News & Announcements
TFS Announces 2025 STAR Student and Teacher
The announcement of the STAR Student and STAR Teacher at Tallulah Falls School marks a high point for each academic year.
Senior Marina Dumas of Clarkesville earned the highest score on the Scholastic Achievement Test for her class. Dumas selected upper school English teacher Kelli Bly as the STAR teacher.
Dumas’ intellectual curiosity and passion for learning at TFS and beyond distinguish her as a scholar. Dumas’ participation in the prestigious John Hopkins University Pre-College Program in Anatomy, Physiology, and Disease demonstrates her desire to explore and master complex subject matter.
Beyond academics, Dumas holds several leadership roles at TFS. As Vice President of the National Honor Society and President of the Science Olympiad Club