First published on Baton Rouge Parents Magazine's website and in the July 2021 issue.
In high school, Ivory Gipson maintained a near-perfect GPA and was a
three-sport varsity athlete, band member, fellow in the Baton Rouge
Youth Coalition (BRYC), vice president of the Goal Society, and held
down a part-time job. “I did every sport and every club that was there
in my time at Northeast,” he says.
The recent graduate was named one of six 2021 Louisiana Young Heroes by
Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The program celebrates achievements of
inspiring students who make their communities better places. Ivory found
out he was named a Young Hero while on a college visit with Lucas
Spielfogel, Ivory’s mentor in BRYC and the organization’s executive
director, who nominated him.
Ivory, 18, credits his mom, Latasha Gipson, for his success. “My mom is
my superhero without a cape,” he says. “She’ll take her last $20 out of
her wallet so I can do something.”
Latasha also taught Ivory to be a caregiver, as he has helped her care
for his four-year-old niece Unica Mitchell, which he calls his proudest
accomplishment. “I think I’m her favorite person. She’s kind of got me
wrapped around her finger.”
The next step for Ivory is a full-ride to Skidmore College in Saratoga
Springs, New York. Ivory knew it was the right school for him when he
visited with Spielfogel. “I could feel myself being there,” Ivory
shares.
As a Young Hero, caregiver, excellent student and star athlete, Ivory is certainly one amazing kid.