MACON, Ga. — On Wednesday night, 13 students and teachers were honored from 12 public and private schools in Bibb County for the Star Student-Teacher Achievement Banquet.
Students nominated must be a graduating high school senior with the highest score on a single SAT test date, and be in the top 10 percent or among the top 10 students of his or her class based on grade point average.
Each school selects a nominee, then they choose their Star Teacher to share this honor with.
A program-wide winner is announced at the banquet.
Academy for Classical Education student Antonia Kopp won the 2020 title.
She says her academic success comes from many years in Mitchell Wachtel's classroom.
"Mr. Wachtel just explains everything so well, makes everything very clear, and very hardworking and generous with his time," says Kopp.
Wachtel says Kopp deserves to take home the title. "What I'm doing isn't just going into some void, but it's appreciated. It makes me feel like what I'm doing matters."
Kopp will now move on to compete for the region title. That banquet is set for March 23rd.
The other school's STAR students and teachers include:
Central Fellowship Christian Academy
Shaylan Patterson with teacher, Deborah Walsh
Central High School
A'Naiya Johnson with teacher, Hannah Freel
Covenant Academy
Jake Douthit with teacher, Amanda McGhee
First Presbyterian Day School- TIE
Austin Murray with teacher, Johnathan Baker, and Camden Lashley with teacher Joy Baxley
Howard High School
Harley Yopp with teacher, Katherine Thompson
Mount de Sales Academy
George Pearson with teacher, Brandon Read
Northeast High School
Nia James with teacher, Jarred Moore
Southwest Magnet HS & Law Academy
Channing Byrd with teacher, Dominique Lane
Stratford Academy
Chidozie Nwabuebo with teacher, Luke Harrington
Tattnall Square Academy
Jessica Norwood with teacher, Carolyn Smothers
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