By Monroe Roark
Times Correspondent 

  Thirteen of Henry County’s brightest high school students were honored February 28 at the annual STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Breakfast, sponsored by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, with Union Grove senior Anthony Michael Ciccarello named the countywide STAR Student for 2013.

Anthony Ciccarello, Henry County’s 2013 STAR Student, celebrates his award with his parents, Mike and Gina, along with his STAR Teacher, Jackie Hand (left).      Photo by Monroe Roark

  Students represented the nine public high schools in the county along with four private schools. Each STAR Student is in the top ten percent of his or her class and has the highest SAT score in that group.

  In noting Ciccarello’s 2340 composite SAT score (a perfect score is 2400), county school superintendent Dr. Ethan Hildreth accurately categorized it as “stratospheric.”

  The program at Eagle’s Landing Country Club included a flag presentation by the Eagle’s Landing High School NJROTC Color Guard and musical selections from the ELHS Saxophone Quartet. The students were also challenged and entertained by the morning’s keynote speaker, Chief State Court Judge Ben Studdard, a Henry County High School graduate and the 1979 countywide STAR Student.

  Each of the 13 students were allowed a moment to address the audience, reflecting upon the meaning of the award personally and their inspiration for educational excellence while giving insight on future college plans and the possibility of returning to Henry County after college. As one might expected, all of the recipients indicated that their plans included post-graduate studies, mostly in a scientific field.

  Ciccarello plans to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado upon graduation from Union Grove. He is the second straight Wolverine to take home the countywide STAR Student honor.

  Jackie Hand was Ciccarello’s ninth-grade honors English teacher, and he chose her as his STAR Teacher. This is the second time Hand has been a STAR Teacher. Nine of the 13 teachers present were being honored as STAR Teacher for at least the second time.

  Each of the winners from the individual schools was recognized separately, along with everyone who came to support them. These groups typically included parents and/or grandparents, guidance counselors and school administrators.

  Here are the remaining STAR Student and STAR Teachers honorees from the various schools represented at the event:

  Bible Baptist Christian School – Brittany Burdette, Mr. Andrew Broere.

  Community Christian School – Christopher Campbell, Mr. Stan Adkins.

  Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy – Sol Ah Jung, Mr. Don Moseley.

  Strong Rock Christian School – Cayla Doolittle, Mrs. Kyle Mann.

  Dutchtown High School – Ammad Ashraf, Mrs. Danielle Boyum.

  Eagle’s Landing High School – Charles G. Campbell, Mrs. Julie Harrison.

  Henry County High School – James “Collin” Garnett, Ms. Renee Owen.

  Locust Grove High School – Courtney Storm Allen, Mr. Nick Gillies.

  Luella High School – Savannah Rose Holcomb, Mrs. Lisa Boyd.

  Ola High School – Patrick P. Oney, Dr. Katrina Pandya.

  Stockbridge High School – Sydney Wilson, Ms. Joy Hebert.

  Woodland High School – Preston “Nash” Van Zandvliet, Mr. Michael Shook.

  Ciccarello and Hand will now compete at the regional level for a chance to move on to the state competition.

  The Georgia STAR program is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Department of Education.  The Henry County STAR program is sponsored by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with several businesses throughout the county.