FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 21st Century Leaders Announces Winners of the 2018 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards Top 20 High School Students Selected by Georgia Corporate Professionals for Outstanding Leadership

(February 1, 2018) , GA – 21st Century Leaders, a Georgia-based non-profit youth leadership and talent development program, announces the top 20 youth leaders selected for the 10th annual Georgia Youth Leadership Awards to be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the College Football Hall of Fame.

Since 2008, 21st Century Leader’s (21CL), in partnership with business and civic leaders, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under 40 members, recognizes 20 outstanding high school students throughout Georgia who have made a significant impact on their schools, communities and beyond.

In honor of the 10th annual Georgia Youth Leadership Awards, all nominated candidates were participants of 21CL’s programs, with 21 students selected this year. This year’s winners include entrepreneurs, non-profit founders, philanthropists, and community advocates who truly represent the diversity of Georgia with students from Atlanta to Gordon County and from Colquitt County to Effingham County – all in high school. The nominated students were carefully chosen by a 21-member selection committee comprised of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under 40 members, 21CL Board of Directors, 21CL alumni, 21CL corporate partners and 21CL student peers. 21st Century Leaders is proud to announce the following 21 outstanding youth leaders for the 2018 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards:

1. Jamil Atkinson – , Class of 2018 2. Justice Bigot – Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology, Class of 2018 3. Jonelle Christopher – Northside High School, Class of 2018 4. Sydnie Cobb – DeKalb Early College Academy, Class of 2018 5. Courtney Copeland – The Galloway School, Class of 2018 6. Sofia Eidizadeh – Atlanta International School, Class of 2019 7. Hally Farnum – Emanuel County Institute, Class of 2018 8. John Graves – Sonoraville High School, Class of 2018 9. Jeremiah Sterling Hall – Georgia Cyber Academy, Class of 2019 10. Jestini Jordan – Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, Class of 2018 11. Srikar Karra – South Forsyth High School, Class of 2019 12. Sanjeev Kumar – Northview High School, Class of 2019 13. Priscilla Yan Lin – Brookwood High School, Class of 2018 14. Rose Moss – Effingham County High School, Class of 2018 15. Antonio Pierce – Carver Early College, Class of 2019 16. Jennifer Rice – Providence Christian Academy, Class of 2018 17. Caroline Solomon – Homeschool, Class of 2019 18. Yannie Tan – Atlanta International School, Class of 2019 19. Mary Grace Watson – Colquitt County High School, Class of 2018 20. Whitney Williams – Roswell High School, Class of 2019 21. Henry Xuan – Lambert High School, Class of 2020

The students will be honored at the Georgia Youth Leadership Awards on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta. Through corporate sponsors, each youth leader will be presented with a $250 mini-grant, with one student awarded the Turner Voices Innovative Leadership Award. The Turner Voices Innovative Leadership Award is the event’s top award, which includes a $1,000 mini-grant from the leading sponsor, Turner.

For more information about the Georgia Youth Leadership Awards or to purchase a ticket to the event, please visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org. All proceeds from the event support 21CL’s ongoing efforts to provide youth leadership and talent development programs for high school students.

The 2018 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards sponsors include Turner, Ampcus, Benevolink, Cox Communications, Emory University Goizueta Business School, Georgia Power, HD Supply, Mercedes- Benz, SCANA Energy, Alston & Bird, Nelson Mullins, Nordson, Kennesaw State University's Coles College of Business, ZeroChaos, CoastalStates Bank, Hire Dynamics, KPMG and TalentQuest.

About 21st Century Leaders Since 1991, 21st Century Leaders has served more than 10,000 diverse high school students from over 250 Georgia high schools. 21st Century Leaders is a collaboration of business and professional leaders inspiring high school students to take on leadership positions, seek out opportunities and give back to their communities by connecting them a diverse group of enthusiastic peers, passionate professionals and powerful ideas, transforming their skills, attitudes, and abilities through training and hands-on experiences.

21st Century Leaders is also currently accepting student applications into their leadership and development program and for their three summer leadership institutes for the 2018 summer. The summer leadership institutes are one-week programs on college campuses hosted by our corporate partners and business professionals. 21CL accepts rising sophomore, juniors and seniors. For more information about 21st Century Leaders, visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org.

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For media inquiries and image requests, please contact: Kate Hewitt Assistant Director, 21st Century Leaders [email protected] | 404.373.7441