January 24, 2020
Prince Seniors Receive Early Hand-Delivered Acceptance from Georgia Tech
Pictured Left to Right: Katie Faussemagne – Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions for Georgia Tech, Tanner Iley, Sammy Hodges, Hunter Melton, and Lisa Ricketts – PACS Director of Academic Counseling
Prince Avenue Christian School seniors Sammy Hodges, Tanner Iley, and Hunter Melton recently received a surprise that they will remember for a lifetime. During their lunch in the Wolverine Den with all of their classmates present, the three students were paid a special visit by the Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Katie Faussemagne had some exciting news.
The three boys were receiving hand-delivered early acceptance offers from Georgia Tech on the day before acceptances were to be posted for all other applicants. There were more than 22,000 applicants to Georgia Tech this year with a total of 4,569 students admitted this round. Only a handful of admissions were hand-delivered a day early.
Prince Avenue High School Guidance Counselor Lisa Ricketts explains that this was a unique moment. “We usually have one student every year or two accepted to Georgia Tech, but for a school our size to have three acceptances in one class was very special.”
When Mrs. Ricketts received the request from the Georgia Tech Admissions Department to keep this secret and help surprise the boys and their parents, she knew she had to act quickly and creatively. “I had to make up an academic award in order to keep it a surprise and get the parents to come to school for the presentation.” Mrs. Ricketts admits the details were difficult to coordinate, but explains it was worth it in the end. “The best part was the classmates of the boys congratulating their friends. It was a very special moment.”
Head of School Col Seth Hathaway agrees that this was an event to remember. “As each young man stood to retrieve his acceptance letter from the admissions representative, the members of the senior class smiled, cheered, clapped, and patted each of their classmates on the back as if to affirm Georgia Tech’s decision. It was a great memory to witness, one educators do not forget.”
The boys will not soon forget the experience either. Sammy Hodges explains that receiving the news with his two friends was an honor. “Just that day, the three of us had been discussing how nervous we were for the Tech decisions to come out on Saturday.” Sammy explains that in that moment, all of the hard work in high school was worth the effort. “It finally makes all of the AP classes worth the struggle. ” He adds, “The overall experience was so joyful and surprising, and it was really cool to share the moment with two of my good friends.”
Sammy Hodges with his parents Tanner Iley with his parents
Kenneth & Therese Hodges Brett & Jacquelyn Iley
Hunter Melton with his parents
Jayson & Nancy Melton