Elizabeth Funderburk named STAR Student

Published 9:12 pm Thursday, February 22, 2018

MOULTRIE, Ga.—The Kiwanis Club of Moultrie honored STAR Student and STAR Teacher winners Thursday afternoon at their weekly meeting.

Elizabeth Funderburk, a senior at Colquitt County High School, was named STAR student and she picked Gail Edwards, a second grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, as her STAR teacher.

In order to be selected as a STAR student, a student must have the highest SAT score on a single test date, and be in the top 10 percent of their class, said Stephanie Terrell, Colquitt County High School principal.

Funderburk meets both of these requirements and has received numerous academic and athletic awards.

She is a member of the National Honor Society at CCHS, varsity track team, varsity cross country team and varsity golf team.

Funderburk plans to attend Florida State University upon her graduation where she is undecided on her major but will be on the cross country team and track team.

“I want to thank the Kiwanis Club for hosting this award and the community for their support,” Funderburk said. “I have big plans, both academically and athletically.”

Funderburk said she would like to achieve the title of ACC champion and hopefully contend for national championships later on in her college career.

The STAR student recipient then gets to pick a STAR teacher.

“Looking back, I think that all of my teachers have played an important role in my development as a person and as a student but Mrs. Edwards was really instrumental to me,” Funderburk    said.

“It was obvious she really cared about her students, not just as a student but as a person.”

Funderburk attributes her passion for running to Edwards.

“A lot of people don’t know this but Mrs. Edwards is the one that introduced me to running,” Funderburk said. “Everyday at recess, I remember she would organize little races and she’d set up trashcans and we’d race to the trashcans and back.”

Funderburk said she felt like Edwards was the most deserving for the STAR teacher award.

“Teaching Elizabeth was a joy,” Edwards said. “She was the type of student teachers treasure.”

Edwards said that Funderburk’s work ethic and perseverance are characteristics that she admired about her.

“Elizabeth, I wish you all the best for the rest of this school year and at FSU next school year, and I want you to know that there is no one more deserving of this honor than you,” Edwards said. “Congratulations.”