Bright Futures Academy, Atlanta

Arete scholar Junior Lloyd epitomizes the concept of arete - pursuing virtue and excellence with the aim of attaining one's highest human potential. As one of the very brightest at Bright Futures Academy in Atlanta, Junior earned an overall 97.4% grade average in his first semester at the academy.

But life has not always been straight A's, excellence and high expectations for Junior. Removed from his mother at birth, Junior was placed with a loving and determined grandmother, a woman committed to raising him with character and discipline. Despite difficult circumstances, Junior has blossomed into a young man of fortitude who possesses a personal drive to succeed and excel at whatever he does.

Unchallenged, out of place, and often unsafe in his previous school, Junior has found in Bright Futures a learning environment that is secure, encouraging, and academically rigorous.

"Since I've joined Bright Futures Atlanta and their Academy, I've loved it," said Junior. "Philip and Gail Ross are like second parents to me. The other kids...are my brothers, sisters and cousins. [Arete] donations are making our future even brighter."

For more information about Bright Futures Academy, visit www.bfatl.org.