Sanders, Smith named 2020 STAR Students for Stephens County

Stephens County names its STAR students.

This week, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce announced that Raelyn Sanders, of Stephens County High School and Serrianna Smith, of Mountain Education Charter High School’s Stephens County Campus have been named 2020 Professional Association of Georgia Educators STAR Students for Stephens County.

Both students earned this recognition for their academic achievement and performance on the S.A.T.

Sanders is the daughter of Clint and Rachel Sanders of Toccoa.

Smith is the daughter of Nigel and Erika Smith of Lavonia.

To obtain the 2020 STAR nomination, graduating high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the S.A.T. and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.

As the STAR students, Sanders and Smith pick their STAR teacher.

Sanders selected Ms. Wynette Neal as her STAR Teacher. Neal was her Gifted Social Studies teacher at Stephens County Middle School.

Smith selected Mr. Craig Hagel as her STAR Teacher. Hagel is her Mathematics teacher at Mountain Education Charter High School in Stephens County.

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce is the local sponsor for the Stephens County STAR Program.

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen made the announcement on Friday.

Paysen says on behalf of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, she is proud of the pair’s academic excellence.

Sanders and Smith will now represent Stephens County at the Region STAR Student competition.