JCHS’ Ferrell Named Georgia Scholar

Jackson County High School senior Lilly Ferrell has been named a 2024 Georgia Scholar graduate, following an announcement by the Georgia Department of Education. The Georgia Scholar program identifies and recognizes high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life. Each honoree receives a Georgia Scholar seal on their diploma. The Georgia Department of Education recognized just 177 seniors from throughout the state of Georgia with the honor this year. 

To receive the Georgia Scholar recognition, Ferrell had to meet a long list of criteria, both academically and community-minded based. Criterion One states students must earn at least 22 Carnegie Units of credits after having taken four units of English Language Arts, four units of Mathematics, three units of Science (one in Physics or Chemistry), three units in Social Studies (including economics, world history and U.S. history), two units in foreign language and one unit in fine arts. Criterion two states a student must have earned at least a 1360 on the Scholastics Assessment Test (SAT) or a composite score of 31 on the American College Test (ACT). 

Criterion three states a student’s grade point average (GPA) must be at least a 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. The student must also be registered to vote, if a U.S. Citizen, and be at least 18 years of age while showing evidence of self-esteem and concern for others in day-to-day activities. The student must participate in at least three different interscholastic activities, which may include athletics, music, literacy, exhibits, etc. The final two criteria categories state a student must be appointed by a school official or a position of leadership of two different organizations and must have proven leadership experience with a minimum of two different organizations outside of school.