Star Students in the Class of 2018 honor their Star Teachers
The annual Star Teacher-Student Awards ceremony sponsored by Gaston County Schools and The Gaston Gazette was held Wednesday, April 11 at the Schiele Museum.
The program recognized an outstanding senior from each high school and the teacher who had the greatest influence on the student’s educational career.
Lucy Talley, publisher of The Gaston Gazette, Gaston County Board of Education vice chairman Jeff Ramsey, and Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker shared remarks during the program.
Below are the 2018 Star Teacher-Student Awards honorees:
Ashbrook High School – Star Teacher Trip McGill selected by Star Student Lathan Flake
Lathan plans to attend North Carolina State University. His major is undecided. Mr. McGill is the school’s choral director.
Bessemer City High School – Star Teacher Megan Trimnal selected by Star Student Natalie Peregory
Natalie plans to attend UNC-Wilmington to study biology or pharmacy. Ms. Trimnal taught biology at Bessemer City High School and is now at South Point High School.
Cherryville High School – Star Teacher Melanie Hawkins selected by Star Student Taylor Paputseanos
Taylor plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill to study psychology. Ms. Hawkins teaches English at Cherryville High School.
Stuart W. Cramer High School - Star Teacher Leslie Kalmbach selected by Star Student Quentin Hooker
Quentin plans to attend North Carolina State University to study aerospace engineering. Mrs. Kalmbach teaches English at Stuart W. Cramer High School.
East Gaston High School – Star Teacher Tom Adams selected by Star Student Zach Adams
Zach plans to attend North Carolina Wesleyan Univeristy to study computer science. Mr. Adams teaches physical education at East Gaston High School.
Forestview High School – Star Teacher Allison Henry selected by Star Student Allison Roney
Allison plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill to study nursing. Mrs. Henry teaches calculus at Forestview High School.
Gaston Early College High School – Star Teacher Charles Gardner selected by Star Student Selvin Lendos
Selvin plans to attend Tufts University in Boston to study civil engineering. Mr. Gardner is a lead teacher at Gaston Early College High School.
Highland School of Technology – Star Teacher Joseph Yavelak selected by Star Student Priya Shah
Priya plans to attend Yale University to study economics. Mr. Yavelak teaches math at Highland School of Technology.
Hunter Huss High School – Star Teacher Jessica Kimmel selected by Star Student Gaby Fonseca
Gaby plans to attend Johns Hopkins University or Duke University to study economics. Mrs. Kimmel teaches math at Hunter Huss High School.
North Gaston High School – Star Teacher Elizabeth Leonard selected by Star Student Carter Rushing
Carter plans to attend Applachian State University to study communication sciences and disorders. Mrs. Leonard teaches chemistry at North Gaston High School.
South Point High School – Star Teacher Katy Bradley selected by Star Student Jessica Helton
Jessica plans to attend University of South Carolina or North Carolina State University to study biology. Mrs. Bradley teaches science at South Point High School.
Webb Street School – Star Teacher Debbie Donoghue selected by Star Student Quentin Pillock
Quentin plans to join the work force at Walmart or Food Lion. Mrs. Donoghue is a job skills teacher at Webb Street School.
During the ceremony, each student read an essay about his or her Star Teacher. To read the essays written by each Star Student, click above on the name of the school.
The Star Teacher-Students Awards ceremony will air on Spectrum Cable Channel 21 the week of April 23-28 at the following times each day: 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. The video will be available on the Gaston County Schools YouTube channel.
To view the Star Teacher-Student Awards program, click here.
