The Clarke County School District is pleased to announce its STAR Students from Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools for the 2024-25 school year.
The STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program, created in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and now sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), recognizes the senior at each high school with the highest SAT score on any single test date who is also in the top 10% of their class based on grade-point average. Every STAR Student also names a STAR Teacher who has influenced them in their academic pursuits. The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the local STAR awards.
Sebastian Caillault has been named the STAR Student for Cedar Shoals and has also been announced as the STAR Student for the Clarke County “system,” which includes all public and private schools located within the county. He will now compete in the PAGE Region 4 contest for the chance to advance to the state competition. The region winner will be announced in March during an awards banquet also hosted by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. Clarke Central had a three-way tie for the STAR Student award with Wyatt Meyer, Luke Schliekelman, and Riley Wares all meeting the criteria to qualify for the designation.
“The STAR program is particularly meaningful to our district because it not only recognizes some of our highest performing students, but also allows them to acknowledge the role teachers have played in their success,” said CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie P. Hooker. “We all remember those teachers who have made a difference in our lives, and it gives me great pleasure to see our students recognizing that impact and its role in their individual journeys.”
About Sebastian Caillault
Sebastian Caillault is president of the Cedar Shoals Chess Club and is a member of the Jaguar tennis team. He is a self-described “math enthusiast” and was recently named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar for his research in geometric knot theory. The Regeneron Science Talent Search is regarded as the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors, and Sebastian was one of only 300 students out of more than 2,500 applicants across the U.S., its territories, and 14 other countries chosen for the recognition this year.
Sebastian has been accepted to the University of Georgia and Georgia Institute of Technology and is awaiting decisions from other schools. Additionally, he is a finalist for UGA's prestigious Foundation Fellowship. He plans to study mathematics in college.
Sebastian chose Greg Huberty, a former longtime math teacher at Cedar Shoals who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year, as his STAR Teacher.
“I am very pleased to be named Cedar Shoals’ STAR student. I believe the important part of this award is to recognize some of the fantastic teachers in Clarke County, like Mr. Huberty,” Sebastian said. “If teaching calculus was oil painting, Mr. Huberty would be Bob Ross. Mr. Huberty has been so kind and supportive of me during my time in high school, and I truly don't know if I would have found my passion — mathematics — without him."
“As a former student, parent, and longtime teacher at Cedar Shoals High School, the Clarke County School District has always meant a great deal to me. It is always an honor and a privilege to teach students that embrace the idea of education. This is exemplified in Sebastian Caillaut,” said Mr. Huberty. He recalled teaching Sebastian during his sophomore year and how he always came to class prepared and with a willingness to learn.
Mr. Huberty said that while Sebastian was shy at first, as the first semester went on, he was the first to offer answers and the first to offer assistance to other students who were having difficulties with the class material. He also applauded Sebastian for balancing the academic rigor of his advanced classes with his involvement in tennis and Chess Club without missing a beat.
“These reasons, combined with an exceptional intellect, have made Sebastian a model student and a joy to teach,” said Mr. Huberty. “He was always quick with an insight or another method and was not afraid to put himself out there with what he believed was the best way to solve a problem. Sebastian has been one of the most gifted mathematics students I have ever had the privilege of teaching.
“And more so than that, he has been one of the best people I have had the pleasure of getting to know. I am truly blessed that he thought of me in his educational journey that has really only just begun.”
About Wyatt Meyer
Wyatt Meyer ranks at the top of his high school class and is a state and national award-winning scholastic journalist who currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Clarke Central’s ODYSSEY Media Group. He was previously Lead Copy Editor and Sports Editor. Among his numerous accolades, he was named Junior Champion Journalist by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association for the 2023-24 school year. He intends to continue studying journalism along with anthropology in college and is still awaiting admission decisions before making a final decision. He is also a finalist for the UGA Foundation Fellowship.
Wyatt chose David Ragsdale, Clarke Central English and journalism teacher and faculty advisor to the ODYSSEY Media Group, as his STAR Teacher.
“It means a lot to me to be recognized as a STAR student. Having been a student at Clarke Central High School for four years, being recognized for my academic efforts is rewarding,” Wyatt said. “However, I guarantee that I would never have won this honor, nor experienced a comparable degree of academic success, without mentorship from Mr. Ragsdale. During four years working together [with the ODYSSEY], Mr. Ragsdale has instilled values of hard work and perseverance in me while also teaching me to become a better writer and leader. I am proud that both Mr. Ragsdale and I can represent CCHS and the Clarke County School District.”
"Having worked with Wyatt in various spaces during the last four years, I'm excited to see him receive this prestigious recognition,” said Mr. Ragsdale. I'm honored to be named his STAR teacher and remain grateful for the opportunity to mentor and collaborate with this scholar during his high school career. I expect big things from him in the future and I look forward to seeing all he'll accomplish."
About Luke Schliekelman
In addition to his academic success and achievements, Luke Schliekelman was a varsity cross country and track and field runner all four years of high school and contributed to the Gladiators winning four cross country region championships and finishing in the top three in the state meet as a team each of the last three seasons. He also was part of the Gladiator track team’s state-qualifying 4x800-meter relay team.
In other extracurricular activities, Luke participated in robotics his junior year and led the design of a robot for a FIRST Tech Challenge competition. He plans to study engineering in college and says his most likely option currently would be attending Georgia Tech and majoring in aerospace engineering.
Luke chose Clarke Central science teacher Scott Swain as his STAR Teacher.
“Winning STAR student makes me feel proud of what I have accomplished in high school, and motivates me to continue to pursue my passions,” Luke said. “I selected Mr. Swain as my STAR teacher because taking AP Physics with him my junior year increased my interest in science and mathematics, and taking his Scientific Research class my senior year allowed me to explore these topics in greater detail through experiments and further expanded my passion to pursue science and math in college. I believe Mr. Swain has played a significant role in allowing me to develop my passions and figure out what I want to pursue in college and later in life.”
“In the time I have gotten to know Luke, I have found him to be a young man of few words and deep thought,” said Mr. Swain. “His ability to score the highest or close to highest grade on every test showed his deep understanding of the material. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this brilliant young man.”
About Riley Wares
Riley Wares has been a dual-enrolled student at Clarke Central and the University of Georgia since his junior year and has been a key member of the school’s robotics team and Ecology Club throughout his time in high school. In addition, he has taken a number of extracurricular lessons in aerial dance, mandolin, vocal training, and several languages.
Riley is a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, as well as an AP Scholar with Distinction. As part of the Ecology Club, he helped to install the current recycling system and continues to facilitate classroom recycling in order to improve our school environment. He plans to continue his current studies at UGA in the Odum School of Ecology.
Riley chose Clarke Central science teacher Chris Sugiuchi as his STAR Teacher.
“Earning this award means a recognition of my enduring effort and passion for learning that has brought me thus far,” Riley said. “Mr. Sugiuchi has been very supportive of me through the engineering program, and I have enjoyed his style of teaching. In addition, he is a great robotics team coach. He assisted me with learning leadership skills, design management, and teamwork as part of the Robotics Program.”
Mr. Sugiuchi said Riley’s creative problem-solving skills and breadth of knowledge have made him an invaluable member of the robotics team and a standout in the classroom.
“Riley has a remarkable ability to approach challenges with ingenuity and determination,” said Mr. Sugiuchi. “His quick wit and humorous one-liners often bring levity when the team encounters engineering design issues, while his courage to question the status quo pushes us to consider new approaches. I am truly honored to have taught Riley in my engineering class and worked alongside him on the Robotics Team. I am proud to have been part of Riley’s journey and can’t wait to see how he applies his talents in the future.”