Fannin County High School (FCHS)’s Madeline Schueneman is Fannin County’s STAR student for 2026, and Miranda Roof is the STAR teacher.
STAR, Student Teacher Achievement Recognition by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), takes the top performing student in participating counties and has them compete at a regional level.
If advanced from regionals, students then go on to state competition. Regional competition will take place next month.
PAGE measures grade point average among peers in their respective schools along with SAT scores.
The STAR student nominates a teacher for recognition.
A ceremony honoring the students and teachers was hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge February 9.
The students were awarded $1,000 and $500 scholarships by the club.
In Fannin County, Schueneman was in competition for the spot with Mountain Area Christian Academy’s Holly Dressler.
Dressler nominated history teacher Brenda Crawford as her STAR teacher.
Schueneman has plans to attend Georgia Tech and pursue a degree in biology, but she is still unsure of what she wants to do career wise; aspirations include Christian ministry.
Both Schueneman and Dressler expressed a desire for ministry missions work and a passion for music.
FCHS Principal Dr. Scott Ramsey said besides being an exceptional student, Schueneman “is the nicest person” he’s ever met.
Of Roof, Schueneman told how Roof was her gifted program teacher in the third grade as well as her running club advisor in elementary school.
In high school, Roof coached Schueneman in track and field and cross country. Roof noted that Schueneman finished third individually in cross country in the region this past season.
Schueneman also plays tennis and is in the marching band.
“I love Jesus, people, service and learning,” Schueneman said.
Of Schueneman, Roof said, “She never backed down from an academic challenge and always had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel welcome.”