Redan High School Junior Makes History

For the DeKalb County School District, it's never happened before - until now.

student Gift Baanen became the first student from DeKalb schools to be elected president of the State of Georgia's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America this month, according to the Stone Mountain school.

The school's announcement about Baanen's achivement said she had to meet qualifications and requirements with success and that showed her "outstanding" attributes as "a true leader."

The nonprofit Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc. (FCCLA) is a national career and technical student organization for public and private school young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, the announcement said.

Baanen, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, moved to the United States in 1999 with her parents, Edward and Veronica Baanen. She's been a member of FCCLA for six years. She has served two consecutive terms as FCCLA State Vice President of Competitive Events.

Baanen plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri after high school graduation, and major in mechanical or systematic engineering.

Baanen's ultimate goal is to develop new software in technology "that can help enhance our world," according to the announcement.