The 2016 Long County Student Teacher Achievement Recognition student and teacher were honored Jan. 27 by the Long County Chamber of Commerce at Coastal Manor Daybreak.

Chamber President Elise Stafford presented the awards to Long County High School senior Natalie Pattison and teacher Bethany Gilliam.

Pattison, who is the daughter of Dennis and Jackie Pattison, has been in the Long County School System since 2007. To be considered for the award, Pattison’s cumulative high school GPA had to be in the top 10 percent of her class, and she had to have the highest score on the three-part SAT.

In addition to receiving a plaque, she also received a $500 scholarship from the Chamber.  

Pattison is a member of the Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Family Career and Community Leaders of America. She also is the senior class vice president. After high school, Pattison wants to further her education in psychology.

Gilliam is a family and consumer science teacher at LCHS and currently teaches early childhood studies. She earned her Bachelor Degree in family and consumer science education in 2012 from Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. This is her fourth year teaching in the Long County schools.

The school’s FCCLA chapter has grown from 18 members to more than 50 under Gilliam’s guidance. She currently lives in Statesboro with her husband, Shane Gilliam. They are expecting their first child in April.

The STAR awards are sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, local chambers, the Georgia Department of Education and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.