STARs To Be Honored Monday

Katie Odegaard is Piedmont Academy’s STAR student, and she chose Daniel Funt as her STAR teacher.

Samantha Talley is Jasper County High School’s STAR student, and she has chosen Brian Patrick as her STAR teacher.

They will all be honored by the Monticello Kiwanis Club at a luncheon next Monday, March 17, at Deptula’s Restaurant.

The Student – Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program recognizes the student in each school with the highest Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score. On Monday, one of the pairs will be named county STAR, and will move on to compete.

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Mr. Funt described the STAR student who chose him as her STAR teacher:

“Katie is a person with excellent academic ability, leadership qualities, and strong moral values. Academically, I have taught Katie since she was a student in the sixth grade. Katie has shown a love for science that few exemplify. Whether I explained cells, biomes, fauna classification, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, or equilibrium, Katie always paid close attention to the details. Katie strives for perfection learning material inside and out, backwards and forwards.

“Along with her studies, Katie has shown strong leadership qualities and a dedication to the school matched by few. Katie is a state champion in One-Act Play and Duo Interpretation and also served as a manager on the football team. During the summer, Katie volunteered her time to work on school improvements. Also, Katie served as an excellent lab assistant dedicating the time to learn the basics about how a laboratory operates. Amazingly, these are just a few of her outstanding accomplishments and acts of stewardship.

“In science, accuracy and precision are quintessential. In leading a successful life, strong moral values are paramount. Katie is a wonderful young adult whom has a witty sense of humor, is caring, and treats people with respect. I know that she will be successful in whatever she decides to pursue.

“I am extremely appreciative of being named her Star teacher and I am thankful for the positive impact she has had on my life as an educator and a person. “

Miss Odegarrd said of her STAR teacher:

“Albert Einstein once said, ‘The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.’ I have always walked my own path in both my academic life and social life.

“Despite my varied social interactions through the soccer and golf teams, one act play, and literary, I have kept my priorities straight and continue to do everything in my power to succeed. After graduating, I plan to attend Gordon State College next year with a double major of biology and chemistry and eventually transfer to Florida State University to pursue a master’s degree and doctorate in biochemistry. I am incredibly grateful to add STAR Student to my list of accomplishments, but I feel this award is more for my STAR Teacher than anyone else.

“Without the influence of Mr. Daniel Funt, I would be yet another college freshman with no idea of what to study or pursue as a career. Prior to meeting Mr. Funt in my sixth grade life science class, I mistakenly thought all academic subjects were dull, including science. Through interesting experiments and his engaging manner of teaching, Mr. Funt opened my eyes to the wonderful world of science.

“My interest in science continued to grow, and after taking biology and chemistry with him in the ninth and tenth grades, I knew I was meant to pursue a career in biochemistry. Six years after first meeting Mr. Funt as a dorky middle school student, I find myself taking AP Chemistry with him as a senior, still every bit as dorky as I was then if not more so. Mr. Funt has always been available to help me in anything such as science fair projects or GHP interviews.

“He proves to be a magnificent teacher, coach, and individual. Mr. Funt has shown me every quality of a leader, the importance of faith, and the value of patience. I am so thankful I could grant him this award and the title of STAR teacher, but I am still greatly indebted to him for helping me find my niche in this world.”

The Jasper County High School STAR Miss Tally is a senior with a 4.0 unweighted grade point average (GPA) and ranks sixth in her class of 108. She has achieved the title of STAR Student by virtue of scoring the highest of any JCHS senior on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

In addition to maintaining a high GPA in her academic and Career, Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) Classes, Miss Tally is very involved in extra-curricular activities at JCHS. She serves as President of the Beta Club, Vice President of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Vice President of Quiz Bowl, and a member of the Leading Ladies Organization as well as the Color Guard.

Miss Tally will be a completer for the Early Childhood Education pathway this year and she will take the End of Pathway Test in April. During her three years of membership in FCCLA, she has competed in the STAR Events, winning region and advancing to state all three years. Last year, her project won state and she advanced to the national competition but was unable to attend.

The daughter of Mark and Betty Tally, Miss Tally moved to north Jasper County from Conyers when she was 10 years old and in the fourth grade. She recognized then that education was the key to her future and that she would need to do well in school in order to do well in life. She has taken numerous Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes at JCHS, and she has already been accepted to Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville where she will study English with the hopes of becoming a certified high school English teacher.

The JCHS STAR Student chose her high school English teacher, Brian Patrick, as her STAR Teacher. “He is my favorite teacher because he brought out my passion for literature by making me think about the true meanings that may be hidden in the writing. He taught me how to think for myself and not just listen to the thoughts of others.” She continued by saying that he has inspired her to become an English teacher, and she expressed appreciation to him for that reason.

In speaking of Samantha, Mr. Patrick said, “Samantha Tally is one of the few students here at the high school with an indefatigable focus. She has committed herself to becoming a literature teacher and has never veered off course. Such dedication is rare, and from a teacher’s perspective, quite refreshing and energizing.

“I first met Samantha after performing in the school’s Poetry Out Loud competition. Her performance was admirable, evincing a full understanding of the poem’s complex point of view. Her accomplishments in American Literature were exceptional as well. Her writing displays a forceful use of style and subtlety to convey ideas without being banal or mechanical. This example of her writing, however, is not a rarity. Every time Samantha sets out to write, she accomplishes what few other students can.”

Mr. Patrick said he is greatly honored to have been chosen by Miss Tally to be STAR Teacher this year. “Her choice carries tremendous weight with me. In the teaching profession, nothing tops being recognized by such eager-minded and accomplished students.”

This is Mr. Patrick’s fifth year teaching at JCHS and his second consecutive year being chosen by a student as the STAR Teacher. Mr. Patrick is married to Melissa, and they have two children and live in Covington.