When John C. Bell Jr. thinks of Richmond County's STAR Students, one word comes to mind.
"They're sharp," Mr. Bell said. "They're good folks. They're picked for their potential."
The annual Student Teacher Academic Recognition honors the students with the highest SAT score who are ranked in the top 10 percent of their classes from the county's high schools.
Today, the countywide winner will be announced from among the school level STAR Students during a luncheon of the Augusta Kiwanis Club.
The program also allows STAR Students to recognize the teachers who have had the most influence on their success.
Mr. Bell said the community doesn't do enough to recognize students who excel academically and the teachers who enable them to achieve such success.
That's why he enjoys coordinating the program each year for the Kiwanis Club.
Paine College President George Bradley will be the guest speaker for the STAR Program.
Monday's winner will advance to compete in the next round of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators competition and could vie for the state title.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
STAR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
A.R. JOHNSON
Student: Kaitlyn Logan
Teacher: Helga Enko
AQUINAS
Student: Joel M. Joseph
Teacher: Ann Bell
CROSS CREEK
Student: Shawn Patrick Leonard Jr.
Teacher: John Bryant
TEXT
RICHMOND ACADEMY
Student: Sara Elizabeth Cavallo
Teacher: Mark Hallman
ALLELUIA COMMUNITY
Student: Ruth Hymel
Teacher: Anita McKie
HEPHZIBAH
Student: Ryan Dennis Krepps
Teacher: Clinton Borders
JOSEY
Student: Chantal S. Gunn
Teacher: Gussie Carlyle
WESTMINSTER
Student: Rebecca Wiggins
Teacher: Susan Smith
CURTIS BAPTIST
Student: Sarah Harrison
Teacher: Gail Robinson
BUTLER
Student: Keyada Briana Frye
Teacher: Michael Lester
DAVIDSON
Student: Yueran Aaron Yuan
Teacher: William Brown
WESTSIDE
Student: Michael Daniel Wilson
Teacher: Faith Wittke
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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John Bell is correct when he asserts that greater Augusta doesn't do enough to recognize academic excellence among our students and to thank the teachers who help them attain it. What more needs to be done to recognize high scholarship and to thank highly effective teachers? When will be begin DOING what needs to be done. The STAR program is a good STARt- but it's only a start.
At last some good news about our young citizens. Keep up the good work. We love ya.
Good Job !!!!!!
This should be about recognition of students NOT teachers. Teachers have their own recognition forums.
I can't believe the chronicle actually printed a article. About something positive in richmond county schools. Usually the chronicle is very biased against RC. Hell must be freezing over or atleast Augusta today. Excellent job by our young people!
I wrote a comment on the original RICHMOND COUNTY STAR student story at 2:57pm today that just featured Yueran Aaron Yuan but that story has completely disappeared along with my comment, so I'll say it again: CONGRATULATIONS Aaron! I know a young man that tied your SAT score but understood that he wasn't as high in the class ranking as you are and was hoping you would win under the circumstances. We are all proud of you and happy for you. That includes me, he, and your other friends, too. I also found out you and some of your classmates are going to STATE for the Science Olympiad! Congratulations for that, too! I hope all of you will continue to be lifelong learners and high achievers. Congratulations to all the other STAR students and God bless their teachers.
Okay, I found the article about Aaron is still on here, but why does the article above say Top STAR student named today, and then not name the Top STAR student. Should it have said students? or has the Top STAR student actually been named. I'm going back to the other article again. This is confusing.
Oh, I see, it looks like the OTHER article is the one that should say Top STAR Student named today. This article doesn't name him, I guess because it meant he or she was GOING to be named today. The other article I read from later/2:57pm today does. The Richmond County Top STAR student is Yueran Aaron Yuan from Davidson per that article.