Atlanta Public Schools (APS) celebrated its outstanding teachers, leaders, and partners at the 2025 APyeS! Awards on Saturday, November 1, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

Achieve Atlanta was awarded the 2025 District Partner of the Year award based on the organization’s impact across the district. Over the last decade, Achieve Atlanta has supported APS in increasing college access and success for APS graduates, leading them on a path to upward mobility. Achieve Atlanta has also provided APS graduates with more than $65 million in scholarship funding for their higher education. Achieve Atlanta’s mission is to help students access, afford, and earn a postsecondary credential.

This special occasion also featured student performances from the South Atlanta High School Jazz Band, Booker T. Washington High School’s Bad to the Bone Dance Ensemble, the North Atlanta High School Virtuosi, and was hosted by FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Aungelique Proctor.

APS Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson was joined on stage by the members of the Atlanta Board of Education to present the awards to the evening’s honorees.

This summer, many Achieve Atlanta Scholars participated in internships through Partnership for Innovation (PIN), a program that connects college students with mission-driven organizations working in innovation and social impact. For most Scholars, this was their first internship experience, offering a valuable opportunity to explore professional settings, build new skills, and gain confidence.

From contributing to national AI strategies to supporting sustainability initiatives, each Scholar brought fresh perspectives and made meaningful contributions across a range of industries.

Betcy

During her internship at Tech AI, Georgia Tech Scholar Betcy Eliseo supported the Panama government in developing its national AI strategy, applying her public policy expertise in a tech-driven environment. She collaborated closely with software engineers to bridge the gap between technology and policy, gaining valuable insights into tech applications and learning how to market her interdisciplinary skill set effectively.

How did this internship challenge your assumptions or expand your understanding of the field you’re pursuing?

“One of the best examples of that occurring is the fact that I got an internship offer from Tech AI as a public policy student. Coming to Georgia Tech and taking all these tech-related classes, it was definitely a fuss I put up. 

But now, having worked at somewhere like Tech AI, I realize how useful those types of skills are. So it was really eye-opening to be able to join a team and be relied upon in that way. And there was actually an engineer there who got his bachelor’s in political science. That was really nice to learn that he’s just leveraging his skills.”

How did Achieve Atlanta and PIN support you throughout your internship journey? 

“Having that whole [PIN] cohort doing an internship alongside me was very beneficial. Just knowing that there were people around the corner in Tech Square who were also completing an internship was a good source of support to be able to say, ‘Oh, we’re all doing this together.’

And even more so with Achieve Atlanta Scholars, interning for the same company was really nice. We all went to an Atlanta public school, and now we’re all in Georgia for college. Being able to talk to them on more than just a corporate level, but also a personal level, helped us get along as co-interns.”

Abdoulaye

Abdoulaye Barry currently attends Georgia State University and worked with research students to design Seth Bonder Level 4 for a summer camp at Georgia Tech that introduces generative AI to high schoolers. He designed a hands-on notebook that breaks down a key generative AI function, offering students practical insights and exercises to reinforce their learning.

How did your work contribute to innovation or social impact within your organization or community?

“The great part about my project was that it consisted of us working with other research students to design Seth Bonder level 4 for a summer camp that’s supposed to help introduce generative AI to high schoolers. The most meaningful moment or accomplishment was being able to create a notebook for a function that’s used in generative AI. So that notebook will be used in the actual camp, and it just went over the function, what it does, how to use it, and when to use it. At the end, it provided some questions to test their knowledge.”

In what ways did this opportunity reflect Achieve Atlanta’s mission of empowering Scholars to drive meaningful change? How did this experience connect you to a broader network of changemakers or professionals?

“I’d say beforehand, I was kind of lost because computer science is such a broad field. You can go anywhere. So when I get through this internship, I got the opportunity to kind of have more of a clear path. Now I know I want to go into the AI field, and I can prepare myself to be more aligned with that field. It made my path to success more clear.

I got the great experience of being surrounded by a bunch of software engineers the entire time I was there. So, I would just sit and ask them questions about stuff that I didn’t know. And before I left, I got their emails. Those are connections that I would never have made if I wasn’t at the internship and if I wasn’t there in person. So it’s invaluable.”

Dylan

Dylan Holley is an Achieve Atlanta Scholar at Georgia Tech who contributed to developing a Socially Responsible Service Catalogue focused on social impact and financial sustainability. This project allowed him to explore how business principles can be applied to drive meaningful change, reinforcing his commitment to making a positive impact through his career.

