Please join us in congratulating the GAC Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Ridgeway Price Ridenour, and Salutatorian, Akhil Sarikonda.

Ridgeway Price Ridenour, of Dunwoody has consistently challenged himself with his academic rigor. He had taken five AP classes through the end of his junior year and had already earned scores that qualified him as an AP Scholar with Distinction; Ridge just completed five more APs during his senior year. While this schedule is already impressive, it is even more remarkable considering Ridge’s involvement at GAC. After a rigorous interview and selection process, Ridge was selected as the Unity Prefect, a prestigious student leadership position appointed by teachers and administration. The Unity Prefect’s job is to create an atmosphere of unity and cohesiveness among the student body. Ridge has proven himself the perfect Prefect for this position as he innately includes everyone.

Ridge has also proven himself to be an outstanding athlete on the Track & Field and Cross Country teams, having participated in the Cross Country team that scored second place in the state tournament. Outside of GAC, Ridge participated in community service activities with the Pebble Tossers organization, volunteering with a select group of 25 teens to foster community improvement. In addition, Ridge developed empathy and compassion as a YMCA High Harbour Camp Camp Counselor. Ridge also served as a math tutor, a camp counselor, a dishwasher, a student ministry leader, a Waffle House ambassador, and a help meet to anyone and everyone in need.

As he continues his academic career, Ridge will attend Georgia Tech in the fall, where he has received $121,408 in scholarship money.

“I had the privilege of backpacking in the mountains of Colorado with Ridge and our six other Prefects for a week. During that time, I had an opportunity to witness Ridge’s depth of character, resiliency, compassion, intellect, curiosity, creativity, and wildly fun sense of humor. Ridge excels academically, but his genuine care for others sets him apart.” – Dr. Scott Harsh, President

Akhil Sarikonda, of Norcross exemplifies the title of “polymath,” or, in common parlance, the Renaissance man. He was named a semi-finalist in science for the Governor’s Honors Program and was selected to the top 20 students under 21 years old by the Southwest Gwinnett Magazine in the fall of 2023. He has taken six AP courses and scored 5’s on all the exams, earning him AP Scholar with Distinction. He is currently enrolled in five more AP courses, along with Latin 4 and Symphonic Band. Akhil was also named a National Merit Finalist for his outstanding SAT score.

In addition to his stellar academic career, Akhil is involved in much more. He is a member of a national fencing team where he has honed his competitive edge and learned to overcome errors and mistakes. Akhil also won a Global Business Competition, where he learned the intricacies of market research, client meetings, data analysis, website design, and public speaking. Akhil has also served as the captain of the Varsity Academic Team, helping his squad earn a 2nd place title in the state of Georgia, and has received multiple invitations to the National Academic Team Tournament.

Akhil says the value of education is a gift first given to him by his grandfather, who came from extreme poverty in India. Akhil’s father came to America to pursue an education and make a better life for his family. Akhil desires an elite education and diverse life experiences like those before him. His character is built on a strong foundation that his grandparents and parents fostered. Working hard to balance both inherited and adopted cultures, Akhil has gained an appreciation for the inherent value of each.

As Akhil moves forward to the next goal, he will attend the University of Michigan in at the Ross School of Business.

“When I reflect on Akhil’s attributes, the words that come to mind are confident, energetic, and meticulous. Akhil was known for his incredible energy in my class. His enthusiasm and exuberance for life were and still are contagious. Akhil is a student dedicated to excellence in all his endeavors.” – Mr. Terry Beasley, GAC Math Teacher

Of note is that Ridge and Akhil are best friends. Rather than letting the competitive nature of these awards strain their friendship, they completely support each other in their academic pursuits.

The 131 outstanding Class of 2024 graduates will matriculate to colleges and universities from coast to coast. Commencement will occur on Saturday, May 18, at 10:00 a.m. at the Long Forum on the GAC Campus, 1575 Indian Trail Road, Norcross, GA. Graduation is reserved for the graduates' families and will be live-streamed.