Samuel McGinnis Is County STAR
Samuel McGinnis was named Jasper County’s STAR student at the STAR banquet held last Thursday at the Monticello Kiwanis Club meeting at the First United Methodist Church.
He chose Martha Mock as his STAR teacher. Mr. McGinnis was the STAR student for Piedmont Academy.
Also honored last Thursday was Steven Bradley and his STAR teacher Michael Cooper. They are Jasper County High School’s STARs.
The young men were chosen as their school STARs based on their scores on the SAT. Each of them made the highest score in their school on the college board test.
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Pictured in the top photo are (left to right) Jimmy Jordan, representative for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), the statewide sponsor of the STAR program; Bob Ferrante, president of the Monticello Kiwanis Club, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Bradley, Mr. McGinnis, Ms. Mock, and Dr. Mike Newton, superintendent of Jasper County public schools and Kiwanian in charge of Thursday’s program.
Dr. Newton told the students that it is his sincere hope and desire that after they go off to college and see a little more of the world that they will think about coming back home. He then introduced the guest speaker, Ann Mercer, retired long-time educator who remains active in the community.
Mrs. Mercer said Jasper County can be proud to have two good school systems. She told the young STARs that they should make it a point to learn from their experiences. She told them some of the qualities she thought are essential to success—those of determination, passion, foundation and values. She urged them to volunteer for causes they believe in.
Mr. Jordan, who retired as principal of Jasper County High School before going to work for PAGE gave a little history of the STAR program which is 53 years old. He then introduced the STAR students and had them introduce their STAR teachers.
Mr. McGinnis said he enjoys soccer, track and cross country. He said he took honors classes throughout high school to prepare him for a career in the U.S. Navy either through the U.S. Naval Academy or through the Naval Reserve program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He introduced his STAR teacher who referred to Mr. McGinnis’ ingenuity and mischieviousness. She said that one of the most important rules to follow is to “be kind.” She also encouraged Mr. McGinnis to do his best, keep his faith in God, and maintain his good sense of humor.
Steven Bradley then spoke. He said he moved to Jasper County schools with a student body of about 500 from Newton County where his school had a student body of about 2,000. He said he enjoys writing, poems, anything. He said that he tried to excel in school by taking honors and advanced placement classes. He plans to attend the University of Georgia for four years and study economics and sociology, and eventually move to Chicago where he will get his doctorate in economics, then teach.
He said he selected Mr. Cooper because he stood out to him as a man of character. He said that Mr. Cooper comes off a little gruff, but indicated that the image doesn’t last. Mr. Bradley said Mr. Cooper sees talent in students and then finds a way to bring it out.
Mr. Cooper told of the first time he heard Mr. Bradley practicing for a speech to be made in one of this classes, and said that he was entranced. He had high praise for Mr. Bradley.
