STAR students, teachers recognized by Kiwanis

  • Joshua Munoz, third from right, was Mountain Area Christian Academy’s (MACA) representative in the county wide Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program. He chose Rachel Jones, second from left, as his STAR teacher. Shown during the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge banquet honoring all the STAR standouts are, from left, MACA Administrator Stephanie Hopper, Jones, Jonah Munoz, Jeff Munoz, Munoz, Mirian Munoz and Kiwanian Troy Shirbroun.
    Joshua Munoz, third from right, was Mountain Area Christian Academy’s (MACA) representative in the county wide Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program. He chose Rachel Jones, second from left, as his STAR teacher. Shown during the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge banquet honoring all the STAR standouts are, from left, MACA Administrator Stephanie Hopper, Jones, Jonah Munoz, Jeff Munoz, Munoz, Mirian Munoz and Kiwanian Troy Shirbroun.
  • Troy Shirbroun of the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge presented James Kyle a $1,000 in recognition of being named this years Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) student. Kiwanian Sharon McFarland is at right.
    Troy Shirbroun of the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge presented James Kyle a $1,000 in recognition of being named this years Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) student. Kiwanian Sharon McFarland is at right.
  • Fannin County High School representative James Kyle, third from right, was named the recipient of this year’s county wide Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) award by the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge. He, in turn, named Bubba Gibbs, second from left, as his STAR Teacher. Shown during the banquet recognizing the program winners are, from left, Fannin County High School Assistant Principal Heather Collis, Gibbs, Conner Kyle, Tim Kyle, James Kyle, Mary Kyle and Christy Zell.
    Fannin County High School representative James Kyle, third from right, was named the recipient of this year’s county wide Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) award by the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge. He, in turn, named Bubba Gibbs, second from left, as his STAR Teacher. Shown during the banquet recognizing the program winners are, from left, Fannin County High School Assistant Principal Heather Collis, Gibbs, Conner Kyle, Tim Kyle, James Kyle, Mary Kyle and Christy Zell.

    This year’s STAR students from Fannin County High School (FCHS) and Mountain Area Christian Academy (MACA) were honored by the Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge Monday night, January 16.

    James Kyle was named from FCHS and Joshua Munoz from MACA. Kyle moved on to be selected the county’s STAR student by the Kiwanis Club.

    STAR, the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program, is administered by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and PAGE Foundation. The Kiwanis Club is the local sponsor.

    STAR student nominees must have the highest  score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top ten percent or top ten students in their class.

    The students chosen then select their STAR teacher.

    Kyle selected Bubba Gibbs and Munoz selected Rachel Jones.

    Gibbs moved on with Kyle to become the county wide STAR teacher.

    Gibbs spoke about Kyle’s accomplishments. He said the FCHS senior is doing work “no different than what a professional engineer is doing.”

    “Every single time he got a chance, he jumped all over it” Gibbs said of Kyle’s work ethic.

    Jones, speaking of Munoz, said he has “one of the strongest senses of self motivation I’ve ever seen in my 12 years of teaching.”

    She praised him for “a wonderful job with the more rigorous assignments.”

    Kyle will now compete with other local STAR winners for region honors.