Mary Grace Watson.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Colquitt County High School senior Mary Grace Watson has been named a 2018 Georgia Scholar. She is among the 208 graduating seniors who have recently been recognized as 2018 Georgia Scholars by State School Superintendent Richard Woods.

Through the Georgia Scholar program, the Georgia Department of Education identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life, according to a press release from the Colquitt County School System. Students eligible for Georgia Scholar recognition are high school seniors who exhibit excellence in all phases of school life, in community activities, and in the home.

“I am very excited to be named a Georgia Scholar,” Watson said, “but so many people played a role in this honor. I am extremely grateful for the teachers, coaches, advisors, and community members who invested in me and ensured that I had opportunities to meet the academic, leadership, and service standards.  Colquitt County provides many avenues and opportunities for students to develop and grow, and I’m proud to be a student here.”

Georgia Scholars are students who have carried exemplary course loads during their four years of high school; who performed excellently in all courses; who successfully participated in interscholastic events at their schools and in their communities; and who have assumed active roles in extracurricular activities sponsored by their schools. Each Georgia Scholar receives a seal for his or her diploma.

“Mary Grace has worked very hard in many areas at Colquitt County High School and has performed at the highest levels with her extracurricular activities, academics and community service,” said CCHS Principal Stephanie Terrell. “We are so excited about her being named a Georgia Scholar. She is definitely a Packer Point of Pride.”

“Students receiving the Georgia Scholar recognition are truly well-rounded,” Superintendent Woods said. “They’ve engaged in extra-curriculars, worked hard in a broad range of academic subjects, served their communities and grown as leaders. A true education encompasses more than just the traditional ‘core’ subjects, and these students exemplify that.”

The program is coordinated by GaDOE’s Excellence Recognition office and through local coordinators in each public school system and private schools throughout the state.