Chamblee Charter High School’s Valedictorian for 2016, Mutasem Shopon, has a clear vision for his future, which he said has been shaped by his school, the community and his family’s immigrant roots. Shopon, or “Moot” to his friends, will begin his pre-med journey at the University of Georgia this fall, which will make him the first in his family to attend college.

“Being valedictorian is an honor and shows me I am going in the right direction, but it does not give me any exemptions,” he said. “There are no shortcuts to success.”