15 Georgia Students Announced as Recipients of 2016 Colored Rocks Prize

ATLANTA - Feb. 26, 2016 - PRLog -- - The Colored Rocks Foundation will honor 15 seniors from high schools throughout Georgia on March 13, 2016 at the top of the “W” Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. The introduction of the 15 winners of the 2016 Colored Rocks Prize will take place in the Altitude Room at 11:00 am.

Michael V. Roberts, Sr., who amassed an estimated billion dollar empire (alongside his brother Steven) prior to the 2008 real estate crash, and now serves as Chairman and CEO of the Roberts Companies, will speak to the group along with his son (Roberts, Jr.) who also plays an instrumental role in the family dynasty.

The 2016 honorees for the Colored Rocks Prize (awarded annually to high achieving ethnic male seniors from high schools throughout Georgia), are more diverse and accomplished than ever. The group includes the co-founder of a nonprofit organization, an aspiring hip-hop artist, a basketball team captain, two senior class presidents, a Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year, a successful entrepreneur and a youth minister.

The honorees come from as far away as Evans and Barnesville, Georgia and also represent Alpharetta, Buford, Decatur, Douglasville, Fort Gaines, LaGrange, Lawrenceville, Lithonia, Macon, Mableton, Marietta, McDonough and Stockbridge. While the greater Atlanta area is well represented, for the first time in the history of the award, there are no recipients from Atlanta Public Schools.

“It’s unfortunate that we had no qualified applicants from Atlanta’s public schools, because we have one of the best business minds and role models in the country coming to speak to the honorees,” stated Cheryl Dukes, executive director of the foundation. “Lord knows the kids from Atlanta could benefit from some of the wisdom and inspiration of the Roberts’ empire. But in the end, those who landed on top are all definitely deserving regardless of their school affiliation.”

“It is fitting that the awards presentation takes place at the top of the W Hotel, the penthouse level so to speak,” continued Dukes. “This (the penthouse) is where these kids all aspire to be and if they continue on the path they are on, they all have the potential to get there one day.”

One premise of the award is that the recipients must do something to help develop their struggling peers. The honorees have embraced this challenge by doing everything from designing STEM competitions that inspire middle school students, to encouraging younger athletes to be good sports and develop winning life attitudes, to helping children learn the importance of financial literacy.

“The beauty of awarding the Colored Rocks Prize is that we can find young guys in small towns like Barnesville and Fort Gaines who are really making an impact and who are definitely worthy, but who would otherwise not get the recognition,” said Dukes. “This is a chance for them to know that we see them, and that what they are doing is commendable. Hopefully they will be inspired to keep making a difference where it is so desperately needed.”

This is the fifth year the foundation has awarded the Colored Rocks Prize to outstanding ethnic male students. The foundation was established with the goal of shining a brilliant light on distinguished male students of color and using them as models and mentors to develop their struggling peers. The Colored Rocks Prize is a model that can be duplicated in efforts to improve the state’s high school graduation rate among this demographic and to spread positive publicity about this group.

The awards presentation is open to the public with limited seating. RSVP at 404-577-6257. Following the presentation, Roberts, Sr. will sign his bestseller book, Action Has No Season: Strategies and Secrets to Gaining Wealth and Authority.

Complete List of 2016 Colored Rocks Prize Honorees

Matthew Andrews, Community Christian School, Stockbridge

Brian Ball, Gwinnett School of Math, Science &Technology, Lawrenceville

Jalen Bobbitt, Arabia Mountain High School, Lithonia

Todd “TJ” Bryant, Dominion Christian High School, Marietta

Gabriel Burgos, Rutland High School, Macon

Paul Butler, Johns Creek High School, Alpharetta

Taishon Cleveland, Pebblebrook High School, Mableton

Elliott Farmer, Chapel Hill High School, Douglasville

Jaquan Fluker, Early County High School, Fort Gaines

Jo’el Grant, Evans High School, Evans

Brandon Hardy, Columbia High School, Decatur

Andrew Ingram, Troupe High School, LaGrange

Brandon Iverson, Buford High School, Atlanta

Dwight Manley, Lamar County Comprehensive High School, Barnesville

Dwayne Watkins, Woodward Academy, McDonough          ###

The Colored Rocks Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. This is the foundation’s fifth year awarding the Colored Rocks Prize to distinguished senior male students of color at Georgia high schools. Honorees design and execute projects which help develop younger male students of color. The Colored Rocks Foundation’s model is designed to help increase high school graduation rates among this demographic and promote the positive accomplishments and contributions from this demographic. Additional information can be found at www.coloredrocks.org and www.coloredrocks.us.