our community,” Proctor continued. “The PCBA has donated over $162,000 to local deserving charities and awarded 19 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors in our metro Atlanta community since the inception of our community outreach program in 2013.”
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach program are raised throughout the year from PCBA memberships, sponsorships and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded during monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the selected organizations.
For more information about the Peachtree Corners Business Association, visit peachtreecornersba.com.
Although Debbie Mason, the first First Lady of Peachtree Corners passed away in January 2023 just shy of her 72nd birthday, she left a lasting legacy on the community.
Her obituary summed up her attributes beautifully.
“If Debbie Mason believed in a cause, she could be counted on to work toward it tirelessly. Debbie was known to her family as a full-time mom, part-time Wonder Woman and occasional miracle worker. To her friends and community, she was a professional volunteer, fearless leader and perpetual truthteller.
Before starting her family, she worked as a legal secretary, where she began honing her exceptional organizational skills and trademark charisma, which made her the most formidable fundraiser. PTSA president, Scout den leader, drama club mom, sports team mom, volunteer organizer, teen-driving advocate, recycling and beautification champion — whatever her kids were involved in or called to her heart, she made it a priority.
A consummate ‘mover and shaker,’ there was little in her sphere of influence that didn’t receive a bit of ‘the Debbie Mason touch.’ She and Mike were founders of the Fox Hill Homeowner’s Association, where she worked to build community on the street she called home for 36 years. Hanging holiday decorations, throwing her annual Halloween party and even going door-to-door gathering signatures to have sewers installed in the neighborhood, Debbie spent so much of her time and energy in service of others.”
A loving memorial
At a memorial service in her honor, several members of the community stood around brainstorming a way to truly respect the impact she had on those around her.
“There were a group of us that just kept talking to each other and saying, what else can we do?” said Lynette Howard. “Debbie inspired us. She did so many things for us, and she gave up great things to the city. And the city was something that she just … it was her pride and joy, and she wanted to make sure that everybody was embraced and hugged in this city.”
A public garden in Debbie Mason’s name was born from that discussion. And a little less than two years later, a dedication was held on Saturday, October 24 to commemorate the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden.
Her obituary went on to include her love of gardening and the outdoors.
“To nurture was her nature; she loved to look after her home and garden. Visitors often commented on how warm and welcoming the house made them feel and how beautifully decorated it was. She was an artist, viewing the backyard garden as her canvas and the flowers, plants and pots as her paints. Working in the garden restored her soul; it was her special place. She was brilliant, an independent thinker, honest, direct and utterly unique. There will never be another one like her.”
A legacy that will live on
As in life, her kindness, dedication and joy will live on.
“With the opening of this garden today, she will leave an imprint that will be enjoyed by Peachtree Corners citizens for generations to come,” said Dave Huffman during the ceremony.
Debbie inspired those around her to make a positive impact on the city, as seen in the garden project. The Debbie Mason Memorial Garden Committee: Bob Ballagh, Pat Bruschini, Lynette Howard, Dave Huffman, Sarah Roberts, Gay Shook and Robyn Unger worked together to answer questions, prioritize goals and honor Debbie’s legacy.
To ensure the garden design and features aligned with Debbie’s passions and the community’s input, the committee thought about things the garden shouldn’t be: hectic, feeling noisy, unkempt, sad, forgotten, without a purpose, ostentatious, gaudy, overdone, devoid of interactive things.
“Did we accomplish it?” Howard asked the crowd during the ceremony.
The thunderous applause proved that Debbie would have approved.
Not long after the incorporation of Peachtree Corners in 2012, city leaders envisioned an arts council that would ensure local arts and culture were given necessary attention. The Peachtree Corners Arts Council, now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established in 2016 to bring that vision to life by creating an Arts & Culture Master Plan and Public Art Initiative program for the city.
The council facilitates public art projects, such as a soon-to-be-completed mural on Peachtree Corners Circle by artist Jonathan Bidwell. With another major endeavor, the independently funded Debbie Mason Memorial Garden, also nearing completion, Peachtree Corners Magazine caught up with the organization — now called Peachtree Corners Arts Inc. (PTC Arts) — to learn more about the projects as well as the future of arts and culture in our city.
