community GRADUATION 2017
gwinnettdailypost.com
SECTION C • SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017
The Coughlin triplets, as they’re known around the halls of Meadowcreek High School, are among the 595 graduates in the school’s Class of 2017, but they’re also known as Bradley, Lucy and Samuel. (Staff Photo: Keith Farner)
Triplets to turn tassels
BY KEITH FARNER
keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com
The day Cicely Lewis learned that the three students she’d known for months were actually triplets, she let out a scream. The Meadowcreek High School media specialist described the Coughlin triplets as the quirkiest, zaniest, fun-loving trio that supports and speaks positively of each other. “They’re awesome and they’re just fun, I’m going to miss them so much,” Lewis said. “They’re honest, they’re hard-working, they don’t stop. If anybody were to ask, I would say they’re the best kids to work with, and you know I don’t say that about everybody.” The Coughlin triplets, as they’re known around the halls of Meadowcreek, are among the 595 graduates in the school’s Class of 2017, but they’re also known as Bradley, Lucy and Samuel. While they have a large extended family — their mother has seven sisters, and their father has two brothers and one sister — multiples don’t run in the family, and there aren’t any twins or triplets on
Class of 2017 Coughlins leave mark on Meadowcreek
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either side. “All throughout high school, everyone’s basically known that we’re all triplets, all the students know,” Lucy said. “My friends, they all call me Sam and Brad sometimes to make fun of me.” Added Samuel, “It’s weird, because you don’t really feel that different about being a triplet, it doesn’t feel that special, because it’s part of every day. When people are surprised, it kind of surprises you, too, because you wouldn’t expect it to be weird, but I guess it is.” They have each taken at least 10 Advanced Placement classes in their high school careers, and each have at least a 3.2 grade-point-average. In the fall, they’re expecting to enroll at Bradley University, Georgia State University and Columbus State University. Lifelong Meadowcreek cluster See TRIPLETS, Page 6C
GCPS Class of 2017 most decorated to date BY KEITH FARNER
seniors, and 85 percent of them said they plan to continue education in college or postsecondary schools, a More than 12,000 students plan slight uptick from last year. Meanto graduate in the coming days from while, 85 percent of them plan to Gwinnett County Public Schools attend college in Georgia. as the district described the class of The seniors who plan to continue 2017 as the largest and most decotheir education have been offered, rated to date. as of April, more than $181 million “They are among the best prein academic, athletic and military pared of any graduating class and are scholarships. The majority of the prepared for the next chapter in their scholarship amount, more than $94 lives,” CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin million, was earned for academic Wilbanks said in a press release. “We achievement. Gwinnett students wish them well and congratulate also received nearly $80 million in them on their hard work and persisathletic scholarships, and more than tence, knowing they are ready for the $7.6 million due to military appointfuture. And, while the focus is on the ments. graduates at this time of year, I also Those military appointments were would like to thank their families, the to 19 students, including seven each thousands of dedicated teachers, and to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the committed administrators who in the Army at the U.S. Military provided support and guidance to Academy at West Point. them throughout the years.” The monetary awards do not Overall, Gwinnett County Public include HOPE or QuestBridge Schools counts 12,150 graduating Scholarship recipients. As of May of
keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com
2017, 19 Gwinnett seniors earned a full scholarship through the QuestBridge College Match Program. Five of the seniors are Archer High School graduates. Mill Creek High graduates the largest class this year with 952 students, followed by Brookwood High with 786, and Norcross High with 755. The class of 2017 includes 3,092 honor graduates, who are graduating with a grade-percent average of 90 or better. During their high school career, 6,982 seniors took Advanced Placement courses and 3,341 scored a three or above on an AP Exam, meaning they likely received college credit to many schools. While members of the class of 2017 were working on their high school diploma, 891 of them also earned college credit through the state’s Move On When Ready dual enrollment program.
MILITARY APPOINTMENTS • Alicia Suciu, Archer, U.S. Naval Academy • Sana Daley, Brookwood, U.S. Air Force Academy • Bailey Hopkins, Brookwood, U.S. Air Force Academy • Clarissa Jolley, Brookwood, U.S. Air Force Academy • Jacob Gregory, Collins Hill, U.S. Naval Academy • Paul Harris, Dacula, U.S. Military Academy at West Point • Jaden Stanley-Williams, Discovery, U.S. Air Force Academy • Gregory Pelland, Duluth, U.S. Military Academy at West Point • Jake Killian, Grayson, U.S. Military Academy at West Point • Branton Fletcher, Mill Creek, U.S. Military Acad-
emy at West Point • Amya Hudson, Mill Creek, U.S. Naval Academy • Sara Scales, Mill Creek, U.S. Military Academy at West Point • Michael Sobczyk, Mountain View, U.S. Air Force Academy • Sean Mckendree, Norcross, U.S. Air Force Academy • Ryan Stark, Norcross, U.S. Naval Academy • James Thigpen, North Gwinnett, U.S. Naval Academy • Mackensie Nechanicky, Peachtree Ridge, U.S. Air Force Academy • Julian Mcduffie, Shiloh, U.S. Military Academy at West Point • Israel Koker-Thomas, Shiloh, U.S. Military Academy at West Point
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