Athens Academy

It’s been a busy two days for the Galápagos travelers! Yesterday they worked on understanding seed dispersal through analysis of tortoise dung, then today they went on a big hike along with an African snail removal (invasive) group in the afternoon. They also made it rain mandarin oranges! 🍊

The Galápagos Islands travelers have arrived at Santa Cruz Island! They’re camping in the highlands at El Cafetillo as they study terrestrial ecosystems for the next several days.

Learn more about Miller Cooper '26 and his summer internship with UGA's Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems! Way to go, Spartan!

https://iris.uga.edu/2024/07/17/iris-hosts-a-young-scholar-program-student-for-the-summer/

Fourteen Upper School students and their faculty chaperones, Nikki Chester and Bob Sears, left today for the Galápagos Islands! They have a long day of travel ahead of them--through Miami and Ecuador--but they are excited for this exciting adventure. What a fantastic opportunity!

Safe travels, Spartans!

We've been all over the place these past few weeks, welcoming new Spartans to our community! We're so excited for you to join us on campus in a little over a month!

Team Graham Blanks T-Shirts now available for purchase! Deadline for orders is next Friday, July 19, at 9:00 AM EST, so order TODAY!

Shirts are $20 each and can be picked up at Athens Academy starting Monday, July 29. Shirts can be shipped for an additional $10 per address. Click the link below for more information and to place an order.

LET'S GO, GRAHAM!

https://athensacademy-gyoat.formstack.com/forms/gograhamolympictshirt

The "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?" campers are learning so much! They kicked off the week with a tour of the new B&T Food Fresh Market (formerly Bell's in Watkinsville). Did you know they have a real car and airplane in the grocery store?!

Then they visited ESP and toured the Watkinsville Police Department, where they met the Police Chief Courtney Gale and got to sit inside her police cruiser! They're looking forward to meeting more of the helpers all around our great community!

Thank you to the Watkinsville Police Department for hosting our campers on Monday! We loved learning more about all the helpers in our community!

“What you've got to do is just show up to the line and race like it's any other race," Blanks said. "I did that at the trials and it worked out, so that's what I'm going to do at the Olympics.”

So excited for Graham and Team USA! 🇺🇸

What it means to be an Olympian. Athens Academy alum Graham Blanks makes Team USA Athens Academy alumnus and current Harvard junior Graham Blanks is Paris bound with Team USA. Here's what the former Spartan said about the accomplishment.

GRAHAM IS OFFICIALLY HEADED TO PARIS! 🇺🇸🎉

USA Track and Field has announced that Graham Blanks, Athens Academy Class of 2020, will join Team USA at the 2024 Olympics in Paris! Graham will compete in the men’s 5000M race. Determining the final team was a long and complicated process over the past week:

“On the men’s 5,000 meters, the word was slower in coming. Parker Wolfe was third at the Trials, but he lacked the automatic qualifying standard, and his ranking remained outside of the top 42 on July 7.

“That makes Graham Blanks, a rising senior at Harvard—who finished fourth in the race—the third member of Team USA. Winner Grant Fisher and second-place finisher Abdihamid Nur both had the time standard, as did Blanks.”

To read more: https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a61523209/american-distance-olympians-paris/

WAY TO GO, GRAHAM! And congratulations to all the talented athletes competing as part of Team USA! 🇺🇸

Athens Academy Athens Academy is an independent, college preparatory school serving students from K3-12th grade in

The Robert F. Marion Service Award is presented to two seniors in recognition of their outstanding service to the school and community, as their actions reflect the selfless devotion to the ideals and philosophy of Athens Academy as manifest in the spirit of longtime trustee Robert Marion.

This year's recipients are Carter Mundy and Wendy Oxford. Carter will be attending Southern Methodist University this fall, and Wendy will be attending the University of North Georgia. Way to go, Spartans!

Graham Blanks after 4th in the 5k and possibly going to Paris.

Athens Academy's Scholar-Athlete Award is presented each year to a senior boy and a senior girl who have achieved outstanding records in both athletics and academics.

Will DeLoach will be attending Washington and Lee University in Virginia, and Margalit Mauricio will be attending Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Both alumni will be competing with their schools' track and field and cross country teams. Way to go, Spartans!

What an amazing day! We are so excited for and proud of Graham! He ran a masterful race and finished fourth against incredible competition, and there is still a chance he could make the Olympic team.

There are so many questions about what’s next (will he be the 3rd qualifier?) and we will learn more over the next week. The final list will be published on July 7.

The 3rd place finisher in last night’s race doesn’t have the Olympic Qualifying Time but his World Ranking could improve to a position that allows him to advance to the Olympics. There’s a lot of scenarios that must play out before it’s determined.

Keep your fingers 🤞 that Graham ends up earning the 3rd position!

Graham advanced to the finals! Watch him run for a spot on the Olympic track team this Sunday, June 30, at 7:30 PM on NBC! LET’S GO, GRAHAM!

