Theme: The Game Behind the Game

A diverse groups of students from Pace Academy will congregate to share their hidden and heartfelt truths

Pace Academy
966 West Paces Ferry Rd
Fine Arts Center
Atlanta, Georgia, 30327
United States

Amina Zubairi

Student

Amina Zubairi started at Pace Academy in pre-first. At Pace, she is on the flag football, debate, and lacrosse teams. She leads the community engagement club at Pace for Covenant House Georgia, which is an organization working to support homeless youth, and she has earned the Daughters of the American Revolution Youth Citizenship Award. Amina is also an accomplished martial artist and recently earned her first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She would like to pursue a career in medicine and hopes to major in pre-med in college. Amina would like to thank everyone who has helped her throughout the process of writing this speech, as well as those who have encouraged her to embrace new opportunities. She would like to dedicate this talk to her family, and especially her parents, who have been her biggest supporters since day one.

Camille Caton

Student

Camille joined the Pace community in sixth grade and participates in Women's golf and played volleyball her Freshman and Sophomore year and was a captain for both of those two years. At Pace, Camille serves on the Honor and Discipline Committee and is a Student Ambassador. Camille has received the Michael Murphy Courage to Strive for Excellence Award. Outside of school, she loves to practice yoga as she continues this practice by working at Yonder Yoga. She has a passion for English and Journalism and hopes to continue this love by majoring in Journalism in college. Camille would like to thank Mr. Kaufman for this unbelievable opportunity and she would also like to thank her family for always believing and pushing her closer to her dreams.

David Fu

Student

David Fu joined Pace in the 9th grade. At Pace, he is the 2024 class president, a staff writer for the Knightly News, a varsity tennis player and a student ambassador. He is also a member of the Pace math team, Junior Classical League, and the Model UN program. David has received the Orkin scholar award and qualified for the AIME. David has also been playing cello for almost five years and was an art laureate in his freshman year for his passion and talent in music. Outside of school, he is a member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Franklin Pond Chamber Music program. David would like to thank Mr. Kaufman, Claire, and Davis for all their help. He would especially like to thank his family and friends for shaping his life to where he is now.

Drew Schiffer

Student

Drew is a junior Sport Management student in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Drew focuses on sport and social justice, applying his passion towards organizations like Meals On Wheels Atlanta, and the Ross Initiative in Sport for Equality (RISE). When he's not working, Drew is an active volunteer with Meals On Wheels Atlanta, Student Manager for the Syracuse University Men's Basketball Team, and determined triathlete. In 2021, he competed in his first triathlon, the Callaway Resort; Gardens Olympic Triathlon, finishing first in his age group and twenty-fourth overall. Drew dedicates his TEDx speech to his grandmother, Jacqueline Mayer.

John Hardesty

Student

John joined Pace in pre-first and has been involved in the cross country, swimming, basketball, and soccer programs. He serves as the Middle School Student Council President and a student ambassador. In addition, he is an Orkin scholar and recipient of the "To have the courage to strive for excellence" award. Outside of the classroom he enjoys playing golf and hanging out with his friends. He would like to thank his family, teachers, and coaches for always pushing him to work his hardest on the field and in the classroom. He would also like to thank Mr. Kaufman, Davis, and Claire for giving him the chance to speak and for helping him through the process.

Leah Negero

Student

After joining the Pace community as a freshman, Leah invests her time outside of school in reading fiction and horror, sprinting for the Pace track team, debating, and acting in theatrical productions such as the winter showcase and one act. She aspires to become a novelist in the near future and thanks her parents greatly for guiding her in a direction where she feels confident in her writing.