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Sol C. Johnson certifies class of 2025; IB students report $5.2 million in scholarship offers
Summary
Sol C. Johnson High School’s commencement certified the class of 2025 as graduates of the Savannah‑Chatham County Public School System, highlighted an $1,000 educator award from the Educate Chatham Foundation and announced $5,217,912 in scholarship offers for the school's International Baccalaureate students.
Sol C. Johnson High School on Tuesday certified its class of 2025 as graduates of the Savannah‑Chatham County Public School System and highlighted scholarship totals and an educator award at its commencement ceremony.
Principal Brown told the audience that the school's International Baccalaureate program had generated $5,217,912 in scholarship offers for students this year, and the Educate Chatham Foundation presented the school's Inspirational Educator Award, a $1,000 grant, to teacher Aisha Beard.
The announcement that the IB program had earned $5,217,912 in scholarship offers came during Principal Brown’s remarks about student accomplishments. He said the valedictorian, Selena Hall, is a recipient of the Gates scholarship, and the salutatorian, Ian Anh Nguyen, is a QuestBridge national match and a recipient of the Zell Miller scholarship. "Life will test you, but hard work and determination will always push you forward," Selena Hall said in her address to classmates.
Idelle Biles, a member of the board of directors of the Educate Chatham Foundation, presented the Inspirational Educator Award. Biles told the audience the foundation provides strategic fundraising support to the district and that the senior class selects the recipient "in secret." The foundation’s grant accompanies the award and is designated for use in the recipient’s classroom the next school year.
During the ceremony, officials also certified that the students had met graduation requirements for the State of Georgia and the Savannah‑Chatham County Board of Education. The presenters instructed graduates to move their tassels from right to left, and the ceremony concluded with the playing of the school alma mater.
Speakers at the ceremony included Superintendent Dr. Watts; Board of Education President Mr. Moss; District 3 representative Cornelia Hall; Principal Brown; assistant principals Andrews and McCullough; valedictorian Selena Hall; salutatorian Ian Anh Nguyen; ceremony presenter Sabrina Magabo; and Idelle Biles of the Educate Chatham Foundation. Principal Brown noted that "134 of you have embraced our school's motto, 'not to equal, but excel,'" while urging graduates to carry that spirit forward.
The ceremony emphasized student achievement and recognition rather than district policy decisions or votes. Specific counts for total graduating students were not specified in the remarks; scholarship totals and award details were provided by speakers during commencement.
