Brookwood's Eric Yao Named One of Two GCPS STAR Students

(Editor's note: one name was removed from this article on the individual's request.)

An event which celebrates some of Gwinnett County’s brightest culminated with the naming of two stars. Two Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) students earned the title of Gwinnett 2013 STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Students representing Gwinnett County’s public and private schools.

Eric Yao of Brookwood High and (removed) of Parkview High took top honors as the Gwinnett County winners during the annual STAR Student and Teacher Luncheon on Thursday, February 28, 2013, at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce in Duluth. The event celebrates all local school STAR students from each Gwinnett County high school (public and private) as well as the top student from Buford High (Buford City Schools).

Each STAR student is the senior in the top 10 percent of his or her class with the highest SAT score. Yao scored a 2380 on the SAT. The Brookwood High and Parkview High students earned the county title by having the highest SAT scores among the countywide Class of 2013. As part of the recognition, each STAR student selects a teacher as the educator who has had a strong influence on his/her academic career.

Eric Yao selected Brookwood High Language Arts Teacher Mr. Dana Kling, while (removed) picked Parkview High Latin Teacher Caroline Miklosovic.

As Gwinnett County’s STAR students, Eric will move on to the region competition where they and their STAR teachers will be recognized and vie for the regional title. Regional winners will then compete for the honor of being named Georgia’s 2013 STAR Student and Teacher.

The state STAR program is sponsored by:

• Professional Association of Georgia Educators
• Georgia Chamber of Commerce
• Georgia Department of Education

Locally, the Gwinnett STAR program is sponsored by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and:

Gold Sponsors

• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Silver Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

• Georgia Power
• Peach State Federal Credit Union Bronze Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

• Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators
• Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation
• Smith & Howard
• Son Tours