Aaron Ackermann is a BHS alumnus from the class of 2011. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, and he was adopted when he was 10 months old. He was raised in Buford by Dennis and Leslie Ackermann. He has one brother, Tyler Ackermann, who was also adopted from Thailand at the age of 2. Aaron attended Buford City Schools for 13 years, from kindergarten to senior year.
During his time at BHS, Aaron participated in several extracurricular activities. He played on the football team as a sophomore and on the baseball team as a freshman and as a junior. He was a member of the symphonic band and the jazz band for all four years. Aaron also participated in the marching band in ninth grade, 11th grade and 12th grade. He was also a member of the BHS Beta Club.
Throughout high school, Aaron maintained a 3.8 GPA.
Aaron credits Ms. Kathy Brady as the teacher who had the largest influence on his life during his time at Buford High School.
“She not only helped shape the person I am today but taught me how to be compassionate and have empathy,” Aaron said.
During science class once in eighth grade, Ms. Brady announced to her class that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Aaron took the initiative to round up the whole class and create a massive “Get Well” card. He said it felt great to be able to support her during that difficult time, and he feels like the class helped give her a small boost to fight and beat cancer.
The most important lesson Aaron learned at BHS that he has carried with him in life came from the school’s principal at the time, Banks Bitterman: “It’s not where you start that matters, but it’s where you finish that makes all the difference.”
After graduating from Buford High School, Aaron attended Young Harris College from 2011 to 2013 and the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega from 2013 to 2014. While at Young Harris, Aaron was on the Dean’s List in 2011 and 2012. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Aaron has established a successful insurance agency representing Alfa Insurance in downtown Buford. He came to his current profession by chance as he was shopping for insurance when an insurance agent saw something in Aaron. The insurance agent took Aaron under his wing and taught him the ropes of the industry, which eventually allowed Aaron to open his very own insurance agency.
Aaron chose to have his agency in the beautiful downtown area of the town that he loves and that gave him so much. He loves taking care of the insurance needs of those he grew up with in the community, as well as meeting new people and helping them. Aaron has a natural ability to speak to others and a charisma that draws them in, which has allowed him to be a successful insurance agent.
Aaron currently lives with his fiancée, Madi Lovett, and their three dogs, Triscuit, Wiley and Ruger.
Aaron is an excellent example of all of Buford City Schools’ key values and teachings. We are proud to call him a Buford alumnus. Once a Wolf, always a Wolf!
