Riverwood Announces 2020 Valedictorian, Salutatorian

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Riverwood International Charter School announced its 2020 valedictorian and salutatorian, students with the highest and second highest cumulative GPAs in the class of 2020.

Valedictorian Hayes Miller is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme candidate who plans to major in biology at the college she ultimately selects. She was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen prize by the Sandy Springs chapter, and also received the 2019 Harvard Prize Book Award. Miller has served as chair of the Fulton County Youth Commission Health Committee for two years, helping to direct county-wide anti-drug activities and other health initiatives. In 2018, she re-established and led Riverwood’s Science Olympiad and has served as a Student Government representative for all four years of high school. Miller is president of Riverwood’s Spanish National Honor Society, vice president of the Science National Honor Society, and president of Riverwood’s Model UN club. She attended the Governor’s Honors Program in 2019, majoring in social studies. She also participated in Emory’s Migrant Farm Worker Program for two years, serving as a Spanish interpreter for nursing students who were administering healthcare to migrant workers in South Georgia. Miller lives in Sandy Springs.

Salutatorian Chandler McCleskey is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme candidate who serves as Riverwood student body president. He is president of the Riverwood chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and vice-president of the Beta Club. McCleskey is a captain of the Varsity Lacrosse team, having played for four years. He also played football his freshmen and sophomore years. McCleskey is the recipient of the 2019 Phi Beta Kappa Book Award and the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar Award. He has earned numerous honors in FBLA competitions, including a second-place finish at Nationals, three Regional Winner designations, five state wins, and more awards. He founded a sneaker and streetwear re-sale business and resold over $10,000 worth of merchandise. McCleskey raised funds for hurricane victims in the Virgin Islands and currently volunteers with Hands Across Atlanta to feed the homeless. He intends to study economics or business administration in college. McCleskey lives in Atlanta.