Eagles shine at Golden Eagles

Stratford seniors Tejas Athni, Nischal Bandi and Akshay Rannabhotu were winners of prestigious Golden Eagles Awards in a ceremony on Tuesday night at The Grand Opera House.

Tejas won first place in the science category. Akshay was the winner in technology. Nischal was the top student in math.

The 41st annual Golden Eagles recognized high school seniors in Middle Georgia for their “scholarship, leadership and service” in 12 categories. On Tuesday night, there were 184 students representing 22 schools in eight counties.

Stratford’s three first-place wins were more than any other school. Winners receive $1,000 in scholarship money. Students who won honorable mentions received $300.

Band director Ms. Laura Voss was one of four teachers presented with a Teacher Excellence Award. Ms. Voss, who has taught at Stratford fof 35 years, will receive $1,000 for the purchase of resource materials for her music classes or for professional training.

Stratford seniors who were nominated include Anna Kate Medlin (Art), Sammy Martin (Athletics), Shawn Shivdat (Citizenship), Ellie Minette (Drama), Katherine Hall (English Literature), Murray McCormack (Foreign Language) and Nick Dorogy (Journalism).

Stratford did not have nominees in two categories — Music and Industrial/Vocational.

Nischal has a 4.32 GPA and is co-salutatorian of the Class of 2018. He has been captain of Stratford’s math team for the past two years, is a Governor’s Honors selection and a member of Georgia’s American Regional Math League. He also is vice-president of the Personal Finance and Investment Club and a member of the varsity Quiz Bowl team. He is taking college Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus in a dual enrollment at Georgia Tech.

Akshay was instrumental in creating the curriculum and programming for Stratford’s Design Center, as well has being a leader in the Model United Nations and a member of the Eagles’ state champion boys tennis team. His biomedical research with a Mercer University professor led to the design and developmenet of a prosthetic hand.

Tejas is co-valedictorian of Stratford’s senior class and has a 4.37 GPA. He is a semifinalist for both the National Merit Scholarship and Coca-Cola Foundation scholarship. His study of brain cancer, including his own TED Talk last fall, earned him a research prize from the American Academy of Neurology and the U.S. Navy Science Award. He has more than 850 hours of community service, and founded an organization that teaches first aid and CPR in schools.