In a remarkable display of academic excellence, two siblings from Georgia, Anthony Mays II and his sister Chyna Mays, have both graduated as valedictorians from Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, achieving extraordinary GPAs just two years apart.
Chyna Mays set the standard two years ago when she graduated with a stellar 4.91 GPA, receiving acceptance letters from renowned institutions such as Brown, Stanford, Columbia, Rice, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. Now, following in his sister’s footsteps, Anthony Mays II has graduated as the valedictorian with an outstanding 4.93 GPA, continuing the family legacy of academic success.
Their mother, Demeka Breedlove-Mays, attributes their achievements to meticulous planning, hard work, and unwavering focus on their educational journey. The siblings maintained straight A’s from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and their dedication has now opened the doors to their dream colleges without the burden of tuition.
Adhering to a plan established since their birth, the Mays siblings aimed for excellence, participating in college tours as early as 8th grade and engaging in various programs during summer breaks. Anthony’s academic prowess and dedication earned him acceptance into prestigious institutions such as MIT, Harvard, Brown, Stanford, and many more. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the only male and only Black valedictorian for the Class of 2019 in the entire Rockdale County Public School District.
Planning for a future intertwined with success, Anthony is set to embark on his academic journey at Stanford, majoring in Management Science-Engineering (economics-finance track) and Mathematics, with Mandarin as his language of study. Remarkably, he will be joining his sister Chyna, a junior at Stanford studying Bioengineering, who recently received her second academic excellence award for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher throughout the year.
The Mays family’s commitment to education and their exceptional achievements exemplify the essence of Black excellence, inspiring others to strive for greatness and break barriers in the pursuit of academic success.
This is the story of Anthony Mays II and Chyna Mays—a tale of ambition, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of educational excellence.
In another remarkable triumph over adversity, Nicholas Watson, a high school graduate from Texarkana, Arkansas, has defied expectations by graduating as valedictorian with a record-breaking GPA of 4.8, the highest in the history of his school. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD, Watson’s journey serves as an inspiring tale of resilience and determination.
Watson’s academic prowess and hard work garnered him acceptance into an astounding 45 colleges and universities, accompanied by scholarship offers totaling over $1.5 million. Disproving skeptics who doubted his ability to read and comprehend math, Watson’s tenacity has not only secured his place among the academic elite but also earned him recognition as a trailblazer.
Despite facing challenges associated with autism and ADHD, Watson excelled not only academically but also showcased his athletic talents in sports such as soccer, cross country, track, and basketball. His achievements extend beyond the classroom, demonstrating a well-rounded skill set that sets him apart.
Choosing to attend Harding University on a basketball scholarship, Watson embarks on his college journey with a major in Electrical Engineering. Armed with 64 college credits earned during high school, he aspires to create electronic devices and dreams of contributing to renowned companies like Google and Tesla.
