(l-r) PAGE Executive Director Craig Harper, Runner-up State PAGE STAR Teacher Adam Brooks, Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student Jake Churchill, State PAGE STAR Student Joyce Liu, State PAGE STAR Teacher Rebecca Martin, PAGE President Hayward Cordy, Ed.D., and PAGE Foundation President Ann Stucke, Ph.D.
Joyce Qiaosi Liu, a senior at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA, is the 2019 State PAGE STAR Student. She named Mrs. Rebecca Martin, her AP calculus teacher at Lowndes High School, as her State PAGE STAR Teacher. Robert “Jake” Churchill, a senior at North Atlanta High School of Atlanta Public Schools, is the Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student. He named Mr. Adam Brooks, his band teacher at North Atlanta High School, as his STAR Teacher.
The announcement came at the State PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) STAR Banquet, on Monday, April 29, 2019, at the Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta in Duluth, GA. Fifteen PAGE STAR Student Region Winners were finalists in the culminating event of the annual STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program for high school seniors. Among the 15 finalists, six scored 1600 on one administration of the SAT, and all were in the top 10 percent or top 10 of their class. The search for the State PAGE STAR Student began earlier this school year with the naming of a record-breaking 609 local STAR Students from each of the participating public and independent high schools across the state. In turn, those STAR students then recognized the teacher who had the most influence on their success as their STAR Teacher.
“Recognizing these outstanding students and their teachers in region events and then at the state banquet each year is our great honor,” said PAGE Executive Director Craig Harper. “We are pleased to be a major sponsor and administrator for the STAR program to ensure that Georgia’s excellent students and teachers receive the attention they’ve earned through their success.”
PAGE and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce are primary sponsors of the state event. Additional sponsors include the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, the PAGE Foundation, The Mozelle Christian Endowment, and Windstream Communications. Since its inception, the STAR program has honored more than 27,000 students and their teachers for academic excellence.
Joyce Liu is a resident of Valdosta, GA, and is the daughter of Li-Mei Chen and Chunlei Liu. As this year’s State PAGE STAR Student, Joyce was honored with a $5,000 scholarship from PAGE, presented by Dr. Hayward Cordy, president of the PAGE Board of Directors. State PAGE STAR Teacher Rebecca Martin of Valdosta, GA, received a $2,500 cash award from the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, presented by Dr. Ann Stucke, president of the PAGE Foundation. Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student Jake Churchill was presented a PAGE $1,000 scholarship by Dr. Stucke. Jake is the son of Lee and Leslie Churchill and is a resident of Atlanta, GA. Jill Hay, PAGE general counsel, presented the Runner-up State PAGE STAR Teacher Mr. Adam Brooks of College Park, GA, with a $500 award from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, along with the $500 Mozelle Christian Endowment Award. Each state winner received a crystal award presented by Craig Harper, PAGE executive director, and J Berkshire, Windstream Communications state president.
Windstream Communications and PAGE sponsored the state banquet. Local STAR students and teachers attending the banquet received a memento of the evening. At the 12 PAGE STAR Region events, Region STAR Students received a $400 cash scholarship from PAGE. Region STAR Teachers received a $200 award from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
PAGE honors outstanding students and educators and encourages academic excellence through competitive academic initiatives such as PAGE STAR, the PAGE Academic Bowl for Middle Grades, and the PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon.
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The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) is a statewide professional association of more than 97,000 educators, administrators and support personnel. PAGE provides professional learning to enhance competence and confidence, build leadership, and increase student achievement while providing the best in membership, legal services, and legislative support.
Professional Association of Georgia Educators
PO Box 942270
Atlanta, GA 31141-2270
770-216-8555 / 800-334-6861