Students let their star shine bright

Some of the brightest young minds and teachers in the Houston County school system were awarded Wednesday evening at the annual STAR Student and STAR Teacher Achievement Recognition program at the Board of Education’s central office in Perry. The program was presented by the Perry Chamber of Commerce and Robins Regional Chamber Education Foundation.

The program is aimed to recognize the top student at each high school in the Houston County School District and that student selects a teacher that has been most influential to their academic success. In order to receive a nomination, that high school senior student must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and they must be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.

The 2018 Star Students and Teachers form each Houston County School are:

•Houston County High School: Student Devin Hajjari and Teacher Shirl Williams

•Northside High School: Student Harry A. Patel and Teacher Patricia Ogletree

•Perry High School: Student Ryan Faulkner and Teacher Thomas Dunbar

•Veterans High School: Student Andrew Babbitt and Teacher Jennifer Douglass

•Warner Robins High School: Student Laurence Leon and Teacher Mark Stevens

•The Westfield School: Student Madelaine Kinnebrew and Teacher Judy McLure

“We value education and there’s a rich history in Houston County of valuing our youth and we got proud examples of that on stage this evening,” said Houston County School Superintendent Dr. Mark Scott.

Each student had a chance to speak and share their individual thoughts on everything from what the honor means to them, their school, their families and the impact their STAR teacher had on them, as well as other teachers who have taught them throughout their four years of high school.

Hajjari, who hopes to major in computer science or computer engineering in college spoke about his first encounter with his STAR teacher, Ms. Williams. “I first met her in my freshman year at the annual AP night where she told me a AP Science course would be to challenging for a sophomore. I took the class and I got a 100 in it. I say that like the class was easy but it really wasn’t but she made it feel that way because of how she teaches it.”

“I like to think my family, my friends, my teachers and also my school,” said Patel, who plans on attending the University of Georgia to major in Biochemistry, and later go to medical school to become a physician and specialize in radiology. “My school has always been there for me whenever I felt like I don’t need to go home because I’m at school. That’s where I always learn and it’s like home away from home.”

Faulkner, who recently got accepted into Georgia Tech and will major in computer science next fall, explained to the audience how his passion for the subject developed. “My freshman year and sophomore year, I was undecided as to what I wanted to be and even toyed with the idea of becoming a teacher. Junior year I took a AP science class and I realized I could get a job just sitting at home on a computer and I fell in love,” said Faulkner, as the crowd at hand chuckled with laughter.

Leon thanked his Calculus teacher Mr. Stevens, who interestingly enough taught all three of his siblings in high school. “He’s been teaching calculus for a long time and teaching it well he does a real good job and deserves recognition for it,” said Leon, who wants to study physics and become a theoretical physicist.

“When I found out I was STAR Student, I knew it would be difficult to select only one teacher but I knew one teacher really deserved this and that was Ms. McLure,” said Kinnebrew, sharing some thoughts about her STAR teacher. “She’s not only a fantastic teacher but she cares about the students’ well-being. She just embodies someone who seeks knowledge and seeks to overcome obstacles. She really taught me the valuable immeasurement of hardwork.”

The STAR student winner for the entire Houston County District was Babbitt, who heaped tons of praises to his Chemistry teacher in 10th and 11th grade Ms. Douglass. “I really enjoyed being able to connect and learn from her and is very inspiring. She has helped push me to do things that I might otherwise not do. Without her being there to challenge me, it would not be as rewarding of an experience in high school,” said Babbitt, who has not decided what school he wants to attend yet (says he’s leaning towards Georgia Tech) but looks forward to studying mathematics and economics.

Each STAR Student was presented a $100 cash award and the system STAR Student received an additional $400. The system STAR Student and STAR Teacher will be invited to the Region STAR banquet held on March 19 at 6:00 p.m. in Macon at Middle Georgia State College. The region winner would next attend the state banquet on April 23 in Atlanta. The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation sponsors, administers and promotes the STAR Program.

HHJ News