Peter Myer saw a homeless man in need of warm clothes and decided to take action. He organized coat and blanket drives at his school to donate to a local soup kitchen. Last year he collected 80 coats and 30 blankets, and this year hundreds more. His teacher praised Peter for his remarkable accomplishments in school and community service. Peter is also passionate about language learning, becoming fluent in Spanish and studying Mandarin in China for six weeks through a competitive scholarship program. He remains actively involved in multiple school clubs and pursuits, including music. Peter hopes to study international relations and medicine in college.

1. Peter Myer
Standout Student – Peter Myer
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Posted by Reporter Newspapers on March 9, 2014.
Peter Myer
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, senior
One January day a couple of years ago, Peter Myer was in
downtown Atlanta when he saw a homeless man wearing a
short-sleeve shirt.
Peter decided he needed to do something to help. He started
collecting coats and blankets at his school, Holy Innocents’
Episcopal School, with plans to donate them so homeless
people would be able to stay warm during the winter.
Last year, he collected about 80 coats and 30 blankets, and
gave them to Open Door Community, which operates a soup
kitchen in Atlanta. “It was truly a profound experience to see the
work that I did benefiting those in need,” Peter wrote in an email
at the time.
This year, he started collecting donations again. In January and
February, he gathered hundreds of coats and blankets for the
Open Door Community.
Gerard Gatoux, a teacher at Holy Innocents’, said Peter’s unselfishness “is a rare and notable
characteristic in such a young person.”
“I am extremely proud of this remarkable young man,” Gatoux said. “His numerous accomplishments in
school, on the field, in his community, and in the world, demonstrate his amazing capacity to lead and
excel academically, athletically and artistically.
“I often think of him as a Renaissance man: Eagle Scout, recipient of the National Security Language
Initiative for Youth in China, recipient of the 2012 “Best Negotiator” Model United Nations, selected in the
Wofford Scholars Program, recipient of the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit Award, and musician,
singer and soccer player.”
Peter also is fascinated by languages. He considers himself fluent in Spanish, and tutors students at
LaAmistad, where he helps Spanish-speaking students with their homework.
Last summer, Peter traveled to China. He was selected after a year-long, nationally competitive process
for a fully-funded, merit-based scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Education and Cultural Affairs.
Peter traveled to Jiaxing, China, where he studied Mandarin for six weeks. He said he studied the
language for four hours a day, five days a week, and on weekends. He lived in a dorm with three Chinese
students.

2. Peter Myer, center, with Eduard Loring, left, and Murphy Davis, right, at
the Open Door Community facility.
“It was amazing,” he said. “It may sound cliché,
but it truly changed my life. My perspective on
everything and how I approach things is now
completely different.”
Not only is Peter thoroughly involved in service
work and languages, but he also is active in
school clubs, including the all-male a cappella
group called the Beartones, after the school
mascot, the Golden Bear.
He’s also musical. He plays guitar, piano, viola,
and is learning the ukulele.
And last year, during the National Honor
Society’s induction, Peter asked his girlfriend to
prom by singing a solo of “My Girl,” a song
made famous by The Temptations.
What’s Next:
Peter hopes to study international relations and take courses required for a medical degree. He hopes to
attend Duke University, Princeton University, Davidson College, Washington and Lee University or Brown
University.
This article was prepared by Sierra Middleton, a student at Mount Vernon Presbyterian School.