Acworth Students to Launch New 'Georgia Day' with Gov. Nathan Deal

A teacher and two students from will join Gov. Nathan Deal as he signs a resolution establishing a new, statewide month of history and character education.

Durham Middle School eighth graders Beth Ann Shires and Ryan Mulkey brought the idea of a day honoring the character values and accomplishments of state founder James Oglethorpe to their Georgia History teacher Thomas Panter. The students, along with Panter and Language Arts teacher Mandy Martin, discovered the long-dormant recognition of Georgia Day, established in 1909 to celebrate statehood on Feb. 12 each year.

The team from Durham drafted a letter to Senator Steve Thompson, proposing a new concept for Georgia Day that celebrates character and positive choices in September.

Thompson jumped at the idea, visiting Durham Middle School to work with these two students and their teachers to draft a new Georgia Day resolution for the state Senate. The resolution swiftly passed both the Senate and House, arriving on the desk of Gov. Deal.

Beth Ann and Ryan's idea impressed Deal so much, he proposed expanding Georgia Day into an entire month of celebrating Georgia's history and the positive character traits exhibited by Georgians, past and present.

Panter and both students are about to be recognized this morning before the General Assembly and House of Representatives and join Gov. Deal for the resolution signing. 

Click here to read the original resolution.