HISTORIC THREE-WAY TIE
Houston County High School seniors David Kwak and Brandon Schmitz, and The Westfield School senior, Elizabeth Gentry are the 2020 System Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Student winner for Houston County. Their STAR Teachers are Mrs. Randi Collier (David Kwak), Mrs. Jennifer McDaniel (Brandon Schmitz) and Mrs. Anna Caulley (Elizabeth Gentry). The winners were announced during a program hosted by the Robins Regional Chamber and Perry Area Chambers of Commerce on February 4th at the Houston County Board of Education Auditorium in Perry. The students and their teachers will attend the Region STAR banquet in March. To obtain the nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT. Students must also be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average. Each STAR student selects a STAR teacher who has been the most influential in his or her academic success.
Each f the three system-winning students received a total of $500 in cash awards and a certificate. System teachers and all students recognized receive a $100 cash award. All teachers received a STAR keepsake for their classroom as well.
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| AARON HODO Warner Robins High School Teacher: Mrs. Felicia Hackney |
BRANDON SCHMITZ Warner Robins High School Teacher: Mrs. Jennifer McDaniel |
CHASE FLETCHER Northside High School Teacher: Mrs. Kimberly Stewart |
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| DAVID KWAK Houston County High School Teacher: Mrs. Randi Collier |
ELIZABTH GENTRY The Westfield School Teacher: Mrs. Anna Caulley |
ETHAN DORR Warner Robins High School Teacher: Dr. Alan Bowers |
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| TREVOR VANDERSALL Perry High School Teacher: Dr. Dawn Knapek |
ABOUT STAR
The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia’s highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program has honored nearly 27,500 students, who have in turn chosen their STAR Teachers to share in this recognition. Every accredited high school in Georgia is eligible to participate in this preeminent student/teacher academic recognition.
In the mid-1990s, The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation was asked by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the State Department of Education to assume responsibility for the oversight, administration, and promotion of the statewide STAR program. The PAGE Foundation, the PAGE Foundation Board of Trustees, the 95,000-plus PAGE members and the PAGE Board of Directors are privileged to continue the tradition of recognizing Georgia’s future leaders and honoring the professional educators who have nurtured these scholars.
To obtain the STAR nomination, high school students must have the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average. Nominee’s SAT scores must be equal to or higher than the 2019 national average scores on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math sections of the SAT. High school STAR Students compete for system titles, and System STAR Students, in turn, compete for region-wide honors in the 12 STAR Regions (a listing of the 12 STAR Regions is provided on the last page of the STAR Manual). Region Winners are invited to Atlanta to compete for state PAGE STAR scholarships and awards. High school STAR Students are asked to name their STAR Teachers, who continue with their STAR Students at every level of the program.
Locally, STAR Students and STAR Teachers are honored by their schools and receive special recognition in their communities from one of the more than 172 civic organizations and businesses that serve as local STAR sponsors. Region recognitions are coordinated by Region Chairs, who serve as ambassadors for the state program in the 12 STAR Regions. The State PAGE STAR Banquet, held in Atlanta each year, is a gala affair attended by several hundred STAR supporters, including STAR Students and Teachers (who attend as guests of their local sponsors), their families, civic and business leaders and many Georgia educators.
At the state banquet, the Region Winners and all local winners attending are recognized. Region Winners are interviewed, and the State PAGE STAR Student and STAR Teacher are announced. At the local, regional and state levels, the PAGE STAR program unites educators with the business and civic community to honor academic excellence.
