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Savannah Arts Academy class of 2025 certified; valedictorian and salutatorian deliver speeches, teacher receives inspirational award
Summary
The Savannah Arts Academy commencement recognized graduates from the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, featured speeches by valedictorian Zoe Chao and salutatorian Megan Wynne, and an Educate Chatham Foundation $1,000 inspirational educator award presented to teacher Jeff Fortson.
The Savannah Arts Academy class of 2025 was formally certified as graduates of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System in a commencement ceremony in which student speakers, district officials and a community foundation recognized student achievement.
The ceremony included presentations of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, remarks by Salutatorian Megan Wynne and Valedictorian Zoe Chao, a $1,000 inspirational educator award from the Educate Chatham Foundation presented to teacher Jeff Fortson, and a formal certification that the students had met the requirements of the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education and the Board of Education of the State of Georgia.
Salutatorian Megan Wynne thanked teachers, family and classmates and reflected on balancing academics and arts, saying, “After years of studying, stressing, anticipating, and a few moments of procrastinating, this long awaited moment is finally here.” She told classmates her experience at Savannah Arts included 13 AP classes and leadership in extracurriculars and said she plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue a degree in biology.
Valedictorian Zoe Chao, a visual arts major and lead coding instructor at Girls Code Savannah, urged graduates to “be true to yourself,” repeating her central advice: “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” Chao said she completed 14 AP classes and will attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to study biomedical engineering.
Ashley Dubois of the Educate Chatham Foundation presented the foundation’s annual inspirational educator award, which includes a $1,000 classroom grant. “It is my privilege to present the most inspirational educator award for Savannah Arts Academy to Jeff Fortson,” Dubois said as she announced the foundation’s selection. Fortson accepted the recognition and addressed the graduates, saying the best part of teaching is the students themselves.
Officials conducted a roll call of graduates and the ceremony concluded with the singing of the Savannah Arts Academy alma mater and a recessional. According to ceremony remarks, the students named in the program have met the requirements set by the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education and the Board of Education of the State of Georgia and were declared graduates during the event.
Details announced during student remarks included students’ college plans and extracurricular achievements mentioned by the speakers; those items were presented as part of the speeches and not as formal board actions. No board motions or formal votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided for this ceremony.
