STAR students, teachers named for county, city at Exchange Club

West Laurens student was selected as the county system winner to go along with the city system winner during the Dublin Exchange Club’s Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program held Tuesday.

West Laurens High School student Sreeya Kavuri , who selected Tammy Howard as her STAR teacher, was named the STAR student to represent the Laurens County system. Dublin High School STAR student Caitlyn Nesbitt, who selected Elizabeth Bryan as her STAR teacher, will be the Dublin City representative. 

The system winners are invited to attend the STAR region event which will be held at Middle Georgia State University on March 5 at 6 p.m.  At that event, a Region STAR student and teacher will be selected to attend the State Star Banquet, which will be held on April 28.

East Laurens’ STAR student Melanie Lopez-Quintanilla, selected Wendy Clardy as his STAR teacher, while Trinity Christian’sCooper Dasher, who selected Carron Powell as his STAR teacher, were recognized by the club.

Each student received a $1,000 scholarship award while the teachers received a $75 gift card to Deano’s. 

Nesbitt was the first student to speak about her teacher. 

“She was my math teacher my junior year,” Nesbitt said about Bryan. “Not only did she make an impact on my academic career, but she has also impacted my life. She has taught me many life lessons and has always provided me with the help when I needed it.” 

Bryan was glad to have the occasion to celebrate Nesbitt.

“You are a STAR student and so much more,” Bryan said. “From the moment you walked into my classroom, your light shined. You can light up a room with your smile. You are not afraid to be challenged. You consistently push yourself beyond expectations, whether it be academically or on the softball field. Being your teacher has been a privilege. Congratulations Caitlyn and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey.” 

Lopez-Quintanilla followed with a chance to talk about her teacher.

“In her class, I found more than just chemistry lessons,” Lopez-Quintanilla said about Clardy. “I found a teach who generally cared about my growth and success. She helped us connected with the material. She created an environment where learning didn’t feel like a chore. I wasn’t just studying chemistry, I was learning how to collaborate correctly and engage with challenging material. … She always encouraged us to push beyond our limits. What I enjoyed most about her class is that we could just be ourselves.” 

Clardy called Lopez-Quintanilla one of the brightest students she had ever encounter. She compared her to Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

“Like Sirius, Melanie literally has a radiant glow and brightens any space she inhabits,” Clardy said. “Her glow comes from an inter peace, serenity and endless optimism. She is a generous spirit … and she has many, many accomplishments. … When I look up at the sky at night and see Sirius, I will think of Melanie and know that this star will leave the world a better place than how she found it.” 

Dasher was up next to speak about his teacher. 

“She has made the largest impact on my life during my years at Trinity,” he said about Powell. “During the last two years in her Bible class, I have gained a deeper understanding of my faith. Her teachings has enriched my knowledge, which has allowed me to discern what ideas do not align with the Biblical world view. … She has been a mentor and has provided guidance in areas that we may not have felt comfortable addressing with anybody outside of the classroom.”  

Powell believes she has the best job at Trinity. This year her students have memorized a big portions of Philippians Chapter 2. 

“I choose this passage because it prescribes for us the way we can engage culture faithfully, which is the way Christ did it with humility and with self sacrifice,” Powell said. “Paul tells us that if we approach life without arguing or grumbling, we will shine like stars in the sky. That is what I see in Cooper Dasher. He shines like the stars in the sky. … I’ve watched him work hard in the classroom. In class Cooper leads in discussions. He has the heart of a learner.”  

Kavuri was the final student to speak.

“She managed to make APUSH (AP United States History) my favorite class that I have ever taken,” Kavuri said about Howard. “She truly has the ability to captivate the attention of the room and make any subject interesting. Class always felt like a big discussion. Her class was rarely boring. She always encouraged me to do my best. … In addition to her teaching abilities, I’ve selected her for her exceptional character. She cares deeply about each and every one of her students and it is evident in all of her actions. … I am so grateful for everything she has done for me.”

Howard acknowledged that Kavuri’s parents did a good job raising her.

“I was able to see her in the classroom and watch her grow,” Howard said. “In APUSH, I wanted to make history more of a story so that the students would be more engaged. … She mentioned that she wanted to be a medical doctor like her grandfather and that touched me. … I definitely appreciate her picking me. I’ve enjoyed every discussions we’ve had in class and outside of class.”