-
Charles Causey has been named White County High School’s STAR student for the Class of 2021. Causey chose Kalin Kennedy as STAR teacher, the consecutive year the educator has received the honor. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
White County High School has a new STAR, and a repeating one.
Charles Causey has been named White County High School’s STAR student for the Class of 2021. Causey chose Kalin Kennedy as STAR teacher, the consecutive year the educator has received the honor.
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) student and teacher is a recognition by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. To be named STAR student, a student must be a senior in an accredited Georgia public or private school, score the highest on a single test date for the SAT and, at the end of their junior year, be in the top 10 percent of the students or among the top 10 students in the graduating class.
“I was super happy,” Causey said of finding out. “It’s one of the biggest honors of high school.”
After school, Causey is attending Georgia Tech, where he is rooming with his graduating class’ valedictorian, Evan Quarles. Causey plans to major in computer engineering.
When he’s not busy with school, Causey is very involved in school with the marching band, soccer and Science Olympiad.
“I like hanging out with my siblings,” Causey said of what he likes to do outside of school. “But extracurriculars and school and homework take up most of my time.”
When it came time to pick his STAR teacher, Causey said it was an easy choice for him to pick Kennedy, a math teacher at WCHS.
“He is like the most competent teacher I’ve had at his subject, and was just super good at explaining all the concepts,” Causey said.
Kennedy was also picked as STAR teacher last year and said he was honored to learn he was selected once again.
“It’s really a great honor,” Kennedy said. “I didn’t know if Charles would pick me. I taught him calculus and he really enjoyed it ... I was ecstatic. Of course being picked twice in a row feels really good.”
Kennedy described Causey as “a sponge” for knowledge.
“I’m honestly not sure that he did much of the homework,” Kennedy said. “He would watch the lecture, ask an occasional question and he just soaks it all in.”
Kennedy taught Causey when he was a sophomore.
“He’s the only sophomore I’ve ever had in calculus,” Kennedy said. “So I knew he had to be something special before he had even walked through my door.”
Causey and Kennedy will be honored at the STAR student and teacher banquet hosted by the Cleveland Kiwanis Club on Monday, April 26.