Three students from Oconee County Schools were recently named STAR Students, and they along with their STAR Teachers, were recognized at today’s Oconee Chamber of Commerce breakfast and awards ceremony. Oconee County High School had a tie for their STAR Students, and those students – Megh Mehta and Mina Yu – were named the System STAR Winners.

Both students will advance to System level recognition. In addition to North Oconee High School and Oconee County High School, other participating schools were Athens Academy, Prince Avenue Christian School, and Westminster Christian Academy.

“We offer our most sincere congratulations to this year's STAR Students and STAR Teachers for well-deserved recognition due to their hard work, dedication, and perseverance," said Superintendent Jason Branch. "We also thank the students' parents for the support and guidance they have provided. We are very blessed with such a supportive school community, and are also very thankful for the Oconee Chamber of Commerce in sponsoring this annual event."

The honorees are below:

• Keaton Coletti, a senior at North Oconee High School, is the son of Kelli and Norman Coletti. He has been accepted to Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, and the US. Air Force Academy. A National Merit Semifinalist, he plans to major in aerospace engineering. He is involved in marching, concert, and jazz band, as well as math team, robotics, swimming, and more. He selected Scott Smith as his STAR Teacher. Mr. Smith teaches marching band, symphonic band, jazz band, and Advanced Placement Music Theory at North Oconee High School. He is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, and Phi Beta Mu.

• Megh Mehta, a senior at Oconee County High School, is the son of Muri and Indrajit Mehta. He is awaiting college acceptance decisions, but as a dually enrolled student, he has already been accepted to the University of Georgia. He is a National Merit Semifinalist, and plans to major in biochemistry. Megh is involved in debate club, environmental club, marching band, math team, Mock Trial, ultimate frisbee club, and more. He selected Jake Forrester as his STAR Teacher. Mr. Forrester teaches Geometry and Advanced Placement Calculus at Oconee County High School. He is also the assistant JV/varsity cross country coach and the assistant varsity baseball coach. He was the 2017 Oconee County High School Teacher of the Year, and last year’s STAR Teacher as well.

• Mina Yu, a senior at Oconee County High School, is the daughter of Sarah Cho and Seokhu Yu. Thus far, she has been accepted at Emory University, Georgia Tech, Princeton University, and the University of Georgia. She plans to major in biochemistry/molecular biology and English. Mina has been involved in Athens Youth Symphony, JV cross country, Mock Trial, National and Georgia Junior Classical Leagues, and more. She has also been a volunteer assistant at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center at the University of Georgia. She selected Lynne Ely as her STAR Teacher. Ms. Ely teaches Advanced Placement English Language and Advanced Placement Research at Oconee County High School. She is the school’s head cross country coach, and is currently Regional and 4A State Coach of the Year.

To be honored as a STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student, the following criteria must be met:

1. SAT scores must meet the national averages or above. The students who receive the award have the highest SAT scores in all three sections – critical reading, math and writing.

2. Class standing must be noted. The student must be in the top 10% or among the top 10 students numerically, whichever category provides the largest number of eligible students in his or her graduating senior class. 

3. The student that has been declared the STAR Student chooses the STAR Teacher.