Each month, Stars features exceptional students, student athletes, educators and all-around boons to the Greater Orlando area. Know a Star? Submit your nominees to Nate@OrlandoFamilyMagazine.com.

STAR STUDENT
Kevin Li
Less than .01 percent of all test takers earn a perfect score on the ACT, but Winter Park High School junior Kevin Li managed to join the club earlier this year. To put that in perspective, among the 1.92 million ACT-tested U.S. high-school graduates in the class of 2015, only 1,598 of them pulled off the same feat.

STAR STUDENTS
Aubrey Grant and Alexa Taylor
When Winter Springs High School’s yearbook teacher unexpectedly departed earlier this year, it left the future of the project in serious doubt. Fortunately, seniors Aubrey Grant and Alexa Taylor stepped up in a big way by meeting all deadlines, obtaining ad revenue, communicating with vendors, and directing other students. Per their principal, it was a huge undertaking, but they handled it like veteran teachers.

STAR TEACHER
Amy Miller
In May, Kissimmee Elementary School teacher Amy Miller was chosen as one of five finalists to compete in 2017’s Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Award. As a result, Miller was presented with a $15,000 check and a $500 Macy’s gift card, while Kissimmee Elementary received a check for $1,000.

STAR CITIZEN
Rene Cheek
Back in November 2015, Orange County Fire Rescue dispatcher Rene Cheek assisted a woman in labor by giving clear and concise instructions on what to do, including how to clear the baby’s airway once the child was born. In May, Cheek finally met with the family she helped and was also invited to meet with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

STAR STUDENT
Bridget Sullivan
Bridget Sullivan, a senior at East River High School, was awarded the University of Florida’s prestigious Lombardi Scholarship, which is only available to students at or near the top of their class. Other criteria include academic achievement, community service, extracurricular involvement, demonstration of leadership, exceptional creativity and evidence of strong moral character.

STAR STUDENT
Michelle Truong
A senior at Ocoee High School, Michelle Truong belongs to the Air Force JROTC and also leads the school’s Cyber Patriot Team. Under her leadership, Ocooe finished as Orlando’s best and was ranked in the top six teams in the state, which is a remarkable achievement for a second-year team. She’ll study computer science at the University of Central Florida and will start classes just days after graduating high school.

STAR STUDENT
Charlotte Harris
A student from the Worley School of Irish Dancing, Charlotte Harris placed in her first-ever competition, receiving a first, second, third and fifth place medal in the advanced beginner level. Making the feat more impressive is that Harris had only been taking Irish dance lessons for a year.

STAR STUDENTS
Quinton Cooper & Joseph Simmons
Evans High School seniors Quinton Cooper and Joseph Simmons were both accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They’re the first Evans students in 50 years to achieve such an honor. Furthermore, Cooper was also accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

STAR STUDENT
David Zuluaga
He’s a top-10 student at Oviedo High School, but it wasn’t easy for David Zuluaga to get there. After his father passed when he was a baby, Zuluaga was raised by his mother on a small income. The best part is, he’ll be attending Yale University on a complete scholarship, once he graduates and his teachers say he deserves much more credit than they do.

STAR STUDENT
Bridget Hartig
Sophomore Bridget Hartig maintains a 3.8 GPA at Boone High School, and she’s also the president of her class’ student government, a member of the Law Magnet, business editor of the Boone HiLights newspaper, and a recipient of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award. Furthermore, she’s completed more than 100 community service hours and will travel to France this summer via the Rotary Youth Exchange Florida program.

STAR TEACHER
Sue Arbuckle
Described by her principal as a “guidance counselor extraordinaire,” Keeth Elementary School’s Sue Arbuckle has accomplished much for her students and community. In addition to launching a “Changing Families” group to support students whose parents are separated or divorced, she also coordinates the student council’s outreach projects to help the needy, including food and blanket drives.

STAR CITIZEN
Austin Poff
A 2013 graduate of Harmony High School and a St. Cloud native, U.S. Naval Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Poff has distinguished himself as an electronics technician (submarine, navigator) serving aboard the USS Santa Fe, which is based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is one of the 40 Los Angeles-class submarines that make up the backbone of the Navy’s submarine force.