Bainbridge High School senior Taylor Bush and Grace Christian Academy senior Jack McRae were selected for the PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program and honored at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday.

To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the three-part SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their graduating class based on GPA. The students then select a teacher they feel was instrumental in their academic success.

McRae was also awarded the system STAR title for Decatur County.

Bush chose Dr. Heidi Chambers as her STAR teacher. It was Chamber’s enthusiasm during her 10th grade pre-AP American Literature class that she began to realize how much she enjoyed writing and inspired her to pursue a career in journalism.

Bush is a Raymond Miles Youth Leadership graduate. She is president of the BHS Anchor Club and Captain of the swim team, where she was a four-year letterman and has won three regional titles.

She is a chaplain of the BHS Marching Band and Danceline and is a member of the leadership team of FCA and the First United Methodist Church Youth Group.

Bush was chosen as a Wendy’s High School Heisman winner for BHS, earned a UGA Certificate of Merit, is a member of the national honor society, on the principal’s honor roll and is a scholar athlete.

McRae chose Richard Cox as his STAR teacher.

Cox, a social studies teacher, was chosen because he was the best teacher McRae ever had, he said.

“He has done the most to prepare me for college, both inside the classroom and outside the classroom,” McRae said. “He is a great role model and friend. I am very fortunate to have been his student for the past four years.”

McRae has a 4.0 GPA. He is also enrolled at Bainbridge State College, where he also holds a 4.0 GPA. He is an AP scholar, Coca Cola Scholar Foundation Semifinalist and a Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist.

McRae is the student body vice president at GCA, National Honor Society vice president and is a graduate of Raymond Miles Youth Leadership program. He also participates in athletics, winning all region awards each season in basketball, serving as the team captain and holding the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder records.

His accomplishments outside the classroom and off the court include being a member of the GCA chorus and the orchestra.

Bush will be atteding UGA next year and has plans to major in mass media art. McRae has applied to Duke, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and UGA and will major in neuroscience.