Henry County
Schools
Thirteen HCS Students Among Henry County Chamber of Commerce STAR Honorees
HENRY COUNTY, GA – The Henry County Chamber of Commerce recognized 13 Henry County Schools students and their teachers during its Feb. 14 Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) ceremony.
“Providing a high-quality, world-class education involves nurturing meaningful partnerships with our community,” said HCS Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “We are grateful to the Henry County Chamber of Commerce and its partner organizations for recognizing success stories across the district and highlighting the hard work of our students and the vital role teachers play in their achievements. It is an honor to celebrate our STAR students and teachers, and I hope they take great pride in this incredible milestone.”
The Chamber hosted the annual event at the Fairview Performing Arts Center in Stockbridge, celebrating standout students and teachers from public and private schools across the county.
The 13 HCS honorees were among 18 total Henry County students recognized as 2024 STAR students alongside their STAR teachers. The honorees include co-STAR students and teachers from Dutchtown High School and Ola High School.
“Congratulations to the exceptional STAR students and teachers representing our district,” said Board of Education Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “Your perseverance and achievements are commendable, and we are incredibly proud to see your efforts acknowledged in this way by the community.”
The STAR student program is designed to reward both academic aptitude and excellence. Qualifying students rank among the top 10% or top 10 of their class based on grade-point average.
“We have 18 great examples of those who have met the standards of the STAR student program,” said Chamber President and CEO Joseph Henning. “It is a pleasure to recognize them, as well as the 18 teachers they selected as the teachers who have had the most influence on their academic achievement. We congratulate you on what you have achieved, and we look forward to your future contributions to our community and society.”
Each student received a certificate, a letter of congratulations from the Chamber, and a monetary award. Similarly, their teachers also received a certificate and a check.
Henry County’s 2025 STAR students and teachers are as follows:
| School | STAR Student | STAR Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Community Christian School | Binh Ho | Cindy Balsam |
| Creekside Christian Academy | Gideon Prisk | Kelly Bera |
| Dutchtown High School | Ethan Eccleston | Danielle Boyum |
| Dutchtown High School | Landon Dang | John Randolph |
| Eagle's Landing Christian Academy | Kevin Zhu | Judith Lockhart |
| Eagle's Landing High School | Sai Chava | Claud Spinks |
| Hampton High School | Hayleen Pierrissaint | Donnie Moseley |
| Impact Academy High School | Kohana Nguyen | Andrew McGovern |
| Locust Grove High School | Charles Armstrong | Misty Leach |
| Luella High School | Thien Tong | Morgan Lee |
| McDonough High School | Amy Cheong | Warren Smith |
| New Creation Christian Academy | Benjamin Baldwin | Sheri McClelland |
| Ola High School | Carson Schmitt | Christie Schmitt |
| Ola High School | Keagan Kimball | Anthony Head |
| Stockbridge High School | Sandi Ho | Angela Walker |
| Strong Rock Christian School | Jaimin Patel | Kyle Mann |
| Strong Rock Christian School | Lydia Head | Angie Rice |
| Union Grove High School | Dylan Mingledorff | Yoandy Sanchez-Diaz |
| Woodland High School | Alexander Mey | TuyetMai Pham |
This year’s countywide STAR student and teacher winners are Kevin Zhu and Judith Lockhart from Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy.
Parents and Chamber members joined Chamber of Commerce representatives and school personnel from across the county in celebrating the students and teachers.
Each Chamber of Commerce hosts its district’s annual ceremony, supported by sponsorship from local businesses, while the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Department of Education sponsor the statewide annual STAR competition.
The top teacher and student from each county compete at the regional level for a chance to compete for the state title and be named Georgia’s 2025 STAR Student and Teacher.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce started the STAR program in 1958, recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of students and teachers across the state.