GMC's Gray named 2018 STAR student

Three of the best and brightest high school students and teachers Baldwin County has to offer were honored Thursday at the 2018 Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program.

Seniors Tyler Gray, Robert Pettigrew and Cody Cox were already winners at their respective schools, but at the end of Thursday’s luncheon it was Georgia Military College Prep School senior Tyler Gray who was named Baldwin County’s STAR student for 2018. He selected Maj. Emily Boylan as his STAR teacher.

“It’s just such a blessing,” Gray told The Union-Recorder after receiving the honor. “First of all, I just have to give all the glory to God because without the gifts and blessings that He’s given me none of this would have been possible.”

Gray and the other respective school winners have a list of accomplishments and honors that had they all been listed out would have significantly lengthened Thursday’s program. One of the most impressive feats for the GMC Prep senior is that the same day he graduates from the prep school in May he will also receive his associate’s degree from GMC junior college giving him a huge leg up on his college journey. He was recently named a finalist in the National Merit Scholar program, and is currently mulling his college options because his destination is dependent upon what he selects as his major. Gray’s STAR teacher, Emily Boylan, taught him both freshman and AP biology in ninth and 11th grades. When speaking to local Rotary and Kiwanis club members at Thursday’s luncheon about his STAR teacher, Gray characterized Boylan’s freshman biology class as “something else.”

“Out of all of my teachers, who were all incredible, she just was so focused in the class,” he said. “She was so optimistic and excited about everything we were doing. You could tell that she definitely knew more than what she was teaching us.”

“It’s truly an honor to see him get recognized and to be recognized by him,” said Boylan. “He has been a huge influence on me and inspiration to me as far as approaching anything — challenges or easy tasks — with fervor, smiles, to find laughter, and to not take things too seriously. I’m going to miss him.”

Gray received a $1,000 scholarship to be used toward college for being named the system winner while John Milledge Academy’s Cody Cox and Baldwin High’s Robert Pettigrew each received $500 for winning at the school level. Cox nominated JMA Head of School and former literature teacher Jessica Jones while Pettigrew selected BHS economics teacher Ryan McCoy as their STAR teachers. Each STAR teacher was also awarded $100.

Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell, IV, president of GMC, was slated as the speaker for Thursday’s program. He stressed to the three finalists that they need to be ready to lead because there will be many people in their futures willing to follow them in their professional endeavors.

“Don’t ever let something hold you back,” he said. “Just recognize there will be some turns in the road you never thought of or expected, but when it does happen just keep pressing on. Pick yourself up and keep moving because in the end you’ll achieve success.”

The STAR program is in its 60th year. It was established by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and is administered by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE). Graduating 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 to be nominated for STAR student. Thursday marked the 32nd year the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce has been the local sponsoring organization for the local STAR program, and other sponsors include Georgia College, Georgia Military College, the Kiwanis Club of Milledgeville and the Rotary Club of Milledgeville.

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