Walton Student, Teacher Named GA STARs

senior Lisa Wang was named the statewide 2012 PAGE STAR student Monday night, and her 11th-grade AP biology teacher, Tina Link, was named the state PAGE STAR teacher.

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators announced the Walton wins during the state PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition banquet at the in Dunwoody.

Wang was one of 506 STAR students named by schools across Georgia, and she was one of 21 finalists for the statewide honor.

She also was one of 10 finalists who scored a perfect 2,400 on the SAT.

“Each STAR student has his or her unique story to tell, and an essential part of that story is the exemplary teacher who inspired and guided them to extraordinary academic success,” PAGE Foundation President Tom Wommack said in a PAGE news release.

East Cobb resident Wang received a $5,000 scholarship from AT&T Georgia, presented by Pete Martin, an AT&T Georgia vice president.

As the state PAGE STAR teacher, Link was awarded $2,500 by Donna Moseley from the Decatur-based Frances Wood Wilson Foundation.

Wang chose Link as her STAR teacher because she helped her realize why science is both amazing and part of everyday life, The Marietta Daily Journal reported.

“STAR provides an opportunity for all of us to honor Georgia’s highest-achieving high school seniors and gives those students the opportunity to pay tribute to the teachers who made their academic accomplishments possible,” Wommack said.

The PAGE Foundation, PAGE and Coca-Cola sponsored the banquet, and Coca-Cola presented $100 to each of the 21 finalists. Each finalist and teacher also received a hand-blown glass star by Lillie Glassblowers from Operation Goodwill Atlanta-Ford Motor Company Fund.

The students also received $500 each from the PAGE Foundation at their regional events, and their STAR teachers received $200 each from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Wang also was one of for outstanding performance on science-related AP exams. She and her co-winner, fellow Walton senior Charles Wang, passed by the Georgia House of Representatives.

Lisa Wang announced Monday night that she’ll attend Harvard in the fall, the MDJ said.