Watters named STAR Student

Senior Sam Watters was named Darlington's 2011 STAR Student during assembly on Feb. 21, at which time he selected Beth Wilson, chairperson of the English department, as his STAR Teacher. The awards were presented by Claudia Miller on behalf of the the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.

"As a freshman, I discovered Mrs. Wilson's determination and leadership as we worked to fulfill yearbook deadlines," Watters said. "As my advisor sophomore year, she imparted vast amounts of wisdom and as a junior I finally got to experience her skills and prowess as one of Darlington’s greatest teachers. Even as a senior, I find myself spending the majority of my coach classes, breaks and free periods in her classroom, even though I no longer have the honor of having a class with her. And after revising my college essays every day for months, I thank her for opening the doors to my future after graduation."

Watters, a National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Student and an AP Scholar with Distinction, is a member of the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Gamma Chi Epsilon, Spanish National Honor Society and French National Honor Society. He is president and founder of the Darlington Chapter of Junior State of America and director of dominions of the Junior State of America in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. He is also a member of The Inkslinger staff, the Debate Team, the Green Team and serves as spiritual life liaison in Summerbell House.

In his four years at the Upper School, Watters has received numerous awards and honors, including the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award, the Yale Book Award, The D.A.R. Medal and the 2010 Georgia Certificate of Merit from The University of Georgia. He has also earned E.L. Wright Scholastic Awards for having the highest average in AP World History, AP Environmental Science, English 2, Spanish 4, French 1 and 2 Honors, and Graphic Design. Last summer, Watters attended Economics for Leaders at Vanderbilt University and Junior Statesman Summer School at Georgetown University.

The son of Tracy and Joe Watters of Rome, he has already been accepted to Washington and Lee, where he is a finalist for the Johnson Scholarship; the University of Georgia, where he is a finalist for the Foundation Fellowship; and Georgetown University. He is still waiting to hear back from Boston College, the University of Chicago, Dartmouth College, Davidson College, Emory University, George Washington University, New York University, Princeton University, Stanford University, the University of Virginia and Yale University.

The STAR Student is the senior who scores highest on the SAT during a single-day attempt and is also in the Top 10 percent of their class based on grade point average. The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, in its 53rd year, is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Education. Since its inception, the STAR program has honored more than 21,000 students and teachers.