Atlanta special needs school, Cumberland Academy of Georgia, will hold its 2017 graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 18. Ron Hunter, men’s basketball coach of Georgia State University, will be the guest speaker.
Atlanta autism school, Cumberland Academy of Georgia, will hold its 2017 graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 18. Fully accredited, Cumberland specializes in providing a supportive and challenging environment to help students overcome unique educational, emotional and social obstacles.
“This is a very exciting time for our students, their families, and our teachers,” says Debbi Scarborough, founding director at Cumberland Academy of Georgia. “We’re just finishing our 10th academic year, and this is our largest graduating class yet. Many of our seniors have been accepted into college and will continue on in their careers. We are very proud of what they have accomplished.”
Ron Hunter, head men’s basketball coach of the Georgia State University Panthers, will deliver the keynote address at the commencement ceremony. “We are honored to have Coach Hunter as our guest speaker this year,” Scarborough says. “His dedication to his players and his family, his positive energy and his concern for our community is inspiring to all of us at Cumberland.”
Cumberland’s two class valedictorians for 2017, Michael Rafeedie and Austin Keisling, will also be giving speeches during the graduation ceremony. Rafeedie will be attending Reinhardt University this fall, and Keisling has been accepted to Georgia State University. The valedictorians also have a special experience offered to them via the Governor’s office. Each year the Governer invites Valedictorians from around the state to a reception at the Governer’s Mansion. This year the reception is June 16 from 5-7pm. Our valedictorians have been submitted for the experience and should receive a personal tour.
As in previous years, there will be an awards presentation, which will be followed by a brief address from each graduating senior, who will take the stage and speak in front of the audience about his or her experiences at Cumberland. This could be about a lesson learned, an inspirational experience, or a favorite aspect of Cumberland.
“The class of 2017 has worked hard to get to where they are today, and the students have amazing gifts and talents,” says Scarborough. “We’re confident that the skills and education they obtained at Cumberland Academy of Georgia have given them the foundation they need to be successful in their careers and in life.”
About Cumberland Academy of Georgia:
Cumberland Academy of Georgia specializes in the needs of students in grades 4 through 12 who have high-functioning autism, Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities. Cumberland was founded in 2007 by Debbi and Matthew Scarborough, and is a fully-accredited, independent, non-profit school that seeks to provide a safe and supportive academic atmosphere for its students. Cumberland accepts applications year-round. To schedule a family tour, please contact Terri Brooks, director of admissions, at 404-835-9000, or email admissions@cumberlandacademy.org.