Can you describe your main responsibilities and the culture at the organization you worked with through PIN?

“We had a service catalog project that I worked on with two other interns. The first couple of weeks we didn’t start on the project, but went over the organization intensively top to bottom to know how to effectively advertise it. I didn’t know what to expect because this is my first corporate office setting, but the other two interns were really open to working together.”

How has this internship influenced your perspective on innovation, leadership, or social change?

“[This internship] definitely changed my mind about my pathway. Coming in, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to make a positive impact. I didn’t know how I could be a business major and have a positive impact. Working with PIN, I now know that even not being a STEM major, I can still have an impact on my community. It’s good to know that because now I can go forth confidently.”

These experiences didn’t just deepen each Scholar’s understanding of their chosen fields—they ignited new possibilities. Through collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on projects, Betcy, Abdoulaye, and Dylan demonstrated how curiosity and purpose can power transformative growth. Their journeys embody Achieve Atlanta’s mission to empower students and fuel their potential. They are part of a dynamic network of changemakers—including Jaala Hudson, Miracle Sampsel, Amari Croom, and Kira Clark, —who are also powering possibilities through their meaningful contributions to PIN.

Achieve Atlanta—the largest need-based scholarship provider in Georgia—is expanding its reach beyond Atlanta Public Schools (APS) for the first time. Starting this fall, students at Creekside and Tri-Cities High Schools in the Fulton County Schools (FCS) district will gain access to Achieve Atlanta’s powerful college-going support services. And in February 2026, they’ll be eligible to apply for the Achieve Atlanta Scholarship, which offers up to $20,000 for college tuition and fees.

Why This Matters 

College can be life-changing—but for many students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, it’s also financially out of reach. That’s where Achieve Atlanta comes in. Since its founding in 2015, Achieve Atlanta has helped more than 7,000 students pursue higher education, awarding over $70 million in scholarships. Nearly 2,000 Achieve Atlanta Scholars have already earned a postsecondary credential, and students have enrolled in more than 400 colleges and universities across the country. 

But Achieve Atlanta is more than a scholarship. It’s a full support system. Scholars receive guidance on everything from financial aid to academic persistence and career readiness. The goal? Not just to get students into college—but to help them succeed and graduate. 

“Achieve Atlanta, with the full support and enthusiasm of our Board of Directors, is thrilled to expand our scholarship and support services to Fulton County Schools,” said Dr. Cheryl Watson-Harris, President/Executive Director of Achieve Atlanta. “Building on our success with Atlanta Public Schools, this expansion allows us to welcome even more students into our journey to and through college. We are proud to partner with a district that shares our deep commitment to a college-going culture. Together, we’re opening doors, breaking down barriers, and empowering scholars to pursue their dreams and thrive in college, careers, and life.” 

Why Fulton County Schools? 

Over the past year, Achieve Atlanta carefully evaluated districts across Metro Atlanta to find the right fit for expansion. Fulton County Schools stood out for its strong commitment to building a college-going culture. Here are just a few of the district’s initiatives: 

• ✅ Adding 33 high school counselors for the 2025–26 school year 
• 🎓 Running a summer PACE program to prevent “summer melt” (when students plan to attend college but don’t enroll) 
• 📚 Implementing a “Moving Forward with College & Career” advising framework for grades 6–12 
• 📝 Offering fully funded SAT/ACT School Days for juniors 
• 💻 Providing summer courses focused on college success and SAT prep 
• 📊 Tracking college applications and FAFSA completion across the district 

This kind of infrastructure makes Fulton County Schools a strong partner choice for Achieve Atlanta.

“Through our partnership with Achieve Atlanta, students will gain expanded access to tailored supports that help them stay on track, graduate, and pursue postsecondary opportunities with confidence,” said Dr. Mike Looney, Superintendent of Fulton County Schools. 

Who’s Eligible? 

Eligibility requirements will be shared later this fall. The scholarship application will open in February 2026, and eligible students will receive funding once they enroll in a qualifying college or university. 

What’s Next? 

Achieve Atlanta’s longstanding partnership with Atlanta Public Schools remains unchanged. APS students and graduates will continue to receive scholarship funding and support services as part of the organization’s core commitment. 

With this expansion, Achieve Atlanta continues to build on its vision—that Atlanta be a city where race and income no longer predict postsecondary success and upward mobility.