Philanthropy, Faith, Influence Get Georgia Student Presidents Top Honors

ATLANTA - July 7, 2015 - PRLog -- Atlanta, Georgia - July 7, 2015 -- Philanthropy doesn’t always mean donating your  money. Quite often it means donating your time. In this instance, the donation of time by three of Georgia’s most talented high school seniors inspired, encouraged and mentored more than 450 at-risk youth. These three students -- all former student body presidents -- were recently recognized for their efforts with honors and cash as top winners of the 2015 Colored Rocks Prize.

The Colored Rocks Prize is awarded annually to recognize the accomplishments of 15 of Georgia’s high-achieving male students of color. Among the Prize eligibility requirements is a commitment from awardees to use to their talent to help develop at-risk male students of color, in efforts to improve Georgia’s dismal high school graduation rate among this group.

The top three Colored Rocks Prize recipients include Tyrone Holmes - a 2015 graduate and the former Student Council President of Savannah’s Alfred Ely Beach High School. Holmes is a gospel hip hop artist and songwriter, recording under the stage name ‘Rone Holmes’. In addition to having served as Chaplain for his school’s athletic department, Holmes used his strong faith to mentor at-risk youth through Try God Outreach Ministries. Holmes is a Gates Millennium Scholar, promising him a full-ride scholarship which he intends to use at Morehouse. His goal is to earn a Phd in Theology and continue to mentor youth after his studies are complete.

Therrell High School’s former Student Government Association President, Donovan Harris, prepared 200 middle school students for a successful transition to High School, by organizing and hosting the first annual Therrell High School Shadow Day. The program introduced 8th graders to 9th grade and managed expectations for their approaching high school experience. Harris, a product of the 100 Black Men’s Project Success, graduated in the top 5% of his class and ran Therrell High School’s student news operation. He is headed to the College of Wooster where he will pursue a career in Broadcast Journalism. He hopes to become a news anchor.

Archie Wilson, the former Student Council President of Kennesaw’s Dominion Christian High School, founded Dreamchasers (www.ChaseThatDream.org), a nonprofit that inspires and encourages the academic achievements of middle school students. Wilson worked closely with the Kennesaw Teen Center and personally mentored more than 250 at-risk young males. Wilson is also a Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient and will use his full-ride to attend Wesleyan University. He intends to become an attorney and serve the Atlanta community once his law studies are complete.

Cheryl Dukes, the Founder and Executive Director of the Colored Rocks Foundation, recalls competition for this year’s top prize was extremely close. “This was a tight competition”, lamented Dukes. “Just fractions of a point separated the top three honorees. I wish we could give the first place award to all three of them. They all represent the award admirably. What impressive examples of Georgia’s ethnically diverse young men, and excellent representatives of Georgia high schools. With all their accolades, all three honorees are filled with humility. You won’t find three nicer guys.”

Videotaped interviews of all Colored Rocks Prize honorees can be viewed at coloredrocks dot info.

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Contact:Colored Rocks Foundation, Inc.

Cheryl Dukes, Executive Director

404-57-ROCKS (7-6257)

Fax: 678-935-4490

Email: info@coloredrocks.org

www.coloredrocks.org

facebook.com/coloredrocks