Two seniors advance to STAR Student regionals

Seniors Matt Rossitch and Raj Shroff advanced to the regionals of the STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program Tuesday night during a banquet sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Metro-Marietta. Rossitch and Shroff were among 36 Cobb County students celebrated for their achievements at the annual STAR Student and Teacher banquet.

The STAR banquet recognizes high school seniors with the highest SAT scores and grade point averages from public, private and charter schools across Cobb and Marietta. Rossitch, Shroff and two other Cobb County students will now compete at the regional competition in March at Georgia State University. 

As part of the program, students select a teacher who has been influential in their lives. Shroff chose Dr. Cindy Schafer, Walker’s Middle and Upper School History Chair. Shroff is taking his second history course from Schafer.

“She is a phenomenal teacher, but aside from being a phenomenal teacher, she is compassionate, empathetic and she always considers you a person first and a student second,” Shroff said. “She checks in on all of her students and wants to support you when you are at your highs and in your lows and that’s why I think Dr. Schafer is the greatest teacher in the world.” 

Schafer said of Shroff: “Besides being exceptionally gifted, Raj most impresses me through his caring and compassion for others. Raj is also an excellent listener and has always been willing to listen to constructive criticism. He is one amazing young man.”

Rossitch chose Michael Arjona, Assistant Head of School for Academics and Head of the Upper School, as his STAR teacher. Arjona is Rossitch’s Economics teacher and the coach for the competition Academic Team on which Rossitch is a member.

“I think Mr. Arjona is an incredible teacher, but I think his greatest strength as a teacher is his passion for the subject matter, and his passion for economics has inspired a similar excitement in myself.” 

 Arjona said of Rossitch: “Matt is a very bright student who is enthusiastic about learning economics and contributes to our Walker community through so much more than academics. Matt is an example of how to carry yourself with integrity, and he leads by example with his thoughtful, kind demeanor and leadership on our Honor Council.”

The STAR program was launched in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and was adopted by the Metro-Marietta Kiwanis in 1966.