HAHIRA —  Valwood senior Sienna Persaud is the Valwood School 2025 STAR student. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition award is given to the graduating senior who has achieved the highest score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test in one sitting, while meeting other program requirements, including being among the Top 10 percent of the graduating class. Sienna scored 1540 on her SAT.

The award is sponsored at the state level by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation and sponsored locally by the Valdosta North Rotary Club.

Sienna is the daughter of Dr. Terry and Shelly Persaud. She enrolled at Valwood in 2011 as a pre-k student. She has been named an Academic Leader for all four years of upper school. She is a recipient of the Science Olympiad Award, Yale Book Award, Georgia Merit Award, the Headmaster’s Award and several subject awards. Persaud has also been on the Headmaster’s List for her entire high school career.

Sienna was inducted into the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She competed on the Battle of the Books team, Science Olympiad and Literary. She is also a member of the Art Club, Chess Club, Movie Club, Culinary Club, and Book Club. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Sienna also made time for extracurricular activities. She is a member of the Valwood varsity cross country team. She also completed more than 100 hours of community service each year of high school.

Sienna’s hobbies include traveling, reading, running, and playing piano. After graduation, Sienna plans to attend Valdosta State University to study Biology, then attend medical school.
“I’m honored to be named STAR student and grateful for the support of my teachers, friends, and family. Their encouragement has shaped my growth and inspired me to strive for excellence. I appreciate everyone who has been part of this journey and look forward to what’s ahead.”

Sienna chose Daryn Beasley as her STAR teacher. Mr. Beasley began his third career, teaching at Valwood School, in 2017 following a life of adventure. He is the History Department Chair and currently teaches AP World History, AP US History and AP US Government. In past years he has also taught Law, Economics and the History of American Music. Mr. Beasley is the coach of the multi-time champion Valwood Mock Trial team. He holds a B.A. in History from Valdosta State University. He studied American Political History and German Literature at the
postgraduate level.

Persaud said, “I chose Mr. Beasley to be my STAR teacher because of his genuine love for his students and history and his passion for teaching. His enthusiasm for the past is contagious, and he always makes every lesson feel like an interesting journey through time rather than just a lecture. When teaching, Mr. Beasley has a way of bringing every event to life which makes even the most distant events feel relevant and engaging. He also goes beyond the scope of the curriculum to ensure that every student understands each concept. His love for history and teaching is truly inspiring, making him the kind of person who leaves a lasting impact. Mr. Beasley is the definition of an amazing teacher.”

Mr. Beasely stated, “Sienna Persaud is among the most impressive students I have ever had th pleasure of teaching. She is a part of both an extraordinarily brilliant family and an over- achieving graduating class, but Sienna sets herself apart from both. She first entered my classroom as a sophomore and astonished me with her scholarship from the start. She is a deep thinker, an analytical mind and a curious and considerate citizen. Sienna has been the standard bearer through three years of AP Social Studies under my tutelage, not once missing an opportunity to impress with her abilities of recollection, synthesis and reasoning. She is the type of student every teacher appreciates most. Sienna is also one of the kindest and most generous young people I have ever been around. I celebrate her academic excellence, and though she will be missed by me, I greatly look forward to following her collegiate success.
Valwood Head of School, John L. Davis, Sr. said, “Sienna is an exceptional student and an even better person. She always has a smile and is truly loved by all of her peers and the Valwood faculty. We are very proud of her accomplishments, and we cannot wait to see what her future holds.”

Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR Program has honored nearly 26,000 high school seniors. Every accredited high school in Georgia is eligible to participate in the preeminent student/teacher academic recognition. Locally, the STAR students and teachers are honored by their schools and receive special recognition in the communities for one of more than 165 civic organizations and businesses that serve as local STAR sponsors.