William & Reed Academy

On Wednesday night, we had the honor of celebrating the William & Reed Academy Class of 2026 at our graduation ceremony. This accomplished group of 17 seniors earned admission to more than 40 colleges and universities across the country — a reflection of their hard work and dedication.

A special shout-out to our Valedictorian, Addison Dempsey; Salutatorian, Hannah Mun; Warrior Cup recipient, Cee Rice; Heart & Soul recipient, Mikey Cockerham, and Star Student, Samantha Siezko!

The Class of 2026 will be remembered for the energy and laughter they brought to our halls, the kindness they showed to others, and the lasting impact they made on the W&R community. We’re proud of all they’ve achieved and we look forward to seeing what’s next for each of them. And remember, once a Warrior, always a Warrior.

Today’s Spotlight is on Jacob Patanian.
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Jacob is known for his honest and outgoing personality! As a William & Reed Warrior, he has been a part of the Chess Club and Warrior Council. Most notably, Jacob has been a member of the school’s Basketball team since the 9th grade, for which he received the MVP award, and the Track & Field team for three years, where he received the Rookie of the Year award. Jacob also set the school’s long jump record during his time on the Track & Field team! Outside of school, he enjoys working at Hugo’s Oyster Bar in Roswell and volunteering at his church, helping with child care and planning the youth-led service, as well as giving sermons on addiction and perseverance. Jacob has been on a mission trip to help less fortunate populations in Colorado Springs. He is known as a creative project designer, which pairs well with his love for fashion.
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Jacob will be attending Kennesaw State University in the fall, and he plans to study Digital Marketing.

Congratulations to Stella Feinberg on committing to continue her athletic and academic career at Tarleton State University this fall! We are so proud of you!

Congratulations to Hannah Mun on committing to continue her athletic and academic career at Emory University this fall! We are so proud of you!

Congratulations to Katie Dewis on committing to continue her athletic and academic career at the University of Montevallo this fall! We are so proud of you!

Our next Spotlight is on Andrew Couey.
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Andrew is known for his discipline, competitive drive, and commitment to excellence both on and off the course. As a William & Reed Warrior, he has dedicated much of his time to golf, where he has developed not only his skill but also a strong sense of perseverance and focus. Andrew is an accomplished golfer, earning All-State honors and achieving top finishes in prestigious tournaments, including a first-place finish at the UHY Tournament and strong showings in AJGA events. He has competed at a high level across the country, highlighted by playing in the Wyndham Invitational and winning the AAC Invitational. In the classroom, Andrew has demonstrated his academic abilities with top AP exam scores, including earning 5s on both AP U.S. History and AP Government exams. Outside of school, he gives back to his community through service at 1st Redeemer Church, supporting various outreach efforts, including Hope for the Hungry.
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Andrew will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall and will pursue a degree in Business Law.

Today’s Spotlight is on Sai Lukkani.
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Sai is known for being kind, respectful, and friendly. He always has a bright smile on his face, and he’s always up for a good laugh with his classmates. As a W&R Warrior, Sai has been a member of the Warrior Council, Mu Alpha Theta, & National Honor Society. He has played tennis for the school for 3 years, serving as captain, and he ran cross country for 2 seasons. As a member of the Varsity Tennis Team, he has won an Individual Championship and has contributed to the team winning a Team Championship twice. Sai has also been a USTA player for 3 years, as well as a tennis coach. He’s been recognized as a Scholar Athlete in addition to receiving the Warrior & Linchpin awards. Sai finds great fulfillment in coaching younger players in the tennis community for USTA tournaments. Watching them improve and celebrate their own wins has been just as rewarding as his own achievements because it gave him the chance to give back and inspire others through a sport he loves. Outside of school, Sai volunteers at his local Indian temple, serving food & organizing festivals.
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Sai will be attending the University of Georgia and will study Mechanical Engineering.

