Georgia Magazine - January 2021 - 22D

WYT alumna helps rural UGA students find footing (Continued from page 22A)

KEVIN BRAUN

" I would have regretted not taking
the phone calls and text messages of
strangers who laid on me the immense
burdens they then faced. I would have
regretted not being available to speak
and advocate for students, who, quite
literally, were considering suicide and
seeking medical treatment because of
the weight of the spring semester. "
Hayes has earned the respect and
admiration of her peers.
Washington Youth Tour Senior Director Gale Cutler,
" I can't say enough about Briana, "
left, joins WYT alumni Briana Hayes and Peyton Lee
" Being Miss UGA gave me a comsays Bryson Henriott, of Vidalia, RISE
at the Georgia Cooperative Council annual meeting
munity, and as I went forward
treasurer. " She genuinely cares for rural
in March in Macon. Hayes started the Rural Students
with RISE, I was very certain that
students and continues to go out of her
Igniting Success in Education organization to help
I wanted to create that same
way to make sure that everyone feels welUniversity of Georgia students from rural areas estabfeeling of community for others, "
come and at home here at UGA. "
lish a network. Lee is the group's vice president.
says Briana Hayes.
" Bri has a servant's heart like I have
never seen, " Lee says.
Hayes, a health promotion major, plans to atscholarships, to rural students, Hayes says. RISE gives these students an
tend law school, but she may work a gap year first.
opportunity to hear from a successful professional from a rural area; to
She spent a year as Miss University of Georgia
learn about resources such as the honors program, study abroad proafter being crowned in January 2019.
gram or resume-building assistance; and to engage in service projects
" Being Miss UGA gave me a community, and
(for now, socially distanced), among other benefits.
as I went forward with RISE, I was very certain
Hayes' heart for fellow rural students led her last spring to organize
that I wanted to create that same feeling of comwhat turned out to be an unsuccessful effort to lobby the University
munity for others, " she says.
System of Georgia to offer students a pass/fail option after campuses
Hayes, the daughter of James and Danita
closed because of the pandemic. Students from many rural areas in
Hayes, speaks fondly of her time on the WashingGeorgia lack access to the internet, so completing their assignments
ton Youth Tour. " WYT opened my eyes to opfrom home was no easy task.
portunities that I may have never experienced, "
" My advocacy for opt-in pass/fail taught me that it's not about
she says. " I gained many mentors on the tour,
working for the majority, " Hayes says. " It's about working for the few
and they played quite a pivotal role in helping me
who won't be OK, and I will never have a problem getting into good
build confidence in my abilities. "
trouble for them. It is what I was brought up to do.

2020 Washington Youth Tour delegates *
Hannah Allen, Eatonton
Courtney Anderson Davis, Tyrone
Brady Ansley, Thomson
Ava Bailey, Conyers
Michelle Barradas, Griffin
Brett Becker, Ellijay
Brooke Bell, Jasper
Roxy Bridges, Douglasville
Allen Brooks, Bonaire
Reagan Bunch, Hayesville, N.C.
Ashlyn Burns, Lakeland
Logan Carras, Woodstock
Brystan Carthon, Albany
Ishaan Chaubey, Marietta
Aaron Clegg, Lincolnton
Jennifer Cochran, Douglasville
Alex Crabb, Dacula
Faith Crews, Hoboken

22D

Georgia Magazine

Joel Culpepper, Lake Park
Ashlynn Dapper, Albany
Alex Davis, Douglas
Makayla Dent, Richland
Tessa Dixon, Nahunta
Gwen Douglas, Villa Rica
Ali Drewes, McDonough
Cordell Edwards, Lumpkin
Ethan Falls, Richmond Hill
Breshyia Farley, Eatonton
Sam Figiel, LaGrange
Laura Kate Gleaton, Hiawassee
Danielle Gonsoulin, Woodstock
Daniel Han, Watkinsville
Mary Harrison, Cairo
Faith Hart, Royston
Mattie Heard, Rayle
Maddox Jackson, Thomaston

January 2021

Maggie Jackson, Tallulah Falls
Sam Jackson, Wrightsville
Ella Johnson, Warrenton
Rachel Jordan, Lincolnton
Collin Kelly, Demorest
Jaela Krone, Loganville
David Latting, Powder Springs
Rumi Lee, Warner Robins
Carolina Lokey, St. Simons Island
Crystal Lyons, Baconton
Jackson Martin, Richmond Hill
Nathan Masters, Albany
Brooke Maulden, Townsend
Addy McElwaney, Concord
Sammie McGurl, Peachtree City
Claire McNulty, Monroe
Cristina Mendez, Grovetown
Alana Milner, Rocky Ford

Kade Stewart, Loganville
Bryce Morris, Brunswick
Ben Tarbutton, Sandersville
Katherine Nix, Locust Grove
Riley Theophile, McDonough
Tillman Norsworthy, Midway
Emily Thomas, Rocky Ford
Deep Patel, Thomasville
Jack Thomas, Buford
Krupa Patel, Jackson
Jermaine Thomas, Darien
Shivani Patel, Toccoa
Hannah Todd, Blairsville
Bryce Peacock, Baxley
Kennedy Turner, Suwanee
Marisol Perez-Jarquin, Buena Vista
Anna Vaughn, Royston
Laylah Pledger, Dallas
Erick Villaneuva, Gainesville
Aizhia Nicole Poblete, Baxley
Jonah Wade, Dahlonega
Weston Powell, Bainbridge
Olivia Walls, Dawsonville
Patrick Rice, Johns Creek
Eason Waters, Blythe
Andres Robles Sotomayor, Hinesville
Stephen Weatherby, Canton
Pierce Rossman, Roswell
Jenna Williams, Douglas
Rew Rozier, Blackshear
Fari Zahiri, Warner Robins
Landen Sheets, LaGrange
Emma Shirley, Harlem
*Not all EMCs had selected their delegates before the
William Stark, Newnan
2020 Washington Youth Tour was canceled because of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Georgia Magazine - January 2021

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