Union Grove High Student, Teacher Named Countywide STAR Award Winners

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Union Grove High School senior Owen Schrock and his architecture teacher, Amanda McClure, are the countywide winners of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Student/Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award.

Henry County Schools Superintendent Dr. John Pace III made the announcement during the Feb. 13 ceremony held at the Fairview Performing Arts Center in Stockbridge.

Schrock and McClure were among 18 student-teacher pairs from public and private schools in Henry County who were honored during this year’s STAR reception. HCS had 12 STAR student-teacher award recipients, including a tie at Dutchtown High School.

The STAR Student program rewards academic aptitude and excellence, with qualifying students ranking in the top 10% or top 10 of their class based on grade-point average. Each STAR Student selected the teacher who contributed most to his or her academic success to receive recognition.

The STAR Students and Teachers recognized during the Chamber’s 2026 STAR Awards reception were as follows: 

• Bible Baptist Christian School: Alaina Aiken (student), Michelle Parker (teacher)
• Community Christian School: Nghia Tran (student), Ronnie Washney (teacher)
• Creekside Christian Academy: Joshua Bridgeman (student), Cynthia Cacioppo (teacher)
• Dutchtown High School: Isaac Adu-Gyasi (student), Dr. Melton Harvey II (teacher)
• Dutchtown High School: Phu T Vu (student), Arielle Cunningham (teacher)
• Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy: Asad McFarland (student), Beth Burer (teacher)
• Eagle’s Landing High School: Adil Bangi (student), Claud Spinks (teacher)
• Hampton High School: Mariah Taylor (student), Dr. Sadereka Evans (teacher)
• Impact Academy High School: Hannon Grimwood Moss (student), Lauren Coleman (teacher)
• Locust Grove High School: Kaden Kinchen (student), Holly Davis (teacher)
• Luella High School: Ramiz Howard (student), Dr. Scott Bailey (teacher)
• McDonough High School: Nickayla Miller (student), Candice Dickey-Hammonds (teacher)
• New Creation Christian Academy: Jackson Owens (student), Julie Hubener (teacher)
• Ola High School: Anthony Coral (student), Laura Coons (teacher)
• Stockbridge High School: Samuel Lagunju (student), Amina Rhodes (teacher)
• Strong Rock Christian School: Jackson Parker (student), Dara Caldwell (teacher)
• Union Grove High School: Owen Schrock (student), Amanda McClure (teacher)
• Woodland High School: Baoduy-Daniel Tran (student), Dr. TuyetMai Pham (teacher)

“In addition to performing in the top 10% or top 10 of their class, these students had to have the highest score on a single test date on the three-part SAT,” said Chamber President and CEO Joseph Henning. “These 18 students are truly outstanding and destined to achieve great things.”

Henning further acknowledged HCS educators Spinks and McClure, who received their third STAR Teacher awards, and Pham, who received her second honor.

“I am humbled and privileged to be in front of all these stars,” Dr. Pace said. “I want to take this opportunity to thank the Chamber of Commerce for recognizing students and teachers in the county and for its dedication to fostering educational excellence and leadership development within our community. These recognitions remind me of two of Henry County Schools’ four core beliefs – that family and community involvement are critical to student success, and that effective teachers, leaders, and staff produce excellent results. I commend these students for their hard work and devotion to learning. You should be proud of this well-earned honor.”

Students’ families, school administrators, Chamber of Commerce officials, and local industry leaders were also present to celebrate the students’ commitment to academic excellence.

STAR Students first compete at the school and system levels sponsored by local chambers of commerce. As the Henry County awardee, Schrock is eligible to compete in the regional competition for an opportunity to advance to the state-level competition in April.