Peer Leader William Coley Paschal is South Atlanta’s Valedictorian

Throughout his high school career, William has served as a peer leader at the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club. Additionally, he worked with United Way and Deloitte to successfully implement and organize the 2012 Choose Success: Choose to Read Project, which focuses on literacy.

William’s father is a disabled veteran and William recently lost his mother to colon cancer. As he prepares for life after high school, William often reflects on the words of William Temple who stated, “The most influential of all educational factors is the conversation in a child’s home.” Knowing this provides William with the resilience and perseverance necessary to live up to his mother’s expectations of one day becoming a world-renowned mechanical engineer. He is grateful to his parents and siblings for encouraging him to push forward regardless of the obstacles in his path.

He plans to major in mechanical engineering or Physics. His career goal is to work for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics or NASA.  William will attend Middle Georgia State College this fall.