Northgate High School student Kevin Cheng was chosen to participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King Commemorative Service held Jan. 19 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
A senior and Northgate’s Student Government Association class president, Cheng appeared at the annual service along with other students from around the metropolitan Atlanta area and read a portion of King’s “Address at the Conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery March” speech.
“I feel honored to be asked to participate” said Cheng. “I really appreciate what Dr. King has done in the world as a whole. He has influenced my life, and having a chance to speak the words that he wrote and he spoke is very honorable, and an amazing opportunity.”
“It is indeed an honor for the Coweta County School System to be represented this year by Kevin,” said Northgate counselor Dawn Revere. Revere said Cheng was selected for his outstanding speaking ability, leadership, knowledge and passion for the works of Dr. King. “They were looking for a dynamic student who could represent Coweta County in this year’s service Kevin is perfect for that role.”
School system spokesman Dean Jackson said this was the second time that a Northgate High School student has been invited to participate in the commemorative service. Student Timberli Williams was selected to read a portion of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 2013 during the nationally-followed MLK commemorative service.
In December, East Coweta High School junior Jasmine Guy recited a portion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Noble Peace Prize acceptance speech during a program at the Carter Center in Atlanta. The program was hosted by the Reverend Bernice King in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize, Jackson said.
Cheng is the son of Hui Cheng and Ninh Tran. He is the Northgate High School Student Government Association president and Senior Class president, is active on the Newnan Youth Council, Beta Club, National Honors Society, and Northgate chorus and serves as the Northgate varsity soccer team captain. After graduation he plans to attend Georgia Tech and pursue a career in international diplomacy or business, said Jackson.
Cheng represented Northgate and Coweta County and his father’s native country of China at the service. He was selected after the school was contacted by Dr. Beverly McCray, a Coweta County School System Reading Specialist who is a long-time friend and colleague of Connie Smith-Lindsey, the creative director and speech coach for the commemorative service.
Jackson said Cheng has had prior experience at public speaking as a part of Northgate’s SGA and recently at the National League of Cities Conference in Austin, Texas, where he represented the Newnan Youth Council.
