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THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 -21. 2024 • PAGE 7
Dunwoody student wins Congressional Award
BY JAY PHILLIPS
JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
Dunwoody High School student Annie Peng
is the only recipient of a Congressional Award in
2024 in Georgia's 4th Congressional District.
Congressman Hank Johnson—representative
for the congressional district—presented Peng
with the Congressional Award bronze and silver
medals at the North DeKalb school in January.
Peng is a senior at Dunwoody High, and a news
release states that she earned the recognition by
achieving personal goals focused on volunteer-
ism, character development, and fitness.
"I believe the Congressional Award is partic
ularly important because it encourages commit
ment to public service in our young people," said
Johnson. "Generation Z has spent a better part of
their adolescent and young adult years engaging
politically to ensure that all people have a right to
Dunwoody High senior Annie Peng (middle) was awarded for
her voluntary public service and other achievements with a
Congressional Award. Photo provided
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I stand
with our young people as they work to make this
country more open and inclusive to everyone. I
encourage all young leaders to participate in this
opportunity by visiting CongressionalAward.org."
Peng's awards indicate that she had at least
200 hours in 12 months of voluntary public ser
vice, 100 hours of personal development, 100
hours of physical fitness, and a three-day, two-
night exploration trip.
The program is open to all youth in the US be
tween the ages of 14 and 24 regardless of ability,
according to the award's website.
The Congressional Award was established in
1979 by the United States Congress as the high
est honor for young Americans. A news release
states that the award recognizes determination,
public service, and character development.
Recipients can receive a bronze, silver, or gold
Congressional Award certificate or medal after
achieving goals in four areas: voluntary public
service, personal development, physical fitness,
and expedition or exploration.
Agnes Scott College wins grant to teach
children financial literacy through theater
Agnes Scott College has been awarded one of 20 National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA)
research grants. Photo courtesy of Agnes Scott College
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
Can music and theater help chil
dren better understand money and fi
nances? That's the question members
of the Department of Creative Arts at
Agnes Scott College in Decatur hope
to answer through a new study.
Agnes Scott College has been
awarded one of 20 National Endow
ment for the Arts' (NEA) research
grants and officials said they will use
the funds to study the effects of a
musical theater production on the
financial literacy of elementary school
children.
Agnes Scott Theater Professor
Toby Emert said he first had the
idea to write and direct the mon
ey-centered musical after listening to
Million Bazillion, a podcast produced
by American Public Media's Market
place, which focuses on "raising the
economic intelligence of the country,"
according to the podcast's website.
"I wanted to develop a show for
young audiences that used theater
to help them understand important
ideas, but I hadn't considered work-
SEE THEATER ON PAGE 8
mm,
Decatur Valentine's Day shooter convicted of murder
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
An Atlanta man who shot and
killed another man in Decatur on Val
entine's Day in 2021 has been found
guilty of murder.
DeKalb County District Attorney
Sherry Boston recently announced
a conviction by jury trial in the case
against 39-year-old Jamaar Bracey on
charges of malice murder, two counts
of felony murder, aggravated assault,
possession of a firearm by a convict
ed felon, and possession of a firearm
during the commission of a felony
stemming from an incident that oc
curred on Feb. 14 three years ago.
According to investigators, on the
day of the shooting, the DeKalb Coun
ty Police Department and the DeKalb
County Fire Rescue Department re
sponded to a call about an overturned
car along Warriors Path in unincorpo
rated Decatur. After rescuers removed
the driver, 31-year-old Rodney Evans,
from the vehicle, they discovered he
had a single gunshot wound to the
head. Paramedics transported Evans to
Atlanta Medical Center where he un
derwent treatment, but he later suc
cumbed to his injuries on June 3, 2021.
Investigators said found four bullet
casings and shattered glass in the road
were found at the scene. Evans'white
Chrysler Sebring had three of its four
windows broken and a bullet hole was
found on the front driver's side of the
car, stated officials.
Through interviews, detectives
SEE SHOOTER ON PAGE 8
An Atlanta man has been found guilty of murder after a shooting that occurred on
Valentine’s Day in 2021. File photo
