(L to R, seated): Jacob Carpenter, Jackson Newton, Danny Carter, Jr., Roman Edwards, Amelia Peacock; (standing): Will Adams, LaRee Findley, Dana Manning, Margaret Pournelle, and Steve Miller.
The STARS were shining brightly recently in the gymnasium of Robert Toombs Christian Academy as the home of the Crusaders hosted students in five local high schools, who were recognized for their diligence in learning.
Sponsored locally by the Vidalia Kiwanis Club, the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program – or STAR as it is called - is promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the PAGE Foundation. To be selected as the STAR Student, seniors must have the highest scored on a single test date on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and be in the Top 10 percent or Top 10 students in their class based on grade point average.
After the student is selected, he or she then chooses a STAR Teacher, an instructor who that student believes has been influential on their scholastic achievements.
STAR Students and their teachers include Jacob Carpenter of Montgomery County High School who selected Will Adams, an 8th grade Physical Science teacher as his teacher; Danny Carter, Jr., of the Toombs County School System who selected Dana Manning, a Science/Human Anatomy teacher as his teacher; Jackson Newton of Robert Toombs Christian Academy who selected LaRee Findley, a 12th grade Economics/American Government teacher as his STAR Teacher; Roman Edwards of Vidalia City School who chose Theater Arts/World Literature teacher Margaret Pournelle as STAR Teacher; and Amelia Peacock of Vidalia Heritage Academy was the STAR student and chose Math teacher Steve Miller was her STAR Teacher.
One local student will be selected to represent the five school systems regionally, and if successful there, the local representative will go on to compete to be named the State STAR Student. In addition, each STAR Teacher will also continue on with their STAR Students at every level of the program.
