Senior Gabrielle Culberson was selected as Darlington’s nominee for the Exchange Club's A.C.E. Award (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) and went on to win the area award, which honors high school students who have demonstrated exceptional perseverance, character, and achievement while overcoming significant obstacles.
"Darlington celebrates Gabrielle’s well-deserved recognition and is proud of the example she sets for our community," said Chris Allen, Upper School counselor.
During her high school journey, Culberson faced extraordinary medical challenges, including having both kidneys removed. Remarkably, within weeks, she returned to school, walking the halls, attending classes, and continuing daily life while undergoing nightly dialysis.
"Our 'normal' was brought to an abrupt halt on Dec. 19, 2022," said Rayan Hart-Culberson, Gabrielle's mother. "It was a Monday afternoon in New Orleans. Gabrielle and I were getting ready to see to see her favorite band in concert when the phone rang. It was her doctor from Children's Health Care of Atlanta asking if we could return home and head to the hospital. To say it shook me to the core would be an understatement. We headed out the next morning and drove straight to the hospital. They admitted her and performed a kidney biopsy. It was at that point they told us she had rapidly declined, was in kidney failure and had End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The next few months were a blur from hospital stays and surgeries."
Culberson's resilience led her and her family to launch One Kid One Kidney, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families navigating dialysis and the search for a living kidney donor. What began as a deeply personal journey has grown into a foundation offering advocacy, education, and encouragement to others facing similar challenges.
"The same determination that shaped Gabrielle’s response to adversity is evident in her academic achievements," said Allen. "She has already been accepted to the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech and is currently awaiting decisions from several other highly selective universities. Yet her accomplishments extend far beyond college acceptances."
A day student, Culberson has taken 18 Honors and AP classes in high school. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, the Young Democrats, Varsity Library, Hugs & Threads and the varsity girls' soccer team. She is also a member of Darlington's Senior Ventures program, where her project focuses on political education for students.
Outside of school, Culberson is a graduate of Youth Leadership Bartow and has participated in Harvard Summer School Program and the Brown Environmental Leadership Lab: Eastern Sierras. She also organizes an annual blanket drive for the children on the transplant floor of Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta.
Gabrielle is the daughter of Rayan Hart-Culberson of Cartersville, Ga.
