Amber York Is County STAR Student

Amber York was named Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) student for Jasper County at a luncheon held Monday by the Monticello Kiwanis Club at Monticello First United Methodist Church.

Miss York’s teacher, Christie McAlum, is county STAR teacher.

Also honored Monday was Wyatt Galloway, a senior at Piedmont Academy and his STAR teacher, Leslie White.

Both students won the STAR student recognition for their respective schools, and then Miss York received the county honors.

The STAR student program is sponsored statewide by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), and Jimmy Jordan introduced each of the STARs, and announced Miss York as the winner.

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Miss York is involved in numerous extracurricular activities at the schools, including being a student ambassador, a percussionist in the band, a member of Technology Students Association (TSA), once-act, trio, Quiz Bowl team, Beta Club, debate team, Envirothon, physics bowl, and being active in the spring musical and Poetry Out Loud. She introduced herself saying she has four cats, and loves Broadway musicals. Miss York is not certain what she wants to do after high school, and has applied to 10 colleges, and is debating her major. She went to Governor’s Honors in math, and has tutored in math for two summers.

She picked her math teacher as her STAR teacher because of their bond. Ms. McAlum is Quiz Bowl sponsor, and Miss York tutored alongside Ms. McAlum.

Ms. McAlum said that besides being a great student with good studying skills, Miss York is a really giving person. She says she looks for things she can do to help. She is proactive, said Ms. McAlum. She also has great patience with the other students. Ms. McAlum said she has a quirky personality and is a joy to be around.

She said that she has just scratched the surface of her academic potential, and that she expects great things from her.

Wyatt Galloway, Piedmont’s STAR student has attended Piedmont Academy since he was in kindergarten. He said he’s had many influential teachers, including his mom, Beth, but he chose his English teacher, Leslie White has his STAR teacher. HE said he could rely on her, and she is a very good teacher. He said her organization in class made it easier to learn, and helped him a lot. He said English was not his favorite class, but Mrs. White taught him to focus and work on it. He spoke of the crazy homework assignments, that helped him improve. He said she is a good friend, a good teacher, and has taught him a great deal about English and life.

Mr. Galloway is a Hugh O’Brien Youth Leader, and attended the program for two years. He is a member of FCA, FFA, and served as a mentor. He said the HOBY experience taught him how to deal with different kinds of people.

Mr. Galloway hopes to attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., but has also applied for a NROTC scholarship in case it doesn’t get appointed to the Naval Academy.

Mrs. White had high praise for Mr. Galloway saying he is the kind of student every teacher wishes she could have. She said she first knew him as Beth’s son, but that he charted his own course. She said he has all the characteristics of success, and thanked him for naming her STAR teacher.

Jimmy Jordan talked a little about the STAR program, which recognizes students who have the highest SAT score, and are also in the top 10 percent of their class. PAGE is the statewide sponsor of the program, but some 165 organizations serve as local sponsors. The STAR program began in the 1950s.

The speaker for the luncheon was David Artessa, a 2002 graduate of Piedmont Academy. He is the associate pastor/youth minister at Monticello Baptist Church.

He said he was blessed to know early on that he wanted to be a pastor. But, he didn’t like public speaking. He told the students and those assembled that they must learn to face obstacles and few them as opportunities for growth.

He encouraged the youth to find something they can be passionate about and to pursue that. He also said it is important to have patience, and to work hard. Lastly, he encouraged the students to set their goals high, and enjoy the journey to achieving those goals.