The Scholastic Achievement Test can be a daunting task for high school seniors, but several area students went above and beyond in their performance this year.

For that, last month they were honored with the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, or STAR, program.

Sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Education, the 54-year-old program requires nominees to have achieved the top SAT score on a single test date and to be in the top 10 percent of their class based on grade point average.

In addition, the selected students chose teachers who inspired them to strive for academic excellence to be named as STAR teachers.

Local STAR sponsors are the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta for Atlanta schools, the Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club for Fulton County schools and the Metro Marietta Kiwanis Club for Cobb County Schools.

The Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Vinings STAR students are as follows — Atlanta Girls’ School: Daisy Mashburn, 17, daughter of Sid and Ann Mashburn of Atlanta; Atlanta International School: Alex Richard, 17, son of John and Kathryn Richard of Buckhead; Brandon Hall School: Jarrod Rothwell, 18, son of Brian and Marie Rothwell of Weston, Mass.; Galloway School: Eric Foley, 17, son of Max and Debbie Foley of Buckhead; Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School: Natalie Blythe Sterrett, 18, daughter of Noel and Carol Sterrett of Hanahan, S.C., and Atlanta, respectively; Holy Spirit Preparatory School: Todd Jones, 17, son of Todd and Joann Jones of Buckhead; The Howard School: Nat Brigham, son of David and Deborah Brigham of east Cobb; The Lovett School: Claire Beskin, 17, daughter of Jim and Beth Beskin of Buckhead; Mount Vernon Presbyterian School: Robert Barclift, 18, son of David and Debbie Barclift of Atlanta; North Springs Charter High School: Leighton Michele Rowell, 17, daughter of Jan and Gordon Rowell of Sandy Springs; Pace Academy: Michael Christianson, 18, son of Jennifer and Fred Christianson of Roswell; Riverwood International Charter School: Aaron Bholé, 17, son of Raj and Rama Bholé of Sandy Springs; The Weber School: Eytan Palte, 18, son of Gail and Stephen Palte of Sandy Springs; The Westminster Schools: Daniel He, 18, son of David He and Amanda Huang of Atlanta, and John Barker, 17, son of Bob and Sandra Barker of Atlanta; Whitefield Academy: Matt Owens, 18, son of Bryan and Sharon Owens of Mableton; Woodward Academy: Michael Briskin, 18, son of Randy Briskin and Ceci Friedman of Sandy Springs.

North Atlanta High will announce its STAR student and teacher at a later date, Atlanta Public Schools spokesman Keith Bromery said.

A closer look:

Editor’s note: North Atlanta High will announce its STAR student and teacher at a later date.

In addition to academic achievement, students last month honored with the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, or STAR, designation participate in a host of extracurricular and community activities. Here’s a closer look at the area’s STAR Students:

Atlanta Girls’ School
STAR Student: Daisy Mashburn, 17, daughter of Sid and Ann Mashburn of Atlanta.
STAR Teacher: Peggy Hasty, advanced-placement literature and composition.
Daisy’s extracurricular activities include being a student ambassador for AGS, a varsity basketball and soccer player, a mentor to the Girl Talk group and a member of the Outing and Service clubs. In addition, Daisy volunteers at many area organizations, plays piano and holds a part-time job at her family’s design business. She has been accepted at the University of Virginia and the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas in Austin, and is still deciding between the two.

Atlanta International School
STAR Student: Alex Richard, 17, son of John and Kathryn Richard of Buckhead.
STAR Teacher: Jeff Holcomb, newly named as AIS’ head of upper school.
Alex is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, Eagle Scout, recipient of the RIT Innovation and Creativity Award and Johns Hopkins Book Award, and has been selected as an Outstanding Delegate and Outstanding Justice in several Model UN conferences. He has been co-captain of the iHOT Robotics Team, captain of five iHOT sub-teams, Math Club captain, Science Club founder and captain, a Model UN ambassador, and a student council grade representative for four years. He volunteers at the Shepherd Center and leads a volunteer group for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. He also participates in the school’s Economics and Investment Club and Ambassador Program, the National Novel Writing Month, the Write On! Editorial Board and theatre tech support and construction. He has early acceptances to Stanford (Calif.) University and Georgia Tech, but has made no decision yet.

