Pace Academy is pleased to announce that Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed will speak at the school’s 49th commencement ceremony on May 19, 2012. “We’re honored that Mayor Reed has agreed to join us at this year’s graduation,” says Pace Academy Head of School Fred Assaf. “I speak on behalf of the Class of 2012 in saying that the Mayor’s presence at this meaningful event will make it even more memorable. We look forward to his words and appreciate the gift of his time.”
The 86 members of the Pace Academy Class of 2012 have contributed greatly to their school community. They are artists, athletes, academics, community volunteers, world travelers, innovators and leaders. The senior class averaged nearly 1320/1980 on the SAT, and each member will complete at least one Advanced Placement course before graduation. This year, at least two students have chosen to attend college in another country (Canada and Scotland), continuing a streak of international students that extends back to 2008.
Mayor Reed was inaugurated as the 59th Mayor of the City of Atlanta on January 4, 2010. Since taking office, he has hired more than 500 police officers, improved fire-rescue response times, re-opened all of the city’s recreation centers, and improved the service delivery of city departments such as Sanitation and Public Works. During his first year in office, he increased the city’s reserves from $7.4 to $94 million dollars and initiated a series of reforms to address the city’s unfunded pension fund liability.
Prior to his election, Mayor Reed was a member of the Georgia General Assembly for 11 years and served as a State Representative for two terms. From 2002-2009, he served in the Georgia State Senate, where he was Vice Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
A graduate of Howard University, Mayor Reed serves on the University’s Board of Trustees, and is chairman of the Transportation and Communications Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Chairman of the Regional Transit Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission.
Pace Academy’s commencement ceremony will take place on May 19 at Peachtree Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m.