From Jewish Day Schools to North Springs’ Top Grad

As valedictorian of North Springs High School, Avi Pearlman gave his speech about how adverse events breed unity to an empty school auditorium earlier this month. As a result of the global health crisis, his address to fellow students was filmed, along with those of the school’s other top 10 students. Their words of inspiration were included in the virtual graduation video May 26 that also included each North Springs student walking across the stage, one at a time, to receive their diplomas.

“Of course, I’m very disappointed about the fact that I won’t be able to give a speech at a traditional graduation ceremony,” he told the AJT. “That being said, I’ve come to terms with what’s going on and I accept that having a virtual rather than in-person ceremony is a necessary measure.”

Pearlman attended The Davis Academy kindergarten through second grade and The Epstein School third through eighth grade.

He said he came up with his speech ideas before COVID-19 shuttered schools, but the version he used was written after the quarantine began.

To net the top grad ranking, Pearlman earned a cumulative 103.321 on a 100-point scale.

He said he is planning to attend Georgia Tech in the fall and major in biomedical engineering with a potential minor in computer science.