Riverwood Charter Announces 2021 STAR Student, Teacher

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Riverwood International Charter School has announced Lauren Cohn as its 2020-21 STAR Student. She chose language arts faculty member Anna Trentacoste as her STAR Teacher.

To obtain the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the 1600-point scale SAT taken through the March test date of their senior year and be in the top ten percent, or top 10 students, of their class based on grade point average. The STAR Program honors Georgia's outstanding high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development.

Cohn is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Candidate and a 2020 Columbia Book Award recipient. She reestablished Riverwood’s school newspaper, and currently serves as editor-in-chief. Cohn plans to attend Northwestern University, and major in journalism.

Cohn was a two-year nominee for the Governor’s Honors Program and is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Riverwood’s Community Service Club, and serves as a board member and legislative lead for Students Demand Action. She tutors students at the Sandy Springs Mission and serves as a board member for Jumpspark’s Strong Women Fellowship, an organization of female Jewish high school students from around Atlanta.

Cohn chose Trentacoste as her STAR teacher, “because she has managed to give such a difficult year a sense of normalcy by continuing to be such a supportive teacher. I always look forward to going to her class, and, although the pandemic has changed the course of the curriculum, we still have meaningful and engaging conversations. She is such a great teacher, and I appreciate everything she has done.”

Trentacoste teaches Cohn in IB Literature Year 2 this year, and said, “Lauren’s brilliance, insight into Literature, and consistent work ethic make her a delight to teach. Her endearing personality and kind, quiet demeanor make her a joy to know. During this most difficult of years, Lauren has exhibited poise, confidence, and grace. All of these will serve her well in and out of the classroom and for years to come.”