CUMC Higher Ed Presents Graduate Sunday 2021
Join Us for Graduate Sunday, June 13 @ 10AM
To God be the glory for the accomplishments and achievements of Central's high school and college graduates!
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
A word from Pastor Ross
"... but your class--your beautiful and proud class of 2021--prove the sacred audacity of Psalm 30:5b (NIV): “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
[Read full letter]
A Word From Pastor Angie
"There will be many firsts and through them all, God is with you. There will be times when things are hard, God is with you. There will be times of joy, God is with you. You are NEVER alone."
[Read full letter]
A Word From Higher ED
"In its original context, "pomp & circumstance" was intended as a “coronation of a king.” Let us look at this moment as your coronation of who you are meant to be."
[Read full letter]
The development of scholarship is to the extreme of doing it, and that is its end and goal. [One] who carries it out, knows it thoroughly.
Xunzi
CLASS OF 2021
Jalen Allen
Douglas County High School
Jalen graduated from Douglas County High School in which he was part of the (IB) International Baccalaureate program from grades 9th – 11th. During his senior year, he elected to participate in the dual enrollment program at Georgia Highlands College finishing with a 4.0 GPA.
Jalen will be attending the Honors College at Georgia State University, majoring in Urban Studies.
Maesa Amani Anderson
Charles R. Drew Charter School
Maesa graduated from Charles R. Drew Charter School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, Debate Team, Student Government Association., Varsity Cheerleaders and Drama Club. While at Drew, she and her debate team won the state championship.
Maesa will be attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering University (Florida A&M), majoring in Theatre and Journalism.
Johari Johnson
D.M. Therrell High School
Johari graduated from D. M. Therrell High School, where he maintained A/B Honor Roll all four years and ranked in the top 10% of his graduating class. He was a member of the National Beta Club and a student in the International Baccalaureate program.
Johari is enrolled at Georgia Southern University and, after his gap year to focus on building this brand Selfysh Clothing, he will resume his educational endeavors in the fall of 2022, majoring in Fashion and Merchandising.
Kai Earlyne Kellam
Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (SACA)
Kai graduated from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (SACA) where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Cheerleading Team, Volleyball Team, Track Team, Basketball Team, Dance Team, Dram Club and Choir. She won awards in regional literary competitions for duo dialogue, best actress and first place in argumentative essay, as well as SACA’s 2021 female athlete of the year.
After receiving more than $720,000 in scholarship offers, Kai will take her talents to Fisk University as a part of the 5Strong Scholarship program which offers full tuition. She will major in Criminal Justice/Pre-Law.
CARRINGTON LETTICE FEARS
Heritage High School, Rockdale Career Academy's Healthcare Pathway and Point University
Carrington graduated in the top five percent of her class with a 4.2 GPA and summa cum laude honor, while obtaining dual enrollment credits at Point University. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Theatre, Dance Team and Spirit Squad.
Carrington will attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Florida A& M), where she was accepted into the Honors Program and will major in Nursing.
Reed Howard, CUMC INTERN-In-Training
Emory University's Candler School of Theology
Reed graduated from Emory University's Candler School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. He received an award of Academic Excellence for his MDiv Thesis; served as a member of the American Enterprise Institute's Millennial Leadership Cohort; and was an Emory Center for Innovation Grant Recipient.
Reed's new placement is in service as the resident minister at Georgetown University and director of communications at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service.
Crystal D. Sermon
College of Wooster, Wooster OH
Crystal graduated from the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She was a member of the COW (College of Wooster) Dance Company, the Black Student Union (BSA), Women of Images, an Images Resident Assistant and a Posse Scholarship Graduate, Posse Class #9.
Crystal is currently employed at the Ohio State Medical Center and plans to attend medical school at Ohio State University to become a forensic pathologist.
OMARI WEEMS
Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech)
Omari graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), where he majored in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Health and Medical Science. He was a Dean’s List recipient and member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity.
Omari is currently employed at Axion Biosystems in Atlanta, Georgia, as a scientist. This company and position enable him to continue his passion of science and research.
Kathryn Alexis Jordan
Georgetown University
Alexis graduated from Georgetown University where she was a Dean’s List and Second Honors recipient. She also served as co-president of the Global Case Competition Team and as a consultant for Innovo Consulting, which is a student-run consulting group at Georgetown University that provides pro-bono advisory services to social impact startups and nonprofits.
Alexis will embark upon a new career as a business management associate at General Mills, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Carol Tucker Burden
Emory University's Candler School of Theology
Carol graduated from Emory University's Candler School of Theology with a Master of Religious Leadership degree specializing in Wesleyan Leadership and Heritage. She was awarded the E. Craig Brandenburg Scholarship from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) and a recipient of travel funds from Candler's Office of Sponsored Programs for Summer Studies at Yale Divinity School.
Carol is interested in studying law and religion and will attend Emory Law School's Juris Master's Program in the fall of 2021.
Ariel Powell
Duke University's Fuqua School of Business
Ariel graduated from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business with a Masters of Business Administration. She was a recipient of the Dean's Recognition Award for Outstanding DQ and the Forté Merit Scholarship; served as the Duke Black Graduate & Professional Student Association President, Fuqua Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Fellow, Admissions Fellow, and Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics Fellow.
Following business school, Ariel will return to strategy consulting at Deloitte.
Michael McPherson
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Michael will be graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in December 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University or Texas Southern University.
Tavis Donta Tinsley, CUMC INTERN-IN-TRAINING
Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC)
Tavis graduated from Gammon Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He was a member of the Theta Phi Honor Society, the Student Christian League and the Gammon Theological Seminary Fellowship President.
Tavis will enter the Institute of Bossey in Switzerland to engage post-graduate work in Ecumenical Studies.
MEYER HORNE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Meyer graduated from Columbia University School of Law, where she participated in the Mediation Clinic and served in the Black Law Student Association.
Meyer will begin her career as an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in the New York office.
Justice Michelle Dorce’
GRAYSON HIGH SCHOOL
Justice graduated from Grayson High School in Loganville, GA.
Kamara West
AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE
Kamara graduated from Agnes Scott College.