Grade: 5th Grade
School: Kimberly Elementary
“Sanlatorria Smith is a pleasure to have in class, and she is a model student,” says Ms. Britton, Sanlatorria’s 5th grade teacher at L.O. Kimberly Elementary School. “She is kind to her classmates and has a glowing personality! Every teacher would love to have a student like Sanlatorria in their class.”
These descriptions of Sanlatorria are one of the many reasons why she shines at Kimberly Elementary. Each day Sanlatorria can be seen patrolling the halls of her school fulfilling her duties as a safety patrol. She is dedicated to taking her time and caring for the younger students in the school as she monitors them each morning on their way to class.
Sanlatorria’s peers recognize her qualities of leadership and responsibility. She has been elected by her classmates as their student council representative. Her membership in the Kiwanis “K-Kids” and Beta Clubs at school help to reinforce and strengthen her leadership skills. Her career goal is to be a lawyer.
“I want to help people who need help defending themselves,” she says.
Sanlatorria’s love for school and learning is evident in her daily classwork. She is on the Honor Roll at school for earning all A’s and B’s. She is very observant of things that go on in the class, and her teachers can count on her to follow through with any assignment she is given.
According to Sanlatorria, her favorite subject is reading. “I like to learn new things. I especially like mysteries and non-fiction books,” she explains.
Recently, Ms. Britton’s fifth grade class reenacted the debates of the 2012 Presidential Election. Sanlatorria served as the moderator for these debates. She prepared her statements and questions by researching the questions asked and statements made by the moderators at each of the debates. She then merged all of the information seamlessly for the L.O. Kimberly Debates.
L.O. Kimberly is very pleased and fortunate to have Sanlatorria as a member of the 5th grade class. She is definitely a “Shining Star”.
Grade: 12th Grade
School: Carver School of Technology
Alexandria Santiago is a bright, upbeat student who’s definitely going places in life. She is a senior at The Carver School of Technology and she has maintained honor roll status with a 3.6 grade point average during her entire high school career at Carver. She is also a member of the Honor Student Council.
Alexandria is the current S.G.A. President of The Carver School of Technology and she stated that she ran for office because she wanted to make a difference. Her school is indeed making a difference. Recently, the students at Carver won a $100,000.00 grant from State Farm Insurance for Teen Safe Driving and the grant award ceremony was held at their school. Alexandria is also a graphic designer who builds websites. She also participates in community service projects such as raising money for leukemia.
Alexandria’s career goal is to become a mental health nurse. She is planning to attend college in-state and Agnes Scott College, Georgia State University and Valdosta State University are a few of the schools that she has applied to.
Name: Robert Adams
Grade: 5th Grade
School: Burgess-Peterson Academy
Intelligent and well mannered Robert Adams meets Burgess Peterson Academy’s expectations for a model student. He sets the standards high for his classmates by striving to excel in all areas. “I try to learn as much as I can from school so that I can go to college,” Robert says. “I want to be like my dad and be the best that I can be.”
Robert won 1st place for his class in this year’s science fair. His project was dedicated to George Washington Carver, because he not only planted peanuts, but also helped the southern economy and polio patients as well. His favorite subject is language arts, and he loves adverbs and adjectives. He always displays the best manners in the classroom, and finishes his homework in a timely manner.
“He really is a self-starter, hard working, and has great work ethics. He has good morals, a great character, and is a very nice young man,” says Michelle Johnson, 5th grade teacher. “I’m proud to have him in my class, and he is just a model student in every way.”
Name: Jordan Stone
Grade: 5th Grade
School: Usher-Collier Heights Elementary
Jordan Stone loves science. Figuring out why things work the way they do drives the fifth-grader, so no one was surprised when her inquisitive spirit led her to win first place in the state science fair last year.
Jordan watches the NASA channel regularly and wants to work for the organization one day. Some nights, she finds herself gazing into the sky from her bedroom window, closely observing the activity—shooting stars, airplanes and the occasional unidentified flying object.
“I love mystery and learning about different spacecraft. And since I also like fixing broken technology, I want to repair spacecraft when I grow up. I think NASA would be a good place to work.”
However, her concerns about the oxygen supply once she leaves the earth make Jordan stop short of saying she will pursue a career as an astronaut. Instead, she is opting to stay on this planet—where she says she will always have air.
A positive attitude along with poise and confidence helped her win the spot for the school’s vice-president during a recent student government association election. She is also a Junior Beta Club member, a cheerleader, Girl Scout, math club and dance team member.
“Jordan is definitely an outstanding student,” says Usher’s Junior Beta Club coordinator, Austine Parker-Giles.
“She is very responsible and she really cares about others. Her sense of duty to the school and to others is outstanding. Jordan is a student with impeccable character.”
Jordan says she enjoyed the election process—which included active campaigning, student debates and speeches and voting via electronic ballot—and it motivated her to follow the national presidential election.
“It gave more meaning to what we learned in social studies.”
Ironically, Jordan says the one subject she always scores lowest in is social studies. Since there is nothing analytical and no mysteries to solve in social studies—only facts to remember—she admits that it is hard for her to stay interested.
“But the teachers do an amazing job teaching the material,” says the young diplomat.
Jordan, who has written and illustrated an unpublished book, “The Lion Queen,” credits her parents for her academic success.
“My mother recommends that I read more so I can learn more; then I journal about what I read. If something upsets me, or I’m really happy about something, my parents tell me to write a poem or a funny rhyme about how I’m feeling.”
Jordan says her parents tell her what they expect from her and they push her to meet those expectations.
“The rest is up to me,” she says.