Robert Toombs Christian Academy is proud to announce Senior Nelson Thigpen and Mrs. LaRee Findley have been chosen as STAR Student and STAR Teacher. To obtain the 2021 STAR nomination, graduating high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.

Nelson is the son of Paul and Lillian Thigpen. He has participated in football and tennis throughout high school. Nelson is a graduate of Vidalia Karate with a First Degree Black Belt. Nelson is a member of the National Honor Society and BETA Club. He was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” for his senior superlative. Nelson has maintained yearly Headmaster’s List and Honor Roll throughout his AP/Honor classes. During the summer before his Junior year, he was accepted to attend University of Georgia’s College of Pharmacy Dean Stuart Feldman Summer Science Institute. He received an honorable mention from Dr. Vivia Hill-Silcott and others for his leadership role in the summer program. During his Junior year Nelson was nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence. He was invited to attend the program in Boston, Massachusetts by Mario Capecchi, MD, Science Director and winner of 2007 Nobel Prize in Medicine. After graduation, Nelson will be attending Auburn University to pursue a degree in business. 

LaRee Findley teaches History at Robert Toombs Christian Academy. She has been teaching 41 years and has been named STAR Teacher four times during her career.  She has had numerous honors over the course of her career including RTCA Teacher of the Year,  National History Day Georgia Teacher of the Year, Vidalia City Schools Teacher of the Year, DAR Teacher of the Year. Of all her awards, she says, “STAR Teacher is probably my most treasured because it is given by a student and helps me know that I am making a difference in someone’s life.”