Brianna Ebony Simpson knew what she needed after graduating from high school, and she knew she wouldn’t find it at a large university. While her friends headed to Yale and Georgia Tech, Simpson looked for a college with small classes and access to professors so she could develop the strong academic foundation and study skills she had not acquired in high school.

She chose Georgia Perimeter College, where she not only gained confidence in her academic abilities, she participated in campus events, became active in Alpha Beta Gamma -- the Business honor society -- and was nominated by instructors as a student of excellence for the Decatur campus.

Simpson, a Business Administration major, graduated May 4 with a 3.5 GPC, and is moving on to Georgia State University to continue her studies toward a bachelor’s degree. Her goal is a career that combines business with her love for the arts.