Partnership Gwinnett Showcases Local Talent Pipeline - The place Gwinnett residents trust to explain what’s happening

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Honors 39 STAR Students From 33 Schools

Partnership Gwinnett spotlighted Gwinnett County’s growing talent ecosystem on Jan. 29, hosting the annual Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Reception at the John C. Maxwell Leadership Center. The event brought together more than 250 students, educators, principals, and community leaders to recognize 39 of the county’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers who most influenced their academic success.

Sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the PAGE Foundation, the STAR Reception celebrated students from Gwinnett County Public Schools, Buford City Schools, and eight private schools across Gwinnett County.

“The STAR program allows us to celebrate outstanding students and the educators who support them every day,” said Dr. Al Taylor, interim superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. “These students’ achievements reflect hard work, perseverance, and strong partnerships among families, teachers, and schools. Our collaboration with Partnership Gwinnett helps prepare students for success beyond graduation.”

Kevin Carmichael, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for Partnership Gwinnett, emphasized the program’s connection to workforce readiness. “Gwinnett’s long-term economic success depends on a strong, prepared talent pipeline—and that pipeline starts with students like these,” Carmichael said. “Thanks to our exceptional educators and school infrastructure, these STAR students are well prepared for expanded career pathways. Celebrating their achievements is an investment in the future workforce powering Gwinnett’s industries.”

Students Recognized Across Public, Private, and City Schools

The 2026 STAR honorees represented 33 schools countywide, including:

Buford City Schools

Victoria Kil & teacher Brent Leitsch, Buford High School
Ariel (Ted) Son & teacher Bridget Wildes, Buford High School

Gwinnett County Public Schools

Michael Azzi & John Jameson, Archer HS
Joshua Heaton & Dr. Chandra Narayan, Archer HS
Calvin Vuu & Ben Austin, Berkmar HS
Aiden Pierce & Christopher Michael, Brookwood HS
Emerson Green & Dr. Lisa DeMent, Central Gwinnett HS
Kale Maxwell & Matthew Ludewig, Collins Hill HS
Eliyab Bisrat & Michael Peterson, Dacula HS
Rafael Romero Ivushich & Alan Cummings, Dacula HS
Angelina Nguyen & Danielle Malcom, Discovery HS
Hayyan Sharif & Dr. Christopher De Castro, Duluth HS
Ethan Ewiah & Linda Maunder, Grayson HS
Grayson Sowter & Charles Kachmar, Gwinnett County Online Campus
Yohan Kim & Dr. Amanda Phillips, GSMST
Jessica Caruso & Dr. Amanda Phillips, GSMST
Jessica Han & Patricia Caldwell, GSMST
Sarah Lee & Darby Bagwell, Lanier HS
Tayyab Rajgoli & Teresa Brooks, McClure Health Science HS
Anna Nguyen & JiYou Oh, Meadowcreek HS
Yovel Yeboah & Megan Ivester, Mill Creek HS
Michael McDaniel & Daniel Hauck, Mountain View HS
Joanne Lu & Madeline Crain, Norcross HS
Josh Chandran & Michael Corriveau, North Gwinnett HS
Layla Harris & Kimberly Korth, Parkview HS
Joseph Lu & Ian Jones, Paul Duke STEM HS
Eun Jae (Julia) Lee & Briana Curtis, Peachtree Ridge HS
Angelique Agnor & Frank Bendin, Phoenix HS
Isabelle Breazu & Trey Brennan, Seckinger HS
Aaden Scarlett & Michael Dunn, Shiloh HS
Ralph Sylvestre & Dharmendrakumar Patel, South Gwinnett HS

Private Schools in Gwinnett

Zeena Ahmed & Dr. Gloria Bruce, Al Falah Academy
Noah An & Tom Meeker, Greater Atlanta Christian School
Sarah Mix & Stacey Warbington, Hebron Christian Academy
Gavin Prussia & Dr. Matthew Lewis, Killian Hill Christian School
Wonji Lee & Wendy Albrecht, Notre Dame Academy
Laurel Sommer & Sydney Isbell, Providence Christian Academy
Gabriel Espin & Jason Wisdom, Sugar Hill Christian Academy
Larry Men & Jeff Foster, Wesleyan School

System Winners Advance to Regional Competition

In addition to school-level honors, system winners were announced and will advance to regional STAR competition, with state honors to follow in March 2026.

System Winners

Victoria Kil & Brent Leitsch, Buford High School
Ariel (Ted) Son & Bridget Wildes, Buford High School
Eun Jae Lee & Briana Curtis, Peachtree Ridge High School
Josh Chandran & Michael Corriveau, North Gwinnett High School
Aiden Pierce & Christopher Michael, Brookwood High School
Yohan Kim & Dr. Amanda Phillips, GSMST
Jessica Caruso & Dr. Amanda Phillips, GSMST
Jessica Han & Patricia Caldwell, GSMST

About the STAR Program

The PAGE STAR program honors Georgia’s highest-achieving seniors and their most influential teachers. To qualify, students must post the highest SAT score at their school through the November test date of senior year, score at or above the national average, and rank in the top 10% or top 10 students in their graduating class based on GPA.

Photo caption: 2026 Gwinnett County Student STAR Recipients

About Partnership Gwinnett
Partnership Gwinnett leads and manages business development, convenes and catalyzes talent development, and supports community development across five target industries in Gwinnett County. The public-private initiative is supported by local governments and private-sector partners. Learn more at PartnershipGwinnett.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.