It is graduation season, and ICS wants to proudly recognize the efforts and achievements of our students (yes, they will always be “our students” ) who are ending one era of their educational lives. Congratulations to all.
First off, graduating from College, is the first generation who started in 2nd grade when ICS opened its doors in 2002. A few of these graduates are:
Rocio Lutenbacher currently lives in Greensboro, NC. She graduated from Guildford college with a degree in Psychology and Spanish. She is very passionate about working with clinical health and treating underrepresented populations or those that have been ignored. This is also why she added a Spanish major, to be able to communicate with a larger population and not be limited only to speaking with English-speakers. She currently has an internship with a Guilford County elementary program, and works as a translator/teacher assistant. She is also a community partner/coordinator with the YWCA, and helps with teen mothers and their children. She is also involved in providing opportunities for college students to help with this program. In the near future, she hopes to take a year to work and apply to PhD programs in clinical psychology, whereupon hopes to find work in a hospital.
Nia Star is currently living in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she graduated from Loyola University. She also studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain at ESADE University. She completed a double major in Marketing and Management. She interned for two departments on the university campus, with the Purchasing, and the Financial Affairs Departments.She has always liked business and has always been good at persuasion and selling people on goods, as well as being organized and efficient, so she enjoys both sides of the business world. In September, she will be moving to Sheffield, England for grad school at the University of Sheffield. Her dreams are to work hard in the corporate business world for a few years, and have time later on to dedicate to other things she enjoys.
Khojasta Ghulam Hussain graduated last year with a BA from Agnes Scott College, and is now attending GSU studying a Masters in International Relations and Comparative Politics. She is passionate about human rights, women’s rights, transitional justice, and post-conflict reconciliation. She interned at IRC and UNICEF Atlanta, and currently works at ICS as a part-time receptionist.
Maunglwin Aung graduated from University of West Georgia, soon to start a nurse residency at Atlanta Medical Center in ICU.
Grace Ballegamire is currently living in London. He recently played for Viborg, soccer team in Denmark, and has been traveling the world on his off days. His dream is to get a call to represent the United States at the World Cup.
Sandra Manhan, class of 2018, also contacted us with the news that she currently attends Emory University, majoring in Human Health and on the pre-med track. She is studying this major because she hopes to obtain an MPH degree along with her MD. Her dream is to become an OB/GYN and create organizations that work with women and young girls to improve their health status. She already had the chance to work in the research lab of a pediatric rheumatologist, studying autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
On May 24, we held a graduation ceremony for the students who are finishing 5th grade at ICS:
Students Anshu Rao, Beatriz Balderas, Corey Johnson, and Maung Niang welcomed those gathered, and introduced our Principal, Mr. Chad Velde-Cabrera, who opened the ceremony talking to the students about the different feelings of leaving friends and memories behind, but also of the many new experiences and opportunities that await.
Several sport, art and language awards were then presented by Mr. Drew, Mr. Gilles, Ms. Dawn, Ms. Beth, and Ms. Peters
The Keynote speaker of the evening was former ICS student and Tucker High School graduate Zozan Tahir.
Before the presentation of the IB Awards and Certificates, the graduates sang “Incredible”, and Mr. Drew played piano to accompany a slide show with memorable pictures.
Ms. Sherry’s class: Fathi Abdillahi, Zaw Aung, San San Aye, Beatriz Balderas, Abigail Bennett, Nathaniel Cason, Aganze Chishibanji, Nadir Kulmiye, Beh Say Kyi, Mohammed Mahmood, Cailyn McKinley, Maryam Muhammad, Anshu Rao, Kiana Sabra, Allan Salih, Muska Shahemi, Siomara Spivey, Laween Tahir, Samuel Tamang, Kamau Tinsley, Alan Young.
Ms. Hudson’s class: Tewodros Admass, Parsa Arani, Christain Braithwaite Liam Donnelly, Kaitlin Holland, Genesis Johnson, Nathaniel Johnson, Thang Khai, Jordan Minor, Nadira Mohamed, Zeynab Mohamed, Maryam Mumin, Maung Soe, Naing, Nahreen Shamon-Ayala, Eh Tee Kaw Soe, Lin Tet Soe, Sara Vadasariya, Ali Vadhavriya, Ketrina Vadsariya, Sansi Yomba.
Mr. Drew’s class: Pratik Alay, Akilah Alves, Mariama Bangura, Prabha Chhetri, Charlotte Dederick, James Donnelly, Zakarya Farhan, Peter Goldsmith, Corey Johnson, Umar Jones, Yash Kotadia, See Ra Ya Ma, Biak Mang, Rihana Mohamed, Ngun Hlei Par, Glae Ser Paw, Joshua Thomas, Linda Uwase, Ava Wheeler, David Williams, Ashoul Yak
Many students who are graduating from High School this year, were at ICS for the whole Elementary Education. Here are a few of the graduating class, and their future plans:
Lagos Kunga, is playing for the US Men’s U20 World Cup soccer team, and Atlanta United academy.
Kylie McArthur was this year’s Valedictorian at Druid Hills High School. She will be attending GaTech.
Ei (Nicole) Niang, Ms. Htwe’s daughter, will go to Berry College.
Asha Christian – Cornell University
Anpa’o Locke – Mount Holyoake
Helena Tesfahun – American University DC
Zozan Tahir, who spoke at the 5th grade graduation, will attend Agnes Scott College
Alaa Abdelrahman – Agnes Scott College
Yukeria Haywood – Macalester College in St. Paul
Ala Mohamed – University of Iowa
Steven Mayo – Kennesaw State University
Dmitri Burns – Valdosta State University
