STARs will be honored at reception Thursday

Eight Columbia County high school seniors will vie for the honor as the county's STAR student at the Harlem Women's Club's 43st Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition program and reception Thursday.

The program recognizes Georgia's outstanding students and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development.

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation coordinates the statewide program. Each year a top senior in each high school is named the STAR student for that school. To obtain the STAR nomination, students must have the highest score in one sitting on the SAT, taken through the November test date of their senior year and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class.

High school STAR students compete for system titles, and system STAR students compete for districtwide honors in the STAR Districts. District winners and their STAR teachers are invited to Atlanta to compete for the state STAR awards.