At the annual W&R Athletics Banquet, we honored and celebrated all of the student-athletes that participated in sports during the 2025-2026 school year. At the end of the evening, the Athlete of the Year and Ultimate Warrior Award were presented.
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Congratulations to Luke Gerdes, our Athlete of the Year! Luke is the kind of athlete who leaves an impact far beyond wins and records. A leader, competitor, and role model, he consistently set the standard for excellence both in and out of the pool. This season, Luke captured three individual state championships in the 200 IM, 500 Freestyle, and 100 Backstroke — an incredible accomplishment that reflects years of hard work and dedication.
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Congratulations to Addison Dempsey, this year’s recipient of the Ultimate Warrior Award — presented to a senior student-athlete who has made a lasting impact on W&R Athletics through excellence in both academics and athletics. From five years of varsity track & field to competing in flag football, tennis, and cross country, Addison has represented W&R with unmatched dedication and heart. A two-time state champion pole vaulter, nationally ranked athlete, and this year’s valedictorian, she has truly set the standard for what it means to be a Warrior.

Today’s Spotlight is on Melina Melo.
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Melina is known for being honest and straightforward and for her problem-solving skills. Melina is a member of William & Reed Academy’s Mu Alpha Theta Club. A huge part of her life centers around horseback riding, which she has been competing in for nine years. Melina credits her involvement in equestrian with meeting some of her best friends and giving her a sense of responsibility. She’s received a Sportsmanship Award along with numerous other accolades: 4x Daily High Point in L1 Youth, 1x Class High Point in L1 Youth Showmanship (State show), 2x Champion in Novice Western, 1x Champion in Youth 14-18, 2x Champion in Open Hunter Hack, 1x Reserve Champion in Open Western, 1x Champion in Open Western, and 1x Champion Green Western. Melina also volunteers at a local animal shelter & works as an Assistant Instructor. Something unique about her is that one of her favorite hobbies outside of school is researching cars and racing. In late 2023, she became interested in Formula One as well.
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Melina will be attending the University of North Georgia in the fall and plans to study Computer Science.

Today’s Spotlight is on Samantha Sieczko.
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Sam is known for her creativity, strong voice, and dedication to both academics and the arts. As a William & Reed Warrior, she has been involved in several clubs including Warrior Council (serving as a House Leader), Yearbook (Copy Editor), Red Cross Club, Lit Zine, Will to Live Club, and Spirit Club. Before attending W&R, Sam earned multiple recognitions for her talents in writing and speaking, including the Commendable Quill Award, FitzOratorical Award, Silver Tongue Award, and Provost Excellence Scholarship. Outside of school, she has devoted over 13 years to ballet, and was named a Regional Dance America Video Scholarship recipient. She has also gained work experience as a dance instructor, teaching assistant, and hostess. Samantha is passionate about giving back, volunteering her time through dance performances that support charitable causes and helping provide food for families in need. In her free time, she enjoys reading a wide variety of books, creating art, and continuing to dance.
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Sam will be pursuing a degree in English at Georgia College & State University.

Today’s Spotlight is on Katie Dewis.
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Katie is known by students and teachers for her outgoing personality. She also doesn’t hesitate to jump into class discussions. Katie has been playing lacrosse for six years and has been a member of the following teams: Team 91 GA Girls Lacrosse, Team 91 Nationals, Axis Lacrosse, and MacLax. She has been recognized for the All-Area Team and received the Offense Award. In her free time, Katie loves coloring to help her relax, gaming, reading, and spending time with animals. Some things people might not know about Katie are that she loves collecting random trinkets. This ranges from unique state quarters to more popular collectibles like Pokémon cards and Labubus. She is also a big fan and advocate for snakes. She has a ball python named Cleo, who is the sweetest girl! Having her has helped her show friends and family that snakes aren’t vicious creatures; they’re actually very timid and only act defensively when they feel threatened.
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Katie will be playing lacrosse at the University of Montevallo and plans to study Exercise Science.