[ March 15, 2022 ] The Optimist Club of Jasper hosted the annual STAR Banquet on March 16, 2022 at Chattahoochee Technical College. Mr. Ian Calhoun, a 2002 graduate of PHS was guest speaker.

The 2022 STAR Banquet honored the 2022 STAR Student from Pickens High School, Miss Piper Duncan and her selected STAR Teacher, Mrs. Susan Anderson. In addition to the STAR Student and Teacher, the Optimist Club recognized an additional nine STAR Student and Teacher Finalists.

Student | Teacher

Griffin Cantrell | Ted Estes
Georgia Fernandez | Kanyon Petti
Arielle Fowler | Sarah Harbin
Ishan Iqbal | Wil Nix
Will Jent | Michael Oubre
Karolina Kearns | Robbie Cheatham
Marylayna Macking | Angela Quarles
Kylie Pinson | Ginger Rizoti
Allyson Thrasher | Christi Hobgood

PROGRAM

Welcome - Anita Walker, Club President

Introduction of Guests - Reeder Burch, Chairman, STAR Program

Pledge of Allegiance - Jack Hollis, Club Member

Invocation - Hayden Pass, Club VP & Chaplain

Recognition of Honorees - Reeder Burch

Responses
Mrs. Susan Anderson, 2022 STAR Teacher

Miss Piper Duncan, 2022 Star Student

Introduction of Guest Speaker, Jane Pass - Club Member

Address - Mr. Ian Calhoun

Closing & Optimist Creed - Anita Walker, Club President




-------- EARLIER ARTICLE by Reeder Burch

Pickens High School Senior Piper Duncan has been named the school's 2022 PAGE STAR Student. The Optimist Club of Jasper, the local STAR program sponsor, announced the honor. Duncan selected Mrs. Susan Anderson as her STAR Teacher. Mrs. Anderson taught for over 30 years before her recent retirement. She taught Piper for three years in elementary school. She is married to Stephen Anderson, and they have three daughters.

Piper is the daughter of Shane and Stephanie Duncan of Jasper, and she has one sister, Willow Duncan. She earned the recognition as the 2022 STAR Student for academic achievement and performance on the SAT. She has not decided where she will attend college ? she has several options including Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, NYU, and Emory. She is a finalist for UGA?s Foundation Fellowship and GA Tech?s Stamps Scholar Program. She is awaiting all her scholarship offers before making a final decision on which school she will attend.

The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, now in its 64th year, is sponsored, administered, and promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE). Since its inception in 1958 the STAR program has honored nearly 28,500 students and the teachers selected as the most influential to their academic achievement. High school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average to qualify for STAR nomination.

STAR begins each year in participating Georgia high schools when the STAR Student is named and chooses a STAR Teacher to share in this recognition. The students and their teachers are honored by their schools and receive special recognition in their communities from one of the more than 165 statewide civic organizations and businesses that serve as local sponsors of the STAR program. Students then compete for school system recognition as the top STAR Student, and those winners compete for region honors. Region winners contend for the honor of being named State PAGE STAR Student. STAR Teachers continue with their STAR Students at every level of the program.

Mrs. Anderson says ? "Piper Duncan is an outstanding representative for Pickens County Star Student. She is confident, self-driven, and is willing to put in the work to succeed. Diligence and perseverance to face challenges are qualities describing Piper. Her determination and motivation to excel is an encouragement to those around her. Piper?s desire to push the limits will contribute to her future success in college, career, and life."

When Piper was asked why she selected Mrs. Anderson as her STAR Teacher, she says "I always looked forward to her class. Mrs. Anderson had a huge impact on my elementary schooling and gave me a lot of advice that I still use today. She taught me some very important life lessons while also fostering my love for learning."

Piper has been extremely involved at PHS and in the community. She was Captain of Mock Trail Team. She is a member of the Pride of Pickens Marching Band where she was the Pit Captain and Electronic Officer. She is in the Symphonic Band where she is the First Chair Oboist. She serves as Class Treasurer of the Student Government Association, Co-President of the National Beta Club and is Captain of the Academic Team. She is a member of the Literary Team.

Piper served an internship during the summer of 2021 at the Pickens County District Attorney?s office. She says ?I?m super interested in law and international affairs, which is what I plan on majoring in. World news and politics have always been very interesting to me, and I have experience researching and speaking on the topic from International Extemporaneous Speaking through GHSA Literary. I've taken two trial law classes over the years, which led me to start the PHS Mock Trial Team my sophomore year. I love law and I find mock trial extremely fun and engaging. Interning at the DA's office last summer only made my fascination with law grow.?

She is a pianist ? recognized as the National Piano Guild Superior Plus Program Winner for 6 years. She serves on the Sequoyah Regional Library Teen Advisory Board as a Pickens County Board Member. Piper is on the GA DOE Student Advisory Council ? North Georgia RESA Representative and is a HOSA Member.

The Optimist Club of Jasper will recognize Duncan and Anderson along with Nine other STAR Finalist and their selected teachers at the annual STAR Banquet. The banquet will be held at Chattahoochee College on Wednesday evening, March 16, 2022.

The 2022 STAR Finalists are:

Student | Teacher

Griffin Cantrell | Ted Estes
Georgia Fernandez | Kanyon Petti
Arielle Fowler | Sarah Harbin
Ishan Iqbal | Wil Nix
Will Jent | Michael Oubre
Karolina Kearns | Robbie Cheatham
Marylayna Macking | Angela Quarles
Kylie Pinson | Ginger Rizoti
Allyson Thrasher | Christi Hobgood