The Douglas County Rotary Club honored STAR Students and Teachers on Monday, February 3,
for their exceptional efforts in education. School officials, families and community leaders gathered in the Magnolia Room at Central Office to celebrate the honor that recognizes Georgia’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have guided them to success.
Superintendent North opened the awards luncheon with heartfelt praise, commending parents for their unwavering dedication to student success.
Following his remarks, each STAR student shared a personal story about the teacher who helped shape their academic journey.
Chapel Hill High School Star Student Solomon Reese expressed deep admiration for his STAR Teacher, Savannah Canady, who empowered him to have a voice. Canady had the pleasure of teaching Reese in both Honors Geometry and Honors AP Calculus.
“Ms. Canady has been a very big figure in my high school career because coming out of private school I was very nervous and kind of sheltered,” Reese shared. “I didn’t have a lot of confidence, but Ms. Canady is the one who really brought me out of my shell. She made me realize my love for math-something I never knew until she taught it. She was the first person to make me feel comfortable at my high school, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. I really thank God for this woman because she’s so amazing to me.”
Solomon’s experience was just one of many that illustrated the profound impact STAR teachers have on their students.
County STAR student co-winners Mason Mifflin from Douglas County High School and Kingston Vastine from Lithia Springs High School also shared powerful stories about their STAR Teachers, Band Director Torre Goodson and CTAE/STEM Coordinator Nicole Oliver-Wynn. A consistent theme in the scholars’ experiences was how their teachers inspired them to step beyond their comfort zones, fostering both personal and academic growth.
Their STAR Teachers shared similar reflections, expressing pride in their students’ growth and achievements.
“Mason is an exemplar of what the Douglas County School System has to offer as students,” said Goodson. “I’ve had the unrestricted joy of teaching Mason for the past four years, and each one of those years, he’s proven to be an inspiration.”
Mifflin is a standout student who garnered recognition after achieving a perfect ACT Score and was just 80 points shy of accomplishing a perfect score on the SAT. He has future plans of attending Yale University.
Vastine is considered the first from Lithia Springs High School to hold the honor as district winner. His enthusiasm for programming and cybersecurity ignited his freshman year and will continue throughout his higher education journey at Georgia Tech.
“Kingston is truly one of a kind,” said Oliver-Wynn. “When it comes to leadership, innovation and passion for computer science and cybersecurity, Kingston sets the bar high. He’s a driving force in our STEM program and he is also what the students call ‘the Face of STEM.’”
The two system winners will now advance to compete for region-wide honors in the 12 STAR Regions. Region winners compete for state PAGE STAR scholarships and awards.
Other DCSS STAR students and their STAR teachers honored included:
Alexander High School
• Katrina Rossi (Laura Mummy)
New Manchester High School
• Genesis Cruz (Lindsey Lavin)
To secure the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) nomination, high school seniors must be enrolled in accredited Georgia public or private high school and achieve the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year. Additionally, they must rank within their class’s top 10 percent or top 10 students based on grade point average.
When asked how it felt to be a part of such a significant milestone, Rotary Club President John Baker expressed pride in honoring the distinguished seniors.
“I feel proud," he said. "Too often, we hear about the bad things, but people don’t hear enough about the good things. Today is about celebrating the success stories that deserve the spotlight. For Rotary, it’s about helping to promote the students going forward. It’s a joy to honor them.”
Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program has honored nearly 30,000 students. Furthermore, it remains a testament to the power of education and mentorship.
Congratulations to all of the exceptional honorees!