[ February 26, 2025 ] The Optimist Club of Jasper is set to host its annual STAR Banquet on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Chattahoochee Technical College in Jasper, Georgia. This event celebrates the achievements of Pickens High School's brightest students and their influential teachers as part of the PAGE STAR Program, a statewide initiative recognizing academic excellence since 1958.

This year, Jeremy Westbrook, a senior at Pickens High School, has been named the 2025 STAR Student. Jeremy, who plans to attend the University of Georgia, selected his mother, Mrs. Christine Westbrook, as his STAR Teacher. Mrs. Westbrook, a veteran educator with 31 years of teaching experience, currently teaches Honors AP Biology at Pickens High. Jeremy credits her for shaping his academic journey both as a teacher and a parent.

The banquet will also honor nine STAR Finalists and their chosen teachers, showcasing the strong academic community at Pickens High School.

STUDENT | TEACHER

Ashley Aiken | Ginger Rizoti
Emma Christensen | Shelley Buck
Ian Eagleson | Tonya Russo
Larry Flores-Jardinez | Brian Allday
Ada Keener | Jackie Powell
Zoe Kelly | Ted Estes
Grayson Ludington | Lynn Cantrell
Diego Rivera | Kyle Rasco
Eva Stanley | Valerie Boehm

Adding to the evening's significance, Tucker Green, a 2016 PHS graduate and accomplished lobbyist, will serve as the guest speaker. Tucker, who founded Tucker Green & Associates, has made significant contributions to Georgia's legislative landscape and remains an active member of the Jasper community.

The event is supported by local sponsors, including The Appleton Family Trust, ETC 3, Parish Lowrie State Farm, Royston LLC, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, and Community Bank of Pickens County. Tickets for the banquet are $30, with reservations required by February 28, 2025. For more information, contact Reeder Burch, STAR Program Chairman, at pickensstar@etcmail.com.