Westover’s Juliette Hu named top STAR student in region

ALBANY — Juliette Hu, a Westover High School senior, has been named the top STAR student in the region, beating students from 13 other counties in competition conducted Thursday in Americus.

Hu, who is deciding between Cal Tech and Georgia Tech to start her college career, and her STAR teacher Thomas Amos, will now advance and represent the region at the state STAR Student competition in Atlanta on April 18 at the Crowne Plaza Ravina.

Hu was tapped Dougherty County’s STAR student on March 4, putting her at the top of all public and private school students in the county.

To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on any single test date of the three-part 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 based on grade point average. Nominees’ SAT scores must be equal to or higher than the latest available national average on the critical reading, math and writing sections. Each high school STAR Student is asked to name his/her STAR Teacher. High school STAR Students compete for system titles; and system STAR Students in turn compete for region-wide honors in the 12 STAR Regions. Region winners and their STAR Teachers are invited to Atlanta to compete for the state STAR scholarships and awards.

Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Program has honored nearly 25,500 high school seniors who have in turn chosen their STAR Teachers to share in this recognition. Every accredited high school in Georgia is eligible to participate in this preeminent student/teacher academic recognition.