Williamson Students Receive Diversity Awards

Twelve students from Williamson County Schools received Certificates of Merit from
Diversity Leadership Project, a nationally-recognized, Franklin-based “Student Journal of
Diversity and Respect.”

Randall Bedwell, President of College Path Consultants, LLC, a college planning firm in
Franklin presented twelve Certificates of Merit for excellent work through Diversity Leadership Project. This project-based program is designed to help high school students increase their college admissions and scholarship opportunities through projects relating to social equity, diversity, and respect.

Brentwood High School
Meredith McMillan, Jordan Elementary School Project – Meredith led a petition campaign and garnered more than 250 signatures from the community. She then presented the petition to the WCS School Board. After two votes, the board approved naming the new elementary school on Split Log Road for Sgt. George Jordan, a slave-turned- soldier who is Williamson County’s only Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and Tennessee’s first African-American to receive the honor.

Summit High School
Sophie Lindley, Jordan Elementary School Project – Sophie raised more than $1,100 in a
GoFundMe campaign to create a traveling exhibit explaining who Sgt. Jordan was and his
significance in Williamson County’s history.

Franklin High School
Julia Cook, Got Consent? Sexual Assault Awareness Program – Julia’s campaign to educate her peers about sexual assault and put systems in place to prevent future incidents caught the attention of two Nashville television stations, numerous local media outlets, and the State of Tennessee’s Division of Family Health and Wellness. There are current plans to take the Got Consent? campaign to high schools across the state.

Also recognized were other students from Franklin High School who participated in the
Got Consent? campaign and video. This includes: Grant Toxel, Kenzie Higgins, Justus
Hollingshed, Dominique Dunlap, Elizabeth Embody, Lillian Bailey, Joseph Walker, Lainey
Bouvier, and Jaxon Tolbert. To date, the Got Consent? Teen Sexual Assault Awareness video
has been viewed by over 50,000 people.

Through Diversity Leadership Project, each of these teens has made positive contributions to their community while also increasing their chances of acceptance in top colleges and opening doors for new scholarship opportunities. If you are interested in learning more about how your teen can create their own local Williamson County social equity projects or
participate in existing projects, please visit www.diversityleadershipproject.org.