The Smyrna Community Center sparkled with pride and promise on April 16, 2025, as families, educators, and city leaders came together to celebrate something extraordinary: the potential of young people to shape the future.
Inside the ballroom, 45 students -- from kindergarten through high school seniors -- stood a little taller as they crossed the stage at the annual Mayor’s Education Awards ceremony. Each one was chosen by their school not only for academic excellence, but for the kindness, leadership, and integrity they bring into their classrooms and communities.
Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton welcomed the crowd with heartfelt words: “I am proud to lead the Mayor’s Education Awards, celebrating the dedication and achievements of our outstanding students. Their perseverance, leadership, and commitment to excellence is an inspiration to all of us.”
For senior Hannah Crisp, the evening was more than an award -- it was a full-circle moment. A graduate of Whitefield Academy, Hannah spent her high school years immersed in a blend of rigorous academics and meaningful leadership. She played acoustic guitar on the school’s chapel worship team, served as a senior leader in Cobb Youth Leadership, and is known for her quiet strength and unwavering integrity.
“Receiving this recognition from the Mayor was very inspiring,” she reflected after the ceremony. “It reminded me that being a good leader is noticeable and meaningful. It was encouraging to see students of all ages being celebrated for their character.”
Now preparing to begin her freshman year at Texas A&M University, Hannah credits Whitefield and opportunities like the Mayor’s Award with helping to shape her values and goals. “My teachers went above and beyond to help me succeed -- not just academically, but personally. I’ve learned that leadership and excellence go hand in hand. And experiences like this are reminders that community thrives when individuals step up.”
That theme echoed throughout the evening. When Osvaldo Cortez, a fifth grader from Russell Elementary, was called to the stage, his principal shared a remarkable detail: Osvaldo had been selected last year too -- by a different set of teachers, none of whom realized he’d already been honored. His kindness, work ethic, and quiet leadership made him a natural choice once again.
Then there was Addyson Cordy, an 8th grader at Griffin Middle School, already excelling in high school-level coursework while playing bass clarinet in the band and volunteering through the school’s Unified Club, which supports students with disabilities. Her principal called her “a bright light” -- someone whose intelligence is matched by her compassion.
The stories went on and on -- each one a reminder that the future of Smyrna is in capable, caring hands.
As each student’s name was called, their school leader stepped forward to share a few words. There were smiles, a few happy tears, and plenty of proud family members capturing it all on their phones. But perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the evening was this: when young people are seen, celebrated, and supported, they rise -- and they lead.
Smyrna’s 2025 Mayor’s Education Awards wasn’t just a ceremony. It was a glimpse into a future that looks brighter than ever.
This year’s honorees are from Argyle Elementary: Kingston Bankhead, Maxwell Hawkins and Aiden Montoya-Roman; Belmont Hills Elementary: Christopher Morales, Roger Mauricio Pedro, Yesly Quinteros Quintanilla; Campbell High School: Pedro Y Suarez Davilla Jr, Isaiah Moyet, Brayton Newton; Campbell Middle School: Victoria Johnson, Mathew Kaleekal, Sorella Tull; Green Acres Elementary: Alana Limon, Gary Murphy, Franco Ruiz; Griffin Middle School: Addyson Cordy, Kevin Justice, Yug Patel; International Academy of Smyrna: Adonis Griffin, Janell Ponce, Alejandro Portillo; King Springs Elementary: Zoe Buckley, Morgan McNabb, Elian Schoolmaster; Nickajack Elementary: Emma Brown, Erin Putman, Olivia Valverde; Norton Park Elementary: Ignacio Vazquez Lara, Alexandra Robles Leal, Sofia Sandoval-Morales; Russell Elementary: Juliana Bullock, Osvaldo Cortez, Braxton Sizemore; Smyrna Elementary: Adam Abdelhade, Jonnae Amos, Nelida Montes-Ruiz; St. Benedict’s Episcopal School: Ethan Cuvilly, Kedzie Lantta, Andrew Thompson; Teasley Elementary: Margaret Healey, Emily Vita, Chance Willis, and from Whitefield Academy: Hannah Crisp, Sara Mendoza and Caleb Reichart.