Debbie Mason Memorial Garden
The Debbie Mason Memorial Garden is an aesthetic and contemplative garden space nestled in an area of the Peachtree Corners Botanical Garden near Town Center. A group of Peachtree Corners residents, with a shared love for the city’s first first lady and an appreciation for all that she has done for the city, formed the Debbie Mason Memorial Committee (DMMC) to raise funds to build the oasis that will delight with flowering color each season.
The goal of the DMMC is to preserve Mason’s memory by transforming a space that will offer Peachtree Corners residents a quiet place to reflect, connect and rejuvenate among vibrant colored seasonal plantings and mosaic tiled artwork, according to the PTC Arts website.
Although the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden falls under the umbrella of PTC Arts Inc., it had its own committee in charge of design and fundraising goals.
“When they started getting going, because they were creating an artistic kind of installation in the city and were going to raise the funds for it, they worked with our council for ideas and input on the plan that they ultimately came up with,” said Marcia Catterall, a member of PTC Arts. “They really ran independently with that. Primarily, they used us as the nonprofit vehicle to raise the funds.”
Independent of PTC Arts, DMMC created all of its own publicity and had a committee tasked with handling all of the fundraising.
Building a master plan
Although the objective of PTC Arts Inc. is simple, the execution can be complicated.
“We had our hands in numerous things,” said Catterall. “We’ve created the city’s arts and culture master plan. We created a public art initiative. Our goal was to think about all of the ways that arts and cultural activities could impact the city and then to help facilitate the creation and the installation of arts and culture in the city.”
The initiative, along with the master plan, took up the first several years of the council’s efforts. The master plan was formalized and officially adopted in 2018.
According to city records, “The resolution requires developers to meet with the Peachtree Corners Arts Council to discuss possibilities for public art on their property. Developers would also be asked to voluntarily set aside one percent of their project costs for public art, either by including public art on their site or contributing money to a public art fund administered by the city.”
“This Public Art Initiative and Vision Map is intended to help city officials, developers and the community at large visualize and implement the city’s public art future. It outlines a vision for public art, offers an inventory of opportunities for public art throughout the city and provides background on the types of projects that should be encouraged and prioritized,” the records continued.
Early efforts of the council included designing activities for the Town Green and facilitating the use of public spaces for a variety of arts and cultural activities.
“One of the things that we helped with initially was designing some of the activities and talking about how to host activities on the Town Green,” said Catterall. “Now that’s all handled separately by the city, but we were sort of the sounding board and created a lot of the ideas and the thoughts about how Town Green was to be used.”
The mural project and what’s ahead
The first big art installation project initiated from beginning to end by the council is a mural on the retaining wall at Peachtree Corners Circle.
“That’s going to be our first big project that we’ve started — soup to nuts — and have run with completely on our own,” said Catterall.
Jonathan Bidwell, a well-known artist out of Asheville, North Carolina is creating the mural, having designed several others in the past.
“He designed, for example, the playful foxes on the Social Fox Brewing Company in downtown Norcross,” she said. “He’ll be covering the big, long retaining wall that will border part of the Botanical Garden Walk around the Town Center area. And it will actually be near the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden.”
Funding for the mural project was covered partly through business donations.
“Part of our arts and culture master plan is to ask businesses, when they either develop or open up a new business, to donate 1% of their project value towards public art on their property or to give that to us,” Catterall said. “So, this is being funded mostly through the donation from QuickTrip’s new development.”
Since the company didn’t have a particular art installation in mind for its property, it allowed the money to go toward an effort elsewhere in the city.
The mural’s background colors were scheduled to be painted by the end of September with the remaining details to be completed by late October, in time for the ribbon cutting for the Debbie Mason Garden. That event is set for 11 a.m. on October 26.
For more information about Peachtree Corners Arts Inc., the mural or the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden, visit ptcarts.org.
You can read this article in the October/November issue of Peachtree Corners Magazine.
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