The James “Jimmy Mac” McMahan Scholarship – 2021
Christine Lee
It is impossible to not to be impressed with Christine’s academics at Lakeside, being recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction, District Honor Band (4 years) and the Presidential Volunteer Service Award; as well as with her dedication and leadership with organizations such as Medical Club (Vice President), Tri-M Honor Society (Historian), Interact Club (past President), Band (Vice President & 1st Chair/Flue Section Leader), Reading Bowl (Varsity Player), and within the community as a Volunteen at both Emory and Gwinnett Medical. She also spent time working as an assistant teacher at the Korean School, receiving recognition with the NAKS Junior leadership award. Christine is also a Girl Scout, having earned the Bronze Award, Silver Award, Young Women of Distinction Award and the Gold Award - the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.
Her band director at Lakeside shared how, with Christine’s advance academic schedule, it was always a struggle to find a Band class to fit her school schedule. There were times she was enrolled in a class below her performance level but it never bothered Christine, she always used it as an opportunity to be a peer mentor and always helped other flute players find comfort with the music. Even this year Christine decided to enroll in the beginning band class to serve as the teaching assistant for the flute section.
But what truly struck the review committee the most was Christine’s creativity and dedication to her community at large. As a tutor with City Hope Refugee where she tutored students every Saturday in math, grammar, and pronunciation and also tutored twice a week for the afterschool program for music, covering music theory and instrument practice for flute. While at City Hope Refugee Center she found a way to bring together her Girl Scouts Gold project, her tutoring skills developed within City Hope Refugee and at Lakeside, with her love of playing the flute. She developed and founded Do Re-fugee Mi!, a program aimed to find more music opportunities for refugee students. Her adviser explained in her letter of recommendation that the project involved organizing several flute fairs where students could learn music theory, build relationships and participate in hands-on flute lessons. Christine also managed an inventory of resources (practice flutes, printing supplies for instruction printouts, etc.), and she created a virtual website containing resources for virtual classes.
When her Gold project was successfully completed, she didn’t walk away from the music students. She continued to work with them and have even worked to create a transition plan so City Hope Refugee can have the resources to continue providing music instructions with the refugee students.
Throughout high school Christine has demonstrated dedication and leadership with all she has been involved in and has made a remarkable difference and had an impact on our community.
Christine plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology this fall.
