Congratulations to Treasa McHugh of Clarke Central High School and Jackie Wright of Cedar Shoals High School for being named the Clarke County School District’s 2021-22 STAR Students!
The STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program, sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), recognizes the senior at each high school with the highest score on any single test date of the SAT who is also in the top 10% of their class based on grade-point average.
Each STAR Student selects their favorite teacher to be named STAR Teacher.
Treasa and Jackie also were selected co-winners for the Athens-Clarke County “system,” which includes both public and private schools. They will compete in the PAGE Region 4 contest March 17 for the chance to advance to the state competition.
Treasa and Jackie were recognized Monday, Feb. 21, at the Classic City Rotary Club's weekly luncheon. The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the local STAR awards.
Treasa McHugh plans to attend the University of Georgia and study landscape architecture. During her time at Clarke Central, she has been actively involved in the school orchestra among numerous other activities. Treasa selected Dr. Eunice Kang, CCHS Director of Orchestras and Fine Arts Department Co-Chair, as her STAR Teacher.
“She is a fantastic educator and an inspiration to her students,” Treasa said of Dr. Kang “Her enthusiasm for and dedication to her work are apparent in all that she does. The classroom environment that she has cultivated at Clarke Central is welcoming to all and truly feels like a safe place for students to challenge themselves and grow.”
Dr. Kang, who has instructed Treasa on the violin for the last seven years, had this to say about her student: “Treasa is one of the most passionate and dedicated musician scholars I have had the honor to teach. She inspires excellence through her many leadership roles as Glad Symphony Concertmaster, Volleyball Team Captain, Tri-M Music Honor Society president, and Young Dawgs Scholar. Most importantly, Treasa possesses phenomenal integrity, as well as empathy for others, the very best qualities that educators strive to nurture in all students.”
At Cedar Shoals, Jackie Wright has emerged as a talented young journalist, serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the school’s student magazine, BluePrints. While she is still finalizing her college decision, she said she plans to study journalism and/or political science.
Jackie credits her STAR Teacher, Cedar Shoals English teacher and journalism adviser Marc Ginsberg, with helping her realize her journalistic talents and inspiring her to further pursue her craft.
“I think for most of the things I’ve done in journalism, Mr. Ginsberg has been 10 steps ahead of me,” Jackie said. “His teaching sends you on a trajectory of growth that you don’t realize he started until it’s over. He pushes you not to just meet his expectations, but to raise your own higher than you thought you could reach. In my three years in his class, each of his many prophecies has come true, and his wisdom will stick with me and countless others for a very long time.”
Mr. Ginsberg said the biggest reward for him has been the time spent reading Jackie’s work, observing her leadership in class, and seeing the impact of her writing locally.
"Jackie is more principled, ethical, and diligent than most adults, and those three traits are just who she is: zero pretense, always authentic,” Mr. Ginsberg said. “Jackie does not seek attention for any of her great work or good deeds. She's a true scholar, leader, and editor: putting others before herself, holding herself and others to high expectations, and leaving space for everyone to contribute. She fearlessly jumps into journalistic endeavors and projects and leads by example. We can all learn from students like her."
