Johnathan James -Youth Panel Moderator
Johnathan James - Three Hundred Sixty-Five white sandy beaches, one for each day of the year, sounds like paradise, well it is! Johnathan James is a first generation American. His grandparents migrated to the United States from the beautiful island of Antigua and Barbuda. His parents strongly believe in the value of a good education. Johnathan is a graduate from Hillgrove High school. He played varsity basketball for three years. He was the defensive stopper on his basketball team which helped the team to the State Basketball Championship. A first ever in the school’s history with a record of 28 wins and 3 loses.
“Give up good, to get better” was the school’s motto which has always helped Johnathan with his athletic and academic achievements. He played five years of AAU basketball with Team Impact where he was team captain, won many accolades and awards. His high school has named an award after him to personify what the basketball team was able to accomplish during his years as a varsity basketball player.
Johnathan is currently enrolled at the University of West Georgia on an academic scholarship studying pre-med where he one day hopes to be doctor. Johnathan is a extremely talented and hard worker, who is always finding time to give back by mentoring and invest in his community and young people! .
Johnathan James - Three Hundred Sixty-Five white sandy beaches, one for each day of the year, sounds like paradise, well it is! Johnathan James is a first generation American. His grandparents migrated to the United States from the beautiful island of Antigua and Barbuda. His parents strongly believe in the value of a good education. Johnathan is a graduate from Hillgrove High school. He played varsity basketball for three years. He was the defensive stopper on his basketball team which helped the team to the State Basketball Championship. A first ever in the school’s history with a record of 28 wins and 3 loses.
“Give up good, to get better” was the school’s motto which has always helped Johnathan with his athletic and academic achievements. He played five years of AAU basketball with Team Impact where he was team captain, won many accolades and awards. His high school has named an award after him to personify what the basketball team was able to accomplish during his years as a varsity basketball player.
Johnathan is currently enrolled at the University of West Georgia on an academic scholarship studying pre-med where he one day hopes to be doctor. Johnathan is a extremely talented and hard worker, who is always finding time to give back by mentoring and invest in his community and young people! .
Stephen Kessler
He is a twenty-five year old from Marietta, is passionate about serving God and people, with a life vision to treasure Christ above any person or possession and to share his treasure with everyone. Stephen is a natural leader who desires to help serve and love others the same way that Jesus has done to him. He has been on mission trips to Uganda, Costa Rica, and Fiji. He has a heart for missions and hopes to be involved with them his whole life.
He graduated from Kennesaw State University in May of 2012 with a degree in Business Finance and then went to the International House of Prayer participating in the Onething Internship. Stephen has a passion for both ministry and business. He recently joined his oldest brother’s startup company called GoSponsorit, whose aim is to help non-profits get funded and stay funded. He is also involved with Golf for Goodness Sake, who sets up golf tournament fundraisers for non-profits. He wants to use both of these tools to help people raise money and fulfill their God given vision.
Stephen is very close to his family and has three older brothers, three sister-in-laws, three nieces, one nephew and the best parents. His entire family has had a dynamic impact on his life. Stephen also enjoys basketball, golf, reading, being outdoors and hanging out with friends.
He is a twenty-five year old from Marietta, is passionate about serving God and people, with a life vision to treasure Christ above any person or possession and to share his treasure with everyone. Stephen is a natural leader who desires to help serve and love others the same way that Jesus has done to him. He has been on mission trips to Uganda, Costa Rica, and Fiji. He has a heart for missions and hopes to be involved with them his whole life.
He graduated from Kennesaw State University in May of 2012 with a degree in Business Finance and then went to the International House of Prayer participating in the Onething Internship. Stephen has a passion for both ministry and business. He recently joined his oldest brother’s startup company called GoSponsorit, whose aim is to help non-profits get funded and stay funded. He is also involved with Golf for Goodness Sake, who sets up golf tournament fundraisers for non-profits. He wants to use both of these tools to help people raise money and fulfill their God given vision.
Stephen is very close to his family and has three older brothers, three sister-in-laws, three nieces, one nephew and the best parents. His entire family has had a dynamic impact on his life. Stephen also enjoys basketball, golf, reading, being outdoors and hanging out with friends.
Arlen “AJ” McCray-Nibbs
AJ was born on January 14, 1992 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He moved to Acworth, GA with his mother where he attending North Cobb Christian School. AJ’s first two years of high school were a personal experience that has been instrumental in shaping who he is today. He was over zealous about the prospect of playing basketball and football for his school. As a consequence, he focused most of his attention on shooting hoops and making tackles, while simultaneously ignoring his primary purpose for being in school. He was known as a “standout” football player and “good” basketball player while at the same time his grades suffered. Consequently, he lost his athletic eligibility due to poor grades. He experienced humiliation, embarrassment, and felt he let parents and peers down. As a condition of being permitted to continue in athletics, his parents and the school required he sign a contract requiring that he significantly raise his GPA above the level required by his high school.
Through concentrated effort and a renewed commitment to academics, AJ experienced a metamorphosis the latter part of his sophomore year. His grades improved markedly and became an honor roll student. This experience instilled in him an understanding and appreciation for striving for academic excellence.
