After learning she was named this year’s STAR student, senior Vivian Nguyen said she felt like the hard work she put in over the past four years paid off. “When my guidance counselor told me I was the STAR student, I was at first in disbelief,” Nguyen said. “After that, it just kind of felt like I was in a dream and none of this was real.”
In early January, Nguyen said she was called to Colleen Petty’s office where she learned about her special recognition. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program, sponsored by Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation, honors high-achieving students and the teachers who inspired them to excel.
The STAR student is chosen based on his or her class rank and SAT score. Nguyen, who scored a 2,360 in one sitting of the SAT, is also in the top 10 in the 2014 graduating class. Nguyen will have an opportunity to compete against other county and regional winners to be selected as the Georgia STAR student, which comes along with a $5,000 scholarship.
Nguyen chose her Advanced Placement BC Calculus teacher J.B. Campbell as the teacher who inspired her most. “In class, Mr. Campbell always encourages his students to try harder and be more passionate about learning instead of earning a grade,” Nguyen said. “He believes we can be challenged with higher level problems and be able to understand them.”
Campbell has taught Advanced Math III and AP BC Calculus for the past 15 years. He was Nguyen’s teacher for her freshman, junior and senior math classes. “It is quite the honor,” Campbell said about his first nomination as STAR teacher.“I feel lucky every day to be able to work with such a special group of kids.”
Campbell said he learned of his recognition the day before it was announced when Principal Audrey Toney, Assistant Principal Sandy Martin, Math Department Chair Emily Willis, and Nguyen entered his class room during 6th period carrying blue and black balloons.
Campbell said Nguyen is the perfect example of the caliber of students he teaches.
“Vivian has the most detailed homework I have ever seen,” he said. “There are always multiple pages of work that she comes to class with each day.”