Reid, Flowers and others to be recognized tonight

Pictured are Chris Reid (r), this year's STAR Student at LCHS, and STAR Teacher Mark Flowers at the Region 7 STAR Student/Teacher Banquet held recently in Thomson. The pair is among the many who will receive recognition during Academic Honors Night tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Chris Reid, STAR Student at LCHS, and STAR Teacher, Mark Flowers, will be among those receiving recognition at Academic Honors Night slated for tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

"It's a great honor to have been selected as the STAR Student for LCHS," said Reid. "I'm very thankful to God, my family, and all the great teachers I've had who have helped me get where I am now. I never could have achieved this without them."

The STAR Student must be in the top 10 percent of his class and have earned the highest score on the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

Reid has been in the top five percent of his class throughout high school, serving as an honor usher at commencement exercises last year.

During his career at LCHS, the gifted scholar was a member of the Senior Beta Club, the Spanish Honor Society, the Technology Student Association (TSA), and the literary team. As a sophomore, he won first place in Boys Spelling at the Region 7-A Literary Meet.

Reid was also a member of the school's golf team. Last year, the team placed eighth in the state.

Moreover, Reid was named as the senior "Most Likely to Succeed" by the Class of 2007.

In addition to school, the STAR Student has been employed by H & H Industrial Maintenance, Inc. for a year and a half and is an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where he is in charge of the sound equipment.

In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and golfing.

Looking toward the future, Reid plans to attend Augusta State University in the fall and later transfer to Georgia Tech to pursue a major in architectural engineering.

He is the son of Lisa and Chris Reid of Lincolnton.

Commenting on his choice of Mark Flowers as his STAR Teacher, Reid said, "I'm honored to have the opportunity to give something back to Coach Flowers in return for all the knowledge and guidance he has given me. It was Coach Flowers who was responsible for introducing me to the career path I intend to follow. He also played a major role in helping me get my job at H & H Industrial Maintenance."

Flowers taught drafting, video broadcasting, and technology at LCHS from 1997 to 2006. In 2001, the school's technology education program was designated a "Program of Excellence" by the Georgia Industrial Technology Education Association (GITEA).

Last year, the STAR Teacher left LCHS to accept a position in the technology department at Evans High School in Columbia County.

"I want to thank Chris for choosing me as his STAR Teacher," stated Flowers. "I was surprised and overwhelmed. When it comes to giving credit for academic achievement, most students gravitate toward their academic teachers. I am honored that Chris selected me. It is a testament to the importance of vocational education and its ability to stretch high achievers like Chris."

He went on to note that those high achievers who take vocational courses understand the need to develop life skills to compliment their academic prowess. "My hope is that all of the students at LCHS will take full advantage of the opportunities afforded them in vocational education. I accept this honor on behalf of all vocational teachers, because we do make a difference."

Reid took three drafting courses and one pre-engineering course taught by Flowers.

"Chris enjoyed the work in the drafting classes to the point where he seemed to be taking a special interest in it," said Flowers. "So when Chris Heitmann (H & H Industrial Maintenance), a member of our technology advisory council, said he needed some drawings done for machine parts he was making, I told him about Chris Reid. Pretty soon, Chris was creating not only drawings of machine parts for Mr. Heitmann but architectural plans as well.

"Chris has always been the type of student to go above and beyond," Flowers continued. "His work ethic is great, and he picks up on things very quickly. He is a wonderful, wellrounded young man, and it was an honor and a privilege to teach him."

In conclusion, the educator said that God had truly blessed his teaching endeavors.

In addition to teaching technology education at LCHS, Flowers served as the TSA advisor and coached both football and basketball.

The STAR Teacher holds a Bachelor of Science in technology education from Georgia Southern University and a master's degree in education from Troy State.

During his leisure moments, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, traveling, and taking part in church activities.

Flowers is a member of Warren Baptist Church where he teaches a preschool Sunday School class.

He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Evans with their three children, Mallory Anne, 7, Murray Elizabeth, 4, and Marshall Riner, 2.

In its 49th year, the Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is sponsored by PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators), the Georgia Department of Education, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The initiative is sponsored locally by the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

Since its inception, the STAR program has honored more than 20,000 high school seniors and the teachers whom they selected as the most instrumental in their academic development.