On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the Region 8 STAR Student/Teacher Banquet was held at Georgia Southern University in the College of Engineering and Information Technology building. This prestigious event honored outstanding high school seniors and the teachers who have made a lasting impact on their academic success.
STAR Students and Teachers from 16 counties were recognized for their excellence in academics, leadership, and dedication. The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, in its 67th year, is sponsored, administered, and promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).
Since its creation in 1958, the STAR program has honored nearly 30,000 students and the teachers selected as the most influential to their academic achievement. To obtain the 2025 STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.
STAR begins each year in participating high schools throughout Georgia when the STAR Student is named and chooses a STAR Teacher to share in this recognition. The students and their teachers are honored by their schools and receive special recognition in their communities from one of the more than 170 statewide civic organizations and businesses that serve as local sponsors of the STAR program.
Students then compete for school system titles, and those winners compete for region honors. Region winners compete for the honor of being named State PAGE STAR Student. STAR Teachers continue on with their STAR Students at every level of the program.
2025 Region 8 STAR Student Winner – Chatham County
This year, Chatham County’s Sierra LiuQi Abbasi of St. Andrew’s School was named the 2025 Region 8 STAR Student Winner, alongside their STAR Teacher, Dr. Kristin Peney.
"We are very proud of Sierra LiuQi Abbasi and Dr. Kristin Peney and the academic excellence they exemplify at f St. Andrew’s School ," said Shelley Stringer of the Statesboro Exchange Club, which hosts the luncheon.
2025 Region 8 System Winners
In addition to the regional winner, the following system winners were recognized for their outstanding achievements:
Learn more about Bulloch County's STAR student, Erin Shen, and STAR Teacher, Richard McCombs, here.
Event Program and Speakers
The banquet featured several esteemed speakers and special guests:
- Welcome & Closing Remarks: Shelley Stringer, Exchange Club of Statesboro
- Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance: Rhonda Busby, President-Elect, GA District Exchange Club
- Guest Speaker: Dr. Reinhold Gerbsch, Director of Industrial Relations for CEIT, Georgia Southern University
- STAR Student Introductions: Dal Cannady, Emcee
- STAR Teacher Introductions: STAR Students
Guests enjoyed a lunch provided by GSU Catering, while students shared their college plans and reflections on their academic journeys.
Looking Ahead
This year’s Region 8 STAR Student winner, Sierra LiuQi Abbasi, will now advance to the statewide competition, where she will compete for the prestigious title of Georgia’s STAR Student. Her STAR Teacher, Dr. Kristin Peney, will continue alongside her throughout the competition.
The State PAGE STAR Student will be selected from the STAR Region Winners by a panel of judges. The PAGE STAR Banquet will take place in Alpharetta, GA at the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta on Monday, April 28th, 2025.