How to watch Athens Academy alum Graham Blanks compete in the 2024 Olympic Trials on TV Here's how you can watch Athens Academy alum Graham Blanks compete in the 2024 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. He's set to race in the 5k Thursday night.

Olympic hopeful graduated from Athens Academy in 2020 Olympic hopeful graduated from Athens Academy in 2020 By Stuart Steele | June 27, 2024 | 0 Graham Blanks, former ACAD track and field runner, is set to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 5000-meter Thursday, June 27 in Eugene, Oregon. The race will be held at 11p.m. Eastern Time and can....

How to watch Athens Academy alum Graham Blanks compete in the 2024 Olympic Trials on TV Here's how you can watch Athens Academy alum Graham Blanks compete in the 2024 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. He's set to race in the 5k Thursday night.

Each spring the seniors are recognized at Honors Day, with many of them winning awards for excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, service, citizenship, and leadership. We are pleased to highlight some of those awards and their winners.

The Head of School Awards are given to those seniors who, through influence of character and unselfishness, have made a significant contribution to the life of the school. This year's recipients are Anvesha Das, Tom Hollingsworth, and Mark Tribble. Anvesha will be attending Vanderbilt University, and Tom Hollingworth and Mark Tribble will both attend Wake Forest University. Way to go, Spartans!

Thank you to the folks over at Athens CEO for giving us the opportunity to share all the great things going on here on Spartan Lane this summer!

John Thorsen of Athens Academy, Summer Camps and Projects Athens Academy Head of School John Thorsen talks about summer programs being offered at Athens Academy and how they are preparing for the next school year.

GOOD LUCK, GRAHAM!

Graham Blanks '20 will compete in the 5000M qualifying race for the 2024 Olympics this Thursday, June 27, at 11:03 p.m. in Eugene, Oregon. It looks like Graham's Thursday race will be televised on Peacock. Be sure to follow for more details. You can also go to USATF.TV for more information.

LET'S GO GRAHAM! Our entire Athens Academy is cheering for you from all over the world!

Athens Academy Athens Academy is an independent, college preparatory school serving students from K3-12th grade in

The Richard J. Patterson Spartan Award is presented to two seniors who loyally exhibit school spirit and radiate that special enthusiasm that inspires other students. Through conscientious academic initiative and participation in school activities, these students best exemplify the finest personal qualities of honor and concern for their fellow man.

This year's recipients of the Richard J. Patterson Spartan Award are Shelby Ladner and Kingsley Lavender. Shelby will be attending the College of Charleston this fall, and Kinglsey will be attending the Sewanee: The University of the South, where he will play soccer. Congratulations, Spartans!

The G. William Thurston Athletic Award is presented to two senior athletes whose keen sense of sportsmanship combined with superior athletic skill reflects the merits of Mr. Thurston. These athletes consistently portray competitive excellence with honor in attitude, effort, and performance.

Congratulations to Myiesha Bullard, who will be attending Georgia State University, and to Noah Prior, who will play football next year at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Way to go, Spartans!

Mrs. Horne’s science camp was AWESOME! Every day we did so many cool things—making eruptions with vinegar and mentos and peroxide, making lava lamps, using a glass jar to make a vacuum, cleaning tarnished pennies with a magic solution, and even walking on EGGS!! We hardly even knew we were learning lots of basic chemistry, biology and physics! Thanks, Mrs. Horne!

Click the link in bio to sign up for any of our amazing summer camps, running through July 26!

Presented to a senior athlete, the Andrew B. Swan Award is named in memory of Drew Swan, an Athens Academy student athlete and 2017 graduate who, exhibiting perseverance, a tireless work ethic, and a generosity of spirit, came to personify the sporting ideal of engaging in intense competition while maintaining respect and appreciation for one's opponents. This student athlete demonstrates an unwavering commitment to personal improvement and true sportsmanship, including a love of competition with honor and respect for others.

This year's winner of the Andrew B. Swan Award is Cohen Tomlinson. He has received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy for this fall. Way to go, Spartan!

We love the Athens Area Diaper Bank! Thanks for hosting our campers last week!

Athens Academy is proud to celebrate the many accomplishments of our recent graduates, including a series of prestigious awards given on Senior Honors Day each spring, beginning with the Kirk B. Oliver Award.

The Kirk B. Oliver, Jr. Award is presented to seniors whose involvement has had a significant impact in many areas of school life throughout their years in the Upper School. With total commitment and without expectation of recognition, these students have shown dedication and support for the common good, willingly taking on challenges with dignity and courage.

This fall, Thomas Collins and Neela Sudhagar will both be attending the University of Georgia. Congratulations, Spartans!

Coach Rachel Hines is busy this week with a full day soccer camp with kids in preschool all the way up to middle school! This afternoon they played futsal indoors in the Sinkwich Spartan Center, and it was a crazy, fast-paced--and even maybe a little chaotic?!--super fun time!