Feb 7 2024

Students are pictured in alphabetical order by school, from left to right.  

Congratulations to the Cherokee County School District’s 2024 STAR Students and Teachers!

The STAR, or Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, Student honor is awarded to the high school senior from each Georgia public and private high school with the highest score on any single test date of the SAT and who also ranks in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of his or her class based on grade point average.  Each honored student is invited to select his or her favorite teacher to be named that school’s STAR Teacher.

“Congratulations to our STAR Students and Teachers for achieving this special recognition honoring your commitment to academic excellence,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “It takes years of dedication and hard work by our STAR Students to reach this level of success.  Thank you to our STAR Teachers for your important role in this success, as well as in the success of countless other students who benefit from your outstanding classroom instruction, support and care.”  

The CCSD honorees are: 

Cherokee HS
STAR Student: Finnegan Sheldon
STAR Teacher: Wesley Queen

Creekview HS
STAR Student: Kinley Sikes
STAR Teacher: Jason Hardin

Etowah HS
STAR Student: Anvita Rautray
STAR Teacher: Eric Burton

i-Grad Virtual Academy
STAR Student: Olivia Emling
STAR Teacher: Heather Craighead

River Ridge HS 
STAR Student: Adrianna Musser
STAR Teacher: Beckie Lee

Sequoyah HS
STAR Student: Will Murphy
STAR Teacher: Tabitha Evans

Woodstock HS
STAR Student: Xavier Olsen
STAR Teacher: Kellie Baglio

An overall CCSD winner additionally is recognized for earning the highest eligible SAT score of all the STAR Students, and this year’s honoree is Kinley Sikes of Creekview HS.  She now advances to regional competition, and the 12 region winners will contend for the State PAGE STAR Student title; STAR Teachers continue with their students through these additional levels of recognition.  It is third time for Mr. Hardin, who teaches AP and Honors Chemistry, to be selected as a STAR Teacher. 

All of CCSD’s STAR students and teachers were honored this week at the annual STAR Student and Teacher Recognition Ceremony presented by the Canton Lions Club, which has been the local sponsor since the STAR program began in 1958.  Each of the high school winners received $500 from the club, and the CCSD winner received an additional $1,000. 

“Each year we are honored to host these amazing students and teachers to recognize their achievement as the STAR Student and Teacher from their high schools,” club President Barb Wicks said.  “We are especially proud of the county winner and her teacher and wish them success at the region level.”

Dr. Hightower said he is grateful for the Canton Lions Club’s continued longtime support of the STAR recognition program.  The CCSD honorees will be recognized by the Cherokee County School Board and Dr. Hightower at the March School Board meeting.

#CCSDfam #2024ccsdgrads

Teachers are pictured in alphabetical order by school, from left to right.