My Claim To Fame!
(Heh-Heh...I admit it...I'm braggin'. I bleeped out anywhere it lists my last name (or specific location), just in case you guys are stalker types... Sadly, the article didn't include the URL to this site, but it DID mention it:))
STAR student, teacher honored at luncheon
By Jill Helton
Jennifer ******* is rarely seen without a book in her hand.
The ****** County High School (*CHS) student has gleaned a great deal of knowledge from the books that she loves. In fact, she earned the highest score of any other senior on the Scholastic Assessment Test.
That score earned Jennifer the honor of being ****** County's STAR student for 2004. STAR is also known as the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program. With that honor, she was asked to select a teacher who influenced her education.
She chose Barbara Kevan, who has taught her in language arts for two semesters.
"She has taught me so much," said Jennifer, who lives in Kingsland. "She is always there for me. Always worrying about all the books I have to carry."
Kevan, who also is the gifted coordinator for the school, said she met Jennifer as a ninth-grader when she was testing for the gifted program.
"Jenn had come with a book," Kevan said. "Wherever she goes, she always has a book."
As Jennifer completed each part of the test, she put it aside and quietly read from the book until the next test section began. Kevan said she had never seen a student engage in pleasure reading during an intelligence test.
The teacher was even more amazed when Jennifer got a perfect score.
"It is the only 100 percent I have ever had in the verbal part of the test," she said.
Jennifer also earned a perfect score on the verbal portion of the SAT. Her total score was 1480, the highest of any senior as of November 2003. Students also have to be in the top 10 percent of their class to earn the STAR award.
She said her advice to those who are studying for the test is to take advantage of study guides that are available and just practice as much as possible.
Jennifer and Kevan were honored at the March 1 lunch meeting of the St. Marys Kiwanis Club. The club presented plaques to both honorees as well as a $250 cash prize to Jennifer.
The STAR competition is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Jennifer will compete for regional STAR honors. If she advances to the state level, the Kiwanis club will pay for Jennifer's travel expenses to attend the Atlanta competition.
Jennifer's parents, Kathleen and Howard *******, attended the meeting, as did Kevan's husband, Mark, and their daughter. Several school system officials were in attendance as well.
"We really appreciate all you have done over the years to recognize the academic excellence of our students," said CCHS principal Gary Blount to the Kiwanis Club members.
After graduation this spring, Jennifer wants to attend Georgia Institute of Technology and learn to be a computer software engineer.
"That's my dream and I have already been accepted (to Georgia Tech)," she said.
Jennifer already has her own Web site that she created.
She also keeps busy with several other activities during her spare time: National Honor Society, Beta Club, the Teen Advisory Board at ******* County Library. Jennifer also works part time with the Extended Day Care program at Sugarmill Elementary.
She is a member of the 1200 Club, recognizing students scoring 1200 and above on their SAT scores; has been named a recipient of the Georgia Certificate of Merit and is a Governor's Honors Program nominee.
Jennifer also enjoys writing, and Kevan said this is really where her reading has paid off.
"She is a very quiet person," said Kevan, "... but if you read what she writes, it will make you weep."
Email: flamingchickens333@hotmail.com