The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, now in its 55th year, is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Education. Since its inception, the STAR program has honored more than 23,500 students and the teacher they have selected as having had the most influence on their academic success. To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on a three-part SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on a grade point average.
STAR begins each year in participating high schools throughout Georgia when the STAR student is named and chooses a STAR teacher to share in this recognition. The students and their teachers are honored by their schools and receive special recognition in their communities from more than 165 statewide civic organizations and businesses that serve as local sponsors of the STAR program. Students then compete for school system titles, and those winners compete for region honors. Region winners compete for the honor of being named State PAGE STAR Student.
Bristal Thompson, a senior at Worth County High School, was recently chosen to receive the title of STAR Student. The Kiwanis Club of Sylvester sponsors this award. On behalf of the Kiwanis Club and President Mike Davis, Bristal will receive a scholarship to a college of her choice. Bristal chose Sue Youngblood as the teacher that had the most influence on her academic success. Youngblood teaches English at Worth County High School and is also the competition cheerleading coach at the school. Bristal’s Parents are Ricky and Dawn Thompson. Bristal and Mrs. Youngblood were recognized on Wednesday, March 13th at the Kiwanis Club’s weekly meeting.
The mission of the PAGE Foundation is to recruit, develop, retain and recognize outstanding teachers for all Georgia students. Through its sponsorship of Future Educators Association of Georgia (FEA Georgia), Student Professional Association of Georgia Educators (SPAGE), PAGE Foundation Scholarships and professional learning, the PAGE Foundation works to recruit capable people to the teaching profession and provide career-long professional learning opportunities for educators.
STAR is one of several programs of academic excellence sponsored by the Foundation. Other academic competitions include the PAGE Georgia Academic Decathalon (GAD) and the PAGE Academic Bowl for Middle Grades.