Updated Smile Report: Model’s Braden Gilleland is named Floyd County STAR Student

Media release: Braden Gilleland, a senior at Model High School and the school’s STAR student, has added STAR student for Floyd County to his list of accomplishments. Gilleland earlier earned the STAR award for Model High School to qualify him for the county award. Gilleland and his STAR teacher, Dr. Brian Swanagan, were honored today at the Exchange Club annual luncheon recognizing all area STAR students and teachers.

The Student Teacher Achievement (STAR) award is sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; the Georgia Department of Education and the Professional Association of Educators. The county award to Gilleland was presented by Al Hodge, executive director of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.

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.