Seven graduating seniors in the Carroll County School System have been named STAR students at their respective high schools for the 2025-2026 school year and were recognized by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce at its annual STAR Student and Teacher Recognition Breakfast.
The STAR program, administered statewide by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, recognizes the student who has the highest SAT score in his or her graduating class at each high school each year.
Every STAR student selects a teacher who has had the most influence on his or her academic achievement during the entire school career. This teacher is honored as the school’s STAR teacher.
The awards were presented during the chamber’s membership breakfast which was held at the Carroll County Schools Performing Arts Center.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce to recognize our STAR Students and STAR Teachers," Carroll County Schools Superintendent Scott Cowart said. "We know these students will continue to achieve success after graduation and will develop into leaders in our community. We also congratulate our STAR Teachers and acknowledge their commitment to being premier and making a difference in the lives of students."
The STAR breakfast honored STAR students and teachers from Carroll County Schools, Carrollton City Schools and Oak Mountain Academy.
Both Bowdon High School and Temple High School had two students tie for the school’s STAR Student Award.
Bowdon High School - Abigail Cihla
Abigail Cihla is the first of two STAR Students from Bowdon High School. Cihla’s favorite subject is math and she has received awards for the highest average in Geometry, Spanish II and Art. She is pursuing the International Skills Diploma Seal and is a member of the National Art Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the STAND Club. Cihla enjoys drawing, painting, cooking shows and documentaries. She was awarded Best in Show during the 2026 Kiwanis Art & Music Showcase for her painting, Family Reflections. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of West Georgia and major in Psychology. Abigail’s mother is Genelyn Cihla.
Cihla chose Bowdon High School teacher Kristy McKinzey as her STAR teacher. McKinzey teaches AP Language and AP Literature, Dual Enrollment English 1101 and 1102 and English III. McKinzey is a former Georgia POST-certified law enforcement officer. She was the 2008 Phi Delta Kappa Middle School Teacher of the Year and was honored in 2025 for exceeding the national pass rate on the AP Language exam. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, and traveling. McKinzey said, “Abigail shines through sheer determination, academic excellence, and her quiet confidence. Watching her become more confident in her abilities and in her writing has been a privilege. Surely, she is a star!”
Bowdon High School - Alyssa Pate
Also from Bowdon High is STAR Student Alyssa Pate. Pate’s favorite subject is literature, and she has been recognized for the highest average in AP U.S. History and AP Pre-Calculus. She is a member of the National Art Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the BHS Chorus. Pate will be competing as a member of the Girls Trio at literary competition this year. After graduation, Pate plans to attend Berry College studying Animal Science. Her mother is Tammy Pate.
Pate chose BHS Chorus Director Emily Graffius as her STAR Teacher. Graffius is a third-year teacher and serves schools in the Bowdon and Mount Zion cluster. Pate said, “Ms. Graffius has helped me discover confidence I never knew I had. She has shown me support when I needed it most, patience when I lost mine, and love for art. I have found something to be passionate about because of her, and I have found my voice.” When she’s not singing, Graffius enjoys reading and running. Ms. Graffius said, “Alyssa is one of my most dedicated chorus students and always brings great energy and positivity to our class.”
Central High School - Maxwell Kubik
Max Kubik is the STAR Student at Central High School. Kubik has excelled academically with numerous honors including AP Scholar with Distinction, AP Rural and Small Town Scholar, Questbridge Scholar, UGA Certificate of Merit, Georgia Tech STEPS program, and the STARS Fly-In at University of Chicago. He made a perfect score on the ACT. Kubik has been part of the swim team, math team, Science Olympiad, Academic Team, Chess Club and Beta Club, among others. He is a member of Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods’s Student Advisory Council. Kubik has received a full scholarship to Emory University where he plans to dual major in Neuroscience and Public Health. His parents are Stephen and Brook Kubik.
Kubik selected Central calculus teacher Jacklyn Ross as his STAR Teacher. Ross is the chair of the mathematics department and has been honored with a Carroll County Schools Trailblazer Award. She says she had the world’s best high school math teacher who made her want to teach math, too, with a goal of impacting her students the same way her teacher impacted her. Ross said, “I feel like the most blessed teacher to have the opportunity to teach Max for two years, and he has left a permanent imprint on my heart. I am so proud of his growth and progress, and I have no doubt that he will be the best, most compassionate neurologist ever.”
Mount Zion High School - Zachary Purvis
Zachary Purvis is the STAR Student at Mount Zion High School. Purvis’s favorite subject is Science, and he is an AP Rural and Small Town Scholar. He’s been honored with National Recognition by the College Board, the UGA Certificate of Merit and the Coca-Cola Award for Outstanding Academic Performance. He’s on the 4-H Air Rifle Team and plays trumpet in the Mount Zion band. Purvis is also a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club. He is undecided about where he’ll attend college, but said he plans to study engineering. Purvis’s parents are Steven and Nikki Purvis.
Purvis chose Mount Zion High School counselor Mark Richardson as his STAR Teacher. Richardson taught Zachary in both the sixth and ninth grades before becoming counselor at Mount Zion High where he is also an assistant wrestling coach. Richardson was the Mount Zion Middle School teacher of the year in 2023. Richardson said, “Zach is one of the brightest students I have ever had the opportunity to teach. His love of learning and his quiet determination at being the best he can possibly be shines through in his every endeavor.”
Temple High School - Jack Jordan
Jack Jordan is one of two STAR students at Temple High School. Jordan’s favorite subject is science, and he has excelled both in the classroom and as an athlete at Temple High. He has received the UGA Certificate of Merit Award, and he’s an AP Scholar with Distinction and was a State Finalist for the Governor’s Honors Program in Chemistry. Jordan has been named both an all-region linebacker and all-region baseball team honorable mention. He is a member of the National Honor Society, National History Club, Science Olympiad Team and the Spanish Honor Society. He is Vice President of the National Science Honor Society and a member of Mr. Cowart’s Superintendent Student Ambassadors. After graduation Jordan plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to study Chemical Engineering. Jordan’s parents are Laura Jordan and Sammy Jordan.
Reflecting his love for science, Jordan chose Temple High School science teacher Alison Parker as his STAR Teacher. Parker teaches AP Chemistry and Honors Physical Science and is Academic Team Advisor. She has been named both Teacher of the Month and Teacher of the Year. She volunteers as a scoreboard operator, and has a twin sister who also teaches science. Parker said, “Jack combines a genuine passion for chemistry with exceptional intelligence, integrity, and a collaborative spirit—qualities that elevate those around him and leave a lasting impression.”
Temple High School - McKennan Pannell
Also from Temple High School is STAR Student McKennan Pannell. Pannel’s favorite subject is science, but he also sings in the chorus and plays varsity E-sports. Pannell is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a Governor’s Honors semi-finalist in Chemistry. He was named to the GMEA All-State Choir and received the UGA Certificate of Merit. He’s President of the Science National Honor Society and member of the FBLA, Senior BETA Club and National Honor Society. After graduation, Pannell plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to major in physics. Pannell’s parents are Cortney Whitmire and Jeremy Pannell.
Pannell chose Temple High Chorus Director Lydia Clarke as his STAR Teacher. Clarke is a STEM-certified educator and previous Teacher of the Month at Temple. Pannell said attending all-state choir with Clarke in Athens is something he will never forget. Clark said, “I have known Mac for four years as his High School Choir Director during which he has served on my leadership council as the leader of a baritone section. He always completes his work in chorus not only well, but thoroughly. He works until he gets it right and is constantly curious about his work. He is always seeking to do the right thing and to do right by others.”
Villa Rica High School - Kieran Lively
Kieran Lively is the STAR student at Villa Rica High School. Lively’s favorite subject is math, and he has received National Recognition by the College Board and the UGA Certificate of Merit. He has lettered in tennis for three consecutive years while having the best regular season record his junior year. Lively is the treasurer of the National Honor Society chapter at Villa Rica, and performed at West Georgia’s Rotary Club talent show in 2025. After graduation Lively plans to study computer science and music and has narrowed his choices down to three universities. His parents are Russel and Ananya Lively.
Lively chose Villa Rica High math teacher Janene Browning as his STAR Teacher. This is her second recognition as STAR teacher, and she has been named the school’s Teacher of the Year on three occasions. Browning played professional slow-pitch softball for 14 years and is in the sport’s hall of fame. She also played college basketball. Browning said, “Kieran is calm, kind, and deeply thoughtful. He approaches learning with sincerity, discovering joy in math and valuing true understanding over simply completing tasks.”
Selection criteria for the STAR students includes the highest SAT score on a single test date and a ranking in either the top 10 percent of their class or the top 10 students in their class based on grade point average.