AJ is currently on a full football scholarship at Bethune-Cookman Univeristy, and meeting the demands of a rigorous athletic schedule while managing to perform very well in the classroom. In 2012, AJ was the recipient of the Walter Payton Achievement Award, which is awarded to a standout student athlete annually. Having received his Bachelor’s degree in Communications, he is now working towards his Masters in Transformative Leadership.
His goal is to become a social entrepreneur. Perhaps his most rewarding experience that influences his aspiration is the volunteer work he performed in high school assisting special needs individuals. He has a passion for helping others and wants to create a social impact not only in the United States, but in third world countries as well. He is the son of Johnny McCray, Jr. and Sharon Nibbs.
AJ was born on January 14, 1992 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He moved to Acworth, GA with his mother where he attending North Cobb Christian School. AJ’s first two years of high school were a personal experience that has been instrumental in shaping who he is today. He was over zealous about the prospect of playing basketball and football for his school. As a consequence, he focused most of his attention on shooting hoops and making tackles, while simultaneously ignoring his primary purpose for being in school. He was known as a “standout” football player and “good” basketball player while at the same time his grades suffered. Consequently, he lost his athletic eligibility due to poor grades. He experienced humiliation, embarrassment, and felt he let parents and peers down. As a condition of being permitted to continue in athletics, his parents and the school required he sign a contract requiring that he significantly raise his GPA above the level required by his high school.
Through concentrated effort and a renewed commitment to academics, AJ experienced a metamorphosis the latter part of his sophomore year. His grades improved markedly and became an honor roll student. This experience instilled in him an understanding and appreciation for striving for academic excellence.
AJ is currently on a full football scholarship at Bethune-Cookman Univeristy, and meeting the demands of a rigorous athletic schedule while managing to perform very well in the classroom. In 2012, AJ was the recipient of the Walter Payton Achievement Award, which is awarded to a standout student athlete annually. Having received his Bachelor’s degree in Communications, he is now working towards his Masters in Transformative Leadership.
His goal is to become a social entrepreneur. Perhaps his most rewarding experience that influences his aspiration is the volunteer work he performed in high school assisting special needs individuals. He has a passion for helping others and wants to create a social impact not only in the United States, but in third world countries as well. He is the son of Johnny McCray, Jr. and Sharon Nibbs.
John O. Nwosu Jr.
John is from Austell, GA. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Chemistry and minor in Africana Studies in 2012. He then graduated in May of 2014 with a Master's of Education in School Counseling.
With a father from Nigeria and mother from Alabama he embodies and embraces the concept African-American. His areas of competency include cultural responsiveness, human development, and financial wellness.
As a business owner he John is always looking for new ways to effectively meet the needs of the greatest possible number of people.
His future plans include constant and never-ending improvement, achieving time and financial freedom through entrepreneurship, learning, sharing, and creating spaces where true human development can take place.
John is from Austell, GA. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Chemistry and minor in Africana Studies in 2012. He then graduated in May of 2014 with a Master's of Education in School Counseling.
With a father from Nigeria and mother from Alabama he embodies and embraces the concept African-American. His areas of competency include cultural responsiveness, human development, and financial wellness.
As a business owner he John is always looking for new ways to effectively meet the needs of the greatest possible number of people.
His future plans include constant and never-ending improvement, achieving time and financial freedom through entrepreneurship, learning, sharing, and creating spaces where true human development can take place.
Alex Thompson
E Alexander Thompson, better known as Alex, will be a junior at the illustrious Tuskegee University during the fall semester of 2014. He is an aerospace engineering major maintaining a grade point average of 3.6. In May 2012, he graduated from Lassiter High School in Marietta, GA, where he played varsity basketball for three years.
Now, Alex is heavily involved with many extracurricular activities at Tuskegee University. During his sophomore year, he served as the chairman of the Sophomore Class SGA Fundraising committee. He is also working with a group of young men to introduce a chapter of Toastmasters International to the Tuskegee campus. As well as holding these leadership positions, he is also a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. Along with these activities, Alex was also a research assistant in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering where he collaborated with graduate students on research involving nanocomposites.
Alex Thompson is a young man who enjoys serving the community, and helping mentor younger generations. He is continuously reaching out to Tuskegee Public Schools to help tutor children in math and reading. Mr. Thompson has proven to be an exemplary leader for young men all around. It is a pleasure and an honor to assist Coach Walter Jordan with his first Annual Young Men’s Conference.
E Alexander Thompson, better known as Alex, will be a junior at the illustrious Tuskegee University during the fall semester of 2014. He is an aerospace engineering major maintaining a grade point average of 3.6. In May 2012, he graduated from Lassiter High School in Marietta, GA, where he played varsity basketball for three years.
Now, Alex is heavily involved with many extracurricular activities at Tuskegee University. During his sophomore year, he served as the chairman of the Sophomore Class SGA Fundraising committee. He is also working with a group of young men to introduce a chapter of Toastmasters International to the Tuskegee campus. As well as holding these leadership positions, he is also a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. Along with these activities, Alex was also a research assistant in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering where he collaborated with graduate students on research involving nanocomposites.
Alex Thompson is a young man who enjoys serving the community, and helping mentor younger generations. He is continuously reaching out to Tuskegee Public Schools to help tutor children in math and reading. Mr. Thompson has proven to be an exemplary leader for young men all around. It is a pleasure and an honor to assist Coach Walter Jordan with his first Annual Young Men’s Conference.