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Senate Resolution 831
By: Senators Davenport of the 44th and James of the 35th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing Booker T. Washington High School, Atlanta, Georgia, on the occasion of its
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Centennial Celebration, 1924-2024; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington High School is a public high school in Atlanta, Georgia,3
which opened in September 1924 under the auspices of the Atlanta Board of Education. It4
was the first public high school for African Americans in the Atlanta Public Schools System5
and the State of Georgia; and6
WHEREAS, this historic institution was named for one of the foremost African American7
educators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; educator, author, and orator Booker T.8
Washington, who was born into slavery and rose to prominence as the first leader of the new9
Tuskegee Institute in 1881. He played a dominant role in Black politics; was co-founder of10
the National Negro Business League; and was so acclaimed as a public leader that the period11
from 1880 to 1915 has been called the "Age of Booker T. Washington"; and12
WHEREAS, the high school is the site of the only exact replica of the original bronze13
"Booker T. Washington Lifting the Veil of Ignorance" monument, which is at Tuskegee14
University in Alabama and was erected at the high school's entrance in 1927. The statue of15
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Booker T. Washington has the inscription, "He lifted the veil of ignorance from his people
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and pointed the way to progress through education and industry"; and17
WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington High School, Atlanta, Georgia, was placed on the18
National Register of Historic Places in 1986; and19
WHEREAS, in addition to its core academic programs of study, Booker T. Washington High20
School hosts the Banking, Finance, and Investment Small School (BFI) for students to learn21
about business and finance; the School of Health Science and Nutrition (BTWHSN), which22
provides an interdisciplinary curriculum with hands-on discovery, experimentation, and23
inquiry-based learning in healthcare and nutrition; and the Early College concept, which24
affords students the opportunity to prepare for post-secondary education by obtaining college25
credits while still attending high school; and26
WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington's extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations27
support a diverse educational experience and include the Academic Enrichment Team,28
Band/Auxiliaries, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Chess Club, Dance Ensemble, Chorus,29
Debate Team, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), French Club, Future Educators30
of America (FEA), Glee Club, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Mu Alpha31
Theta (Mathematics Honor Society), Photography/Videography Club, Spanish Club, Stock32
Market/Finance Club, Student Government Association, Student Support Team, and The33
Washingtonian newspaper and yearbook staffs; and34
WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington High School offers a full complement of athletic35
activities for students to participate in, including football, softball, baseball, track & field,36
cross country, cheerleading, soccer, volleyball, golf, basketball, band, swimming, and tennis;37
and38
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WHEREAS, in its hundred-year history, Booker T. Washington High School has produced
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many notable alumni in the areas of Religion, Arts & Entertainment, Sports, Government &40
Politics, Science & Medicine, and Education; and41
WHEREAS, the Atlanta Public Schools System, City of Atlanta, and the Georgia community42
as a whole have been greatly enriched by the many contributions of students who have43
walked the hallowed halls of Booker T. Washington High School, graduated, and gone on44
to be productive and contributing members of society, community leaders, and captains of45
industry.46
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body47
commend Booker T. Washington High School as well as the faculty, students, staff, alumni,48
the BTW Booster Club, and Friends of BTW for their many years of dedicated service to49
excellence in education and recognize Booker T. Washington High School, Atlanta, Georgia,50
on the grand occasion of its Centennial Celebration, 1924-2024.51
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed52
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Booker T.53
Washington High School, the Atlanta Public Schools System/Board of Education, the BTW54
Booster Club, and the BTW Alumni Association.55
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