Atlanta-based school for special needs, Cumberland Academy of Georgia holds its annual “End of the Year Celebration and Graduation” event.

Cumberland Academy of Georgia, an Atlanta-based school for special needs, will celebrate the hard work of each student and their graduates as they transition into adulthood. The annual “End of Year Celebration and Graduation” event is a Cumberland tradition and will take place on May 16. On that day, students and parents will cheer on underclassman as they speak on stage and the seniors as they march through the gym for the last time.

Each student will deliver a brief address about an inspirational experience, lesson learned or a favorite aspect of Cumberland. The school aims to instill public speaking skills and stage presence in its students by implementing public speaking exercises in its curriculum as early as fourth grade. This portion of the ceremony is an opportunity for the students to showcase their experiences as well as their public speaking skills.

“Having been a part of their educational journey, we are incredibly proud of all of our students and our graduates that will be honored,” said Debbi Scarborough, founding director at Cumberland Academy of Georgia. “This celebration marks a huge milestone for students and is reflective of all of their hard work and accomplishments throughout the year. For our graduates, we are excited to see the opportunities the next chapter will bring them and all the future success we are confident they will achieve.”

Each year, Cumberland invites a special speaker to offer their thoughts and sentiments to the students. This year, Clark Howard, an Atlanta native and friend of the school, will act as guest speaker. He is a nationally-syndicated radio talk show host and consumer reporter who is dedicated to educating the public on how to make better financial decisions. Howard is recognized for his active role in the community and his speech will be an opportunity for students to gain a valuable perspective on consumerism.

“We are honored to announce that Clark Howard will be delivering this years’ speech to our graduating class,” said Debbi Scarborough. “Our educators strive to provide our students with as much practical knowledge as possible, and this is an exciting opportunity to instill in our students how to be good consumers.”

There are seven graduating students in Cumberland’s class of 2019. Cumberland is proud to announce that students will be continuing their education at Kennesaw State University, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Landmark College, Gwinnett Technical College, and Perimeter College at Georgia State University. One of Cumberland’s graduates has already launched a career with Homewood Suites by Hilton.

“I receive such a sense of joy and gratification when I think about all our students and 
graduates will encounter as they pursue their passions. I look forward to witnessing the aha moments our returning students will have and listening to the success stories of our graduates when they visit the campus,” said Debbi Scarborough. “In the words of the great Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places

[They]’ll Go!”