Brandon Hall School
STAR Student: Jarrod Rothwell, 18, son or Brian and Marie Rothwell of Weston, Mass.
STAR Teacher: Rosie Shields, Spanish.
Jarrod is active in after-school theatre productions and has been accepted to Becker College and University of Hartford but is waiting on several acceptances.

Galloway School
STAR Student: Eric Foley, 17, son of Max and Debbie Foley of Buckhead.
STAR Teacher: Sam Biglari, social studies.
As varsity soccer team captain in both his junior and senior years, Eric helped lead the team to a successful finish two years running, as well as coaching and mentoring the middle school soccer team to a record fourth consecutive title. He was also named MVP at two university soccer camps, and has played with Concorde Fire Soccer Club since ninth grade. A National Merit Commended Student, Eric received the Principal’s Letter of Commendation for three consecutive years, and as a junior he received the Harvard Book Award, AP Scholar Award and Georgia Certificate of Merit. He is also very involved in student government, both as a class representative for four years and as secretary in his senior year. Eric is chair of the homecoming committee, serves on the prom and spirit committees and appears as the school’s mascot at games and community events. For the past three years he has volunteered for Skyland Trail. While Eric has not yet finalized his post-graduation plans, he has been offered admission to University of Southern California, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Clemson.

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School
STAR Student: Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School: Natalie Blythe Sterrett, 18, daughter of Noel Sterrett of Hanahan, S.C. and Carol Sterrett of Atlanta.
STAR Teacher: Holly R. Chesser, upper school English.
Natalie is an accomplished rider and co-captain this year of the Holy Innocents’ equestrian team. She shows her own horse outside of school and rides as a Just World International ambassador, an organization that raises money for children in developing countries. She is also a kennel attendant at Vernon Woods Animal Hospital.

Holy Spirit Preparatory School
STAR Student: Todd Jones, 17, son of Todd and Joann Jones of Buckhead.
STAR Teacher: Pete Radosta, writing and composition.
Todd currently serves Holy Spirit’s head boy (head of the student government) and on the honor council, and is a member of the varsity football and baseball teams. Todd is also active in theater, plays piano and harmonica and enjoys service opportunities through the Columbian Squires. During the summer, Todd serves on the coaching staff of the Chastain Park Tidal Waves swim team. Todd’s college plans are undecided at this point. He has received a nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy and was accepted early at both Notre Dame and the University of Georgia Honors College. Todd is waiting to hear back from several other colleges and universities before he finalizes his plans.

The Howard School
STAR Student: Nat Brigham
STAR Teacher: Heather-Nicole Craven
Brigham resides in east Cobb with his parents, David and Deborah Brigham. He has been admitted to Berry College, where he has received an academic scholarship. He runs track and plays basketball, and is a member of the youth praise band at his church.

The Lovett School
STAR Student: Claire Beskin, 17, daughter of Jim and Beth Beskin of Buckhead.
STAR Teacher: Betty Hu, Chinese.
Claire is involved in Habitat for Humanity, the Green Team (Lovett’s sustainability group), student government, women’s chorus, cheerleading and golf. She serves on the Fulton County Youth Commission, which works on legislative efforts and community outreach. Claire has participated in three mission trips organized through her church, First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. In addition, for the past three summers, Claire has traveled to China, and two of the trips were fully funded scholarships. Claire is the president of Lovett’s Asian Culture Club and recently won first place in Level IV at a speech contest sponsored by Georgia Chinese Educators. Claire has been accepted at Dartmouth and will start studying there this fall.

Mount Vernon Presbyterian School
STAR Student: Robert Barclift, 18, son of David and Debbie Barclift of Atlanta.
STAR Teacher: Danielle Heintz, AP calculus.
Robert’s extracurricular activities include serving as varsity wrestling team captain, an Eagle Scout, environmental prefect and National Honor Society president. He participates in club water polo with North Springs Charter High School and studied abroad in New Zealand for 11 months in 10th grade. He hopes to attend Georgia Tech and study civil engineering.

North Springs Charter High School
STAR Student: Leighton Michele Rowell, 17, daughter of Jan and Gordon Rowell of Sandy Springs.
STAR Teacher: Jacqueline Protos, language arts.
Leighton, who plans to major in history or journalism, is student body president, editor-in-chief of the school’s “Oracle” student newspaper, a varsity lacrosse player and local journalism intern. She is also a UGA Foundation Fellowship finalist and a semifinalist for the Presidential Scholarship at Georgia Institute of Technology. Leighton is a member of National Honor Society, Tri-M national music honor society and the national math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta. She is waiting to hear from a number of colleges before making her decision on which school to attend.

Pace Academy
STAR Student: Michael Christianson, 18, son of Jennifer and Fred Christianson of Roswell.
STAR Teacher: Jason Smith, math.
Michael is a member of the math, debate, trivia, robotics and chess teams. He also plays viola and tennis and is the recipient of the Orkin Scholar, Faculty Award for Scholarship, “Rising Star” Math Department, Georgia Tech Math Department and University of Pennsylvania Book awards. He is a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit semifinalist and National AP Scholar with Distinction.

Riverwood International Charter School
STAR Student: Aaron Bholé, 17, son of Raj and Rama Bholé of Sandy Springs.
STAR Teacher: Sheri Smith, business and management.
Aaron is president of the Riverwood chapter and a state officer of the Future Business Leaders of America and captain of the RoboRaiders, Riverwood’s former world champion robotics team. He received the University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation and Technology, and is president of the Beta Club, vice president of the senior class and captain of the Cricket Club. His favorite subjects are 20th-century history, physics and theory of knowledge. He is keeping his college options open with applications pending at a number of schools.

The Weber School
STAR Student: Eytan Palte, 18, son of Gail and Stephen Palte of Sandy Springs.
STAR Teacher: Marc Leventhal, Judaics.
Eytan is captain of the Weber soccer team, winner of the Moot Beit Din Competition, a participant in mock trial and Peace by Piece, co-president of Israel Action Fellows and captain of the math team. He is still deciding on where to attend college.

The Westminster Schools
STAR Students (tie): Daniel He, 18, son of David He and Amanda Huang of Atlanta, and John Barker, 17, son of Bob and Sandra Barker of Atlanta.
STAR Teachers (tie): Penny Sconzo and Adrian Dingle, both AP chemistry.
Daniel is the founder of Think North Korea with fellow student K.K. Huang and works with a larger organization called Liberty in North Korea. His organization aims to raise money and awareness for North Korean refugees. Daniel is a staff member of the Bi-Line, the school’s newspaper, and is co-president of Westminster’s Science Olympiad team. He is on the debate team, spending much of this season as a judge. Daniel also volunteers for organizations including Habitat for Humanity. He has not decided where he will attend college.
John has been involved in a wide range of activities including singing in the student-led Men’s A Capella group. He runs cross country and track and tutors math students though the math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta. He’s a member of Westminster Boy Scout Troop 197 and serves on the Westminster Honor Council. John is a “Wiredcat — a member of Westminster’s FIRST Robotics Team 2415 and he leads a campus Bible study. Asked about his college choice, he jokes that he’ll go to whichever school takes him.

Whitefield Academy
STAR Student: Matt Owens, 18, son of Bryan and Sharon Owens of Mableton.
STAR Teacher: Steve Hellier, AP calculus.
Matt is a four-year varsity wrestler, president of the senior class, a peer mentor, a member of the national honor society and has participated in mission trips to both Romania and Zimbabwe. He plans to attend Vanderbilt University in the fall.

Woodward Academy
STAR Student: Michael Briskin, 18, son of Randy Briskin and Ceci Friedman of Sandy Springs.
STAR Teacher: Margaret Lee, AP English.
Michael is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society, is a National Merit semifinalist and received the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award in writing. Michael also is a volunteer at his synagogue and at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and is a summer camp counselor at Camp Barney Medintz in North Georgia. At Woodward, Michael is involved with the Junior Civitan Club and Yad B’Yad Club and this year, he worked in conjunction with the Woodward debate team for the International Public Policy Forum debate contest: a worldwide written debate contest between hundreds of schools. Michael plans to attend Brown University in the fall, where he will work to earn a liberal arts degree. He hopes to find a profession where he can utilize what he says is his best talent and what he enjoys most: writing.