Smile Report: Braden Gilleland is named STAR student at Model High

To be named a STAR student, a senior must have the highest SAT score in the school on one test date through November prior to graduation. The student’s SAT scores must be equal to or higher than the national average, and the senior must be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students in the senior class based on grade point average.

The STAR teacher is selected by the STAR student for having made the most significant contribution to the student’s scholastic development.

Gilleland attends the GAMES (Georgia Aviation, Math, Engineering and Science) program at Middle Georgia College. He has participated in the GAMES program his junior and senior years. As a result of his participation in the GAMES program, Gilleland will qualify as a college junior in the fall after his graduation from Model High School in May.

At Model, Gilleland was math team president in his sophomore year and he was president of the Model African Union/Mock Mediation. At Middle Georgia College, he was vice-president of the Chess Club, president of the GAMES Youth Service Club and he worked with the faculty at Middle Georgia to secure funding to get the Science Bowl and Quiz Bowl recognized.

Gilleland was recognized as a Commended Student by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students are recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance.

Gilleland plans to major in Mechanical Engineering in college. He has been accepted at Auburn and Georgia Tech but he is undecided on a college at this time.