For the second year in a row Baldwin High School had two students tie for highest scores on the SAT, but this time those high scores were enough to put both students in the highest position for the county. The two STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) winners, Elaine Abella and Xuan Yang each scored a 1570 out of 1600 on their SAT test, and were honored at a special ceremony held by the Milledgeville Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 2nd, along with their STAR Teachers, Jessica Thompson and Michael Blom. STAR students and teachers from JMA and GMC were also recognized.
In her opening speech of the ceremony, Milledgeville Chamber of Commerce Director Kara Lasseter said that "the main purpose of the STAR program is to unite educators with the business and civic community to honor academic excellence." High School STAR winners receive special recognition from more 170 civic organizations and business that serve as local sponsors of the program. Each STAR Student and the STAR Teacher will go on to Atlanta to compete for the state STAR scholarships and awards.
Both students were introduced by Baldwin High School Principal Jason Flanders, who said of STAR Student Elaine Abella, "One of the hardest things to do is to live up to an older sibling (Carlos Abella) that has achieved great things in our school. Carlos was our STAR Student two years ago and now Elaine is our STAR Student!" In addition to being bi-lingual in English and Spanish, she is teaching herself Korean. She is active on the Tennis Team, Yearbook Staff, and has maximized her Dual Enrollment hours. She plans on attending Georgia Tech to study Computer Science. As her STAR Teacher, she chose Mrs. Jessica Thompson who now has the honor of receiving her fourth STAR Teacher award. "Elaine is exactly the type of young woman that I hope my two little girls grow up to be like," Thompson said.
Xuang Yang, who Principal Flanders also introduced, plans to attend Emory University to be a neuroscience researcher. "He said that he was most intrigued by the neuroscience of economics," Flanders said, "why do people buy the things they buy?" Like Abella, Xang also plays tennis and he also works at his family's restaurant during his off time. As his STAR Teacher, he chose Mr. Michael Blom. "When we first met, it was during a time of difficult transition," Blom said, "we were online, but Yang kept coming back. He kept coming back with questions. He was engaged! And that gave me the confidence to keep trying new things. He always demanded a little more."
Congratulations to both students and their teachers on this amazing accomplishment!
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