Dowdy and Miller are TJA’s valedictorian and salutatorian

On Friday, May 17, Thomas Jefferson Academy will celebrate its 2024 graduation exercises at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Robert D. Gatliff Jr, a 1990 almuni of the school who also graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994 will give the commencement address.

Jackson Dowdy, the son of Dalton and Amber Dowdy of Wrens, is TJA’s 2024 valedictorian.

In school he has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, served as vice president and secretary of the Key Club, served as president, vice president and secretary of the Beta Club, is class president and president of the student government, and served on the GIAA Student Advisory Board. He has been a member of the school’s varsity tennis team, shotgun team, One Act Play, Literary Team and a spelling bee participant.

“When I was growing up, my parents never told me I had to have perfect grades,” Jackson said. “They never asked me about my upcoming assignments and they never helped me on my projects. They let me figure it out and I am grateful for that.”

He believes that having such small class sizes at TJA allows students to better receive more specialized learning and teachers to better understand the diverse needs of their students.

Outside of school, Jackson has participated in coat drives for the Beta Club, sock drives for the local behavioral health unit and nursing homes, canned food donations for the Key Club, assisted in Operation Christmas Child, led recreational activities at the area special needs center and founded a birthday box fundraiser.

Jackson has also regularly tutored other students after school, worked as a legal assistant in a local law firm, assisted more than 50 clients as a freelancer in web design, graphic design, data entry, copy writing and he had also dabbled in the stockmarket.

He said that his sister, Mary Dalton Dowdy, who graduated the year ahead of him, was a huge influence in his scholastic career.

“Since she was her class valedictorian last year, I knew I had to be the same or I would never hear the end of it,” Jackson said. “Also, whenever I got burnt out, she welcomed me with open arms to her dorm, Morris Hall, in Athens. From my first day of life, Mary Dalton has always been there.”

He also said that he wishes he had been more social with more of his classmates much earlier.

“Even if it is someone you might not see yourself being best friends with, hang out with them,” he said. “In turn, having fun will make sure enough energy and motivation for your academics.”

Jackson plans to attend the University of Georgia, major in economics and business administration with a minor in law, ethics and philosophy, all with the ultimate goal to attend law school.

Hannah Miller, the daughter of Alison Miller of Wrens, is TJA’s 2024 salutatorian.

Hannah was a four-year member of the Jaguar softball team and participated in Beta Club, Literary Competition and One Act Play. She also took part in many community and school service activities including serving as a water girl for the football team as well as running the scoreboard for the varsity baseball team.

Outside of school she enjoys working out in the gym and writing poetry. She is an avid reader and works at Ingles in Wrens five days a week.

"I made myself strive through school as I knew that if I succeeded in high school, I would

go far and achieve great things for my future,” Hannah said. “My mom, sisters, grandparents, and all my family have supported me throughout my academic career. My sister, Cadence, has been the biggest influence and supporter. She has always known how to lift me up and made me stay confident in my intellectual abilities.”

She recommends that any of her fellow students who want to succeed in school, work hard and refuse to give up, especially when pressure is high and the work feels overwhelming.

“It will be hard, but you have to stick through it and believe you can do anything,” she said.

Hannah said she most enjoyed the interactive parts of her education at TJA.

“The best was learning with my classmates and having the opportunity to speak freely during class about the topics of discussion,” she said.

This fall she plans to attend Georgia College and State University and major in psychology with hope to one day become a children’s clinical psychologist.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Dowdy and Miller are TJA’s valedictorian and salutatorian