Benjamin E. Mays High School and Georgia Institute of Technology officials recently recognized seniors Justin Allen, Ralph Long VI, and Bethany Momon during a special ceremony announcing their early admission to Georgia Tech.
The students were selected from approximately 67,000 applicants competing for 4,000 available seats during Georgia Tech’s admissions cycle, placing them among a highly competitive group of admitted students.
Kevin Dodson, assistant director of admissions at Georgia Tech, announced their acceptance and emphasized that successful applicants are evaluated beyond grades and test scores.
“Applying to college is more than just about academics; it’s also about engaging with the community and within your schools,” Dodson said.
For the students being recognized, that broader engagement was shaped by years of support inside and outside the classroom.
Benjamin E. Mays High School seniors Ralph Long VI, Bethany Momon, Justin Allen, and their families. Photo credit: APS ©
Mays High School encourages students to apply to five or more colleges and provides structured support through college advising, campus visits, and academic partnerships, reinforcing a school-wide focus on postsecondary readiness and long-term opportunity.
Justin Allen, 18, plans to major in electrical engineering, participate in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and pursue a career in the military. He described the recognition as a reflection of years of support from those around him.
For the students being recognized, that broader engagement was shaped by years of support inside and outside the classroom.
“Georgia Tech has been my number one [school] for so long,” Allen said. “To be put on a platform and recognized is truly an honor. I feel like all the support from my family and teachers has paid off, and I’m just glad that I was able to do it for them.”
Ralph Long VI, also 18, intends to major in computer engineering with plans to enter the cybersecurity field. He pointed to his participation in Project ENGAGES, Georgia Tech’s reputation, and its location in Atlanta as key factors in his decision.
“Georgia Tech is such a large technical school in Atlanta and in the United States itself,” Long said. “I know Atlanta’s a big cybersecurity space, so Georgia Tech will definitely give me a leg up in my future career.”
Project ENGAGES is a Georgia Tech–developed science education initiative that partners with eight Atlanta Public Schools high schools to provide hands-on research experiences and exposure to careers in engineering, science, and technology.
Long’s admission carries historical significance. Long’s grandfather, Ralph Long Jr., an Atlanta Public Schools graduate of Henry W. Grady High School, was among the first three African American students admitted to Georgia Tech more than 60 years ago.
“I think it is a great opportunity for him to grow in that [school] community,” Long, Jr. said.
Benjamin E. Mays High School senior Bethany Momon, mother Tiffany Momon, and family. Photo credit: APS ©
Bethany Momon, 18, plans to major in aerospace engineering and was influenced to apply to Georgia Tech based on its academic standing and proximity to home.
“When I realized I wanted to be an aerospace engineer, and I was like, ‘There’s a school in my city that’s number two for that,’ I knew that I had to apply,” Momon said.
She credited Mays High School’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with preparing her for the academic pace she expects at Georgia Tech.
“I feel like it’s prepared me for college because there’s so much detail in the International Baccalaureate program, and I feel like Georgia Tech has similar rigor to that,” Momon said.
Momon’s mother, Tiffany Momon, said sustained academic encouragement at home plays a critical role in long-term student success.
“Academics start first and foremost in the beginning years, the formation years,” Tiffany Momon said. “From birth to twelfth grade, you never stop promoting learning, you never stop promoting education, and you’re always there as a parent to support during the hard times and the good times. You must have them challenge themselves a little bit as well, because not everything in life comes easily. You want to make sure you give them challenging problems when you’re working with them at home to continue broadening their minds.”
Raheem Beyah, Georgia Tech’s executive vice president for academic affairs. Photo credit: APS ©
Executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Georgia Tech, Raheem Beyah, congratulated the students and reinforced the selectivity of the admissions process.
“This is a big day, not just for these amazing students, but also for Georgia Tech. We go across the world to recruit the absolute best, so if you wonder why you got in, it’s because you are the absolute best,” Beyah said.
Ramon Garner, principal of Benjamin E. Mays High School, said the students’ early admissions reflect intentional partnerships and long-term preparation.
“Anytime you can have a historic college like Georgia Tech come in and offer our kids early acceptances, it’s everything that you hope for and pray for as a principal,” Garner said. “I’m super proud of them. They are tremendous students and tremendous kids.”
He also praised collaborations such as Project ENGAGES and the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing, for their continuing support.
“Georgia Tech really has put the emphasis on making sure that our students and staff are prepared for the levels of rigor that our students will experience when they get there,” Garner said.