Congratulations to senior Merritt Enright, who has been named Whitefield’s 2015 STAR Student. Merritt had the highest total score of all seniors at Whitefield (on a single test date taken through November 2014). Merritt is also in the top 10 percent of the class based on GPA, a requirement of the STAR student designation.
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program honors Georgia's highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Merritt chose Steve Hellier, Upper School math teacher, as her STAR teacher.
“Mr. Hellier continuously oversteps the role of teacher and invests in his students with more straightforward honesty than Andy Griffith,” said Merritt. “The busy school day never takes priority above sharing God’s wisdom. He is encouraging and hilarious. Being in his class truly taught me to get out of my comfort zone and never make the excuse that ‘I’m just not a math person,’” said Merritt.
In addition to her rigorous academic schedule, taking both Honors and AP classes, Merritt is heavily involved in extracurricular activities at Whitefield and beyond. At Whitefield, Merritt has participated in varsity track, peer tutoring, WolfPack News, and the Whitefield Dramatic Society. Outside of Whitefield, Merritt is a student in the pre-professional program of the Atlanta Ballet Company. She dances at least 20 hours a week and has performed in numerous productions, including the Nutcracker, which is held annually at the Fox Theatre. Merritt also serves as a teacher’s assistant for the Ballet, and participates in the company’s outreach program and sports nutritional training program. In addition, she volunteers regularly at the Atlanta Day Shelter.
Teachers describe Merritt as a talented writer, an appreciator of the arts, kind, graceful, composed, and empathetic.
“Merritt is one of the classist young ladies I have ever taught,” said Hellier, “She’s hard-working, and extremely responsible; she is a joy to be around and a pleasure to teach. There are many things that could be highlighted about this young lady, but the thing I admire the most is her uncompromising character and commitment to something beyond a promotion of self. She is a uniquely positive contributor to our school community.”
Merritt and Cobb County’s other STAR students will be honored, along with their STAR teachers, at a banquet on Monday February 23 at First United Methodist Church in Marietta.