Theme: Connect

Cherokee High School students and teachers will share their views on connecting with others in meaningful ways.

Cherokee High School Auditorium
930 Marietta Hwy
Canton, Georgia, 30114
United States

Ashlynn Kim

High School Student

Ashlynn Kim is a senior at Cherokee High School. She’s won multiple awards at several Speech and Debate tournaments. Her dream school is Georgia Tech and she hopes to study biomedical engineering at the institution. Ashlynn loves journaling and dreams of helping others in the future using her skills as an engineer.

Bethany Thomas

High School Science Teacher

Bethany Thomas is a Special Education Resource Science Teacher at Cherokee High School. Before she started teaching Resource classes, she taught College Prep Chemistry and Physical Science for nineteen years. Now, she teaches Resource Environmental Science and Conceptual Physics. This is her sixteenth year teaching at Cherokee and her twenty-first-year teaching.

Charley Ingham

High School Assistant Principal

Charley Ingham is currently the Assistant Principal in charge of Curriculum at Cherokee High School. He most recently earned a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. He is the 2011 CHS Teacher of Year, was twice awarded the Sequoyah Yearbook dedication, was named Region Track and Field Coach of the Year in three consecutive seasons and was the recipient of the Cherokee County Education Foundation Frank Petruzielo Leadership Scholarship in 2017. He aspires every day to be a good husband and father and an all-around good human being because, when all else fades away, this is the only goal that matters.

Edward Tsui

High School Student

Edward Tsui is currently a senior at Cherokee High School. He is enjoying his senior year playing lacrosse and competing on the Speech and Debate team. Currently, Edward is top ten in his class, and he is extremely involved within community through clubs, leadership, and community service. Edward is a student representative for Goshen Valley, and served on their student council for his freshman year. Edward has received CCSD’s Superintendent’s Key Scholar Award, and the Georgia Certificate of Merit. Edward has numerous other achievements, but Edward is most proud of his Student Delegate position within the Cherokee County School District. Edward aspires to attend a four-year university in hopes of eventually attending medical school. Edward wants to help others, and he likes to motivate kids in less fortunate circumstances. He hopes to advocate for a change in the foster community.

Francessca Sicillia

High School Students

Originally born in New Jersey, Franki moved between her home state and Georgia multiple times before settling in the peach state for good. Throughout her high school career, she became involved in advanced classes and extra circulars, such as Speech and Debate. Her Speech and Debate career has involved two state bids and two district qualifications along with numerous awards. In her junior year of high school, she became a co-coach for the local middle school Speech and Debate team. Franki also joined Give a Kid a Break which provides meals during school breaks to food sensitive students, and her school Students Demand Action chapter. She hopes to double major in History and International Relations when she attends college in the Fall of 2020. While she attends college, she hopes to make an impact with disability advocacy.

Kyle Davis

High School Science Teacher

Kyle Davis is a physics teacher at Cherokee High School. He played football at Mars Hill College, graduated with a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Georgia Southern University and will complete his Educational Specialist Degree in December 2019. Kyle has a wide range of interests that include banjo playing, competing in the Scottish Highland Games, collecting comic books, writing a novel, stone lifting, blues guitar playing, and all things fitness. He hopes to continue my education by pursuing a Doctorate in Education. Presenting a Ted Talk is a bucket list item for Mr. Davis.

Lauren Taylor

High School Student

Lauren Taylor is currently a senior at Cherokee High School. She is the captain of the speech and debate team, a recipient of the Key Scholar Award, the founder of Students Demand Action Cherokee High School, and a national speech and debate tournament competitor. She hopes to attend either Emory or University of Tennessee to get her degree in political science. Lauren is very politically active and dedicates a lot of her time fighting the gun violence epidemic. She is a co-founder of the Students Demand Action in Georgia. After college, she hopes to start her own nonprofit to combat gun violence.

Michael Garcia

High School Student

Michael Garcia is a senior at CHS. He has committed to completing over 100 hours of community service throughout his high school career, has qualified for the Academic Letter and Academic Lamp Pin, has been awarded the Georgia Youth Leadership Award for leveraging diversity, and with the utmost humility has been crowned as Homecoming King. Michael plans on attending the University of Georgia, where he will major in Business Administration with the hopes of one day having his own restaurant franchise. Additionally, he intends on staying politically engaged in college so he can emphasize the importance of speaking up and showing out. Because of Michael’s passion for servant leadership, he was able to become a part of 21st Century Leaders, and after two years of learning new skills and proving commitment, he now proudly serves as the Chair for this statewide organization.

Noah Reyna

High School Student

Noah Reyna is a 12th grader at Cherokee High School. He is a council member of the Gamma club and a captain on the football team. He hopes to attend UGA and study to become either an Orthopedic or Pediatric doctor. He loves helping in the community and strives to make an impact wherever need be.

Rodney Larrotta

Elementary School Principal

As an educator for more than 25 years, Rodney Larrotta is committed to foster a Self-narrative of wellbeing, limitless possibilities, agency and success for his students and teachers. He is convinced we ALL are born Superheroes and it is our duty to unlock our Superpowers to make a positive impact in the world. Mr. Larrotta holds an Education Specialist degree and is the Principal at Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy.

Zachary Caskey

High School Student

Zachary Caskey is a 17 year old senior at Cherokee High School. He is a current football and lacrosse player, as well as a member of the National Beta Club and National Honor Society. He is planning to attend Mississippi State University to major in Aerospace Engineering through the Shackouls Honor College.