Written by Molly Baird, AGR
Maliq Brown was an AG Richardson Bulldog from kindergarten through fifth grade, alongside his siblings PJ and Zaria. It was clear from the beginning that all three were raised to value hard work while staying humble.
I had the privilege of teaching Maliq in third grade. That year, I had a class of 17 boys and 6 girls—I honestly thought I was in over my head. But Maliq and his classmates quickly proved otherwise. He always stood out. Whatever he was doing, he gave it 110%, and even at that young age, it was obvious he was destined for great things.
I was so sure of it that I asked him to autograph a newspaper photo from that year—and I still have it hanging in my classroom. It's a daily reminder of the incredible potential our students possess. And yes, I proudly claim to have the very first Maliq Brown autograph!
Fast forward ten years, and I received a text from Maliq and his mom, Tasha. I’ve always felt welcomed and loved by this incredible family, and that connection has only grown stronger over the years. Maliq was back in town and wanted to give back to our AGR community.
In true Maliq fashion—humble and gracious—he didn’t want any big celebration. He simply wanted to recognize our students for their hard work this year, thank the teachers for making AG one of his favorite schools, and surprise everyone with a sweet treat.
Of course, I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate not just AGR, but Maliq as well.
On Friday, our 3rd–5th grade students filled the gym, buzzing with excitement. The energy was electric. When Maliq arrived, he was greeted by 300 cheering students. He spoke to them about the importance of hard work and perseverance, encouraging them to keep pushing forward.
In recognition of their efforts, Maliq gifted every AGR student a CC’s ice cream gift card and donated an autographed jersey to hang in the school’s hallway. The students were thrilled—but even more excited to walk away with an authentic Maliq Brown autograph.
I can’t thank Maliq, Tasha, and the entire Brown family enough for making such a meaningful impact on Friday. Maliq’s visit left a lasting impression on both students and staff and gave us just the boost we needed to finish the year strong.
I’m also pretty sure Maliq now has at least 300 new fans—and we can’t wait to cheer him on during his senior year playing for Duke University!