Sirocus Barnes from Horizons Atlanta at Georgia Institute of Technology has been named as one of two recipients of the 2019 Horizons Leadership Award on March 1st, 2019, which is given to a Horizons Executive Director or Site Director who contributes both on a local and national level and embodies the spirit of Horizons: inspiring minds, building community, and transforming lives.

Sirocus Barnes helped launch the Horizons Atlanta at Georgia Tech program in 2013 as part of his role as Education Outreach Coordinator at Georgia Tech’s Center for Education, Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC). In January 2015, as the site continued to grow and add students, he assumed the role of full-time Site Director.

Under his leadership, Georgia Tech’s program has expanded both by increasing the number of cohorts at each grade level and by starting a high school program. Sirocus is viewed as a leader in the out-of-school-time field, especially in the area of project-based learning. He has presented numerous times at the National Summer Learning Association conference and most recently was recognized as one of the top-rated presenters at the National Afterschool Association Convention. 

The awards were given at the Annual Dinner celebration held in conjunction with the Horizons Annual Conference, which convenes Horizons program leaders, teachers, and board members from the more than 55 Horizons programs in 20 states.

Other awards presented at the event include:

• Joe Aleardi, Executive Director of Horizons at Greens Farms Academy, was also awarded the Horizons Leadership Award
• Jen Lutz, Reading Specialist at Horizons at Episcopal Academy; Jacqueline Roberson, Senior Program Dean of Students and Culture at Horizons at New Canaan Country School; and Susan Shaw, Kindergarten Teacher at Horizons at The Foote School, were awarded the Lyn McNaught Teacher Award, honoring educators who have excelled in Horizons’ classrooms by providing exemplary opportunities for our youth
• Gita Iyer, Horizons at Dedham Country Day School Board President, was given the Horizons Hero Award, recognizing those who contribute in extraordinary and unexpected ways to the Horizons National network
• Amy Downer, Horizons Alum and Horizons National Board Vice-Chair, received the Andrew Clarkson Award, honoring an individual for his or her longevity of commitment, embodiment of the Horizons mission, and work that can be leveraged across the network

About Horizons National 

Horizons National is a growing, community-centered network of over 50 affiliate sites nationwide that provides high-quality academic enrichment programs to children in need, from Pre-K through high school. Located on the campuses of independent schools, charter schools, colleges, and universities, Horizons programs offer a project-based curriculum, focused on reading, STEM, the arts, fitness, nutrition, and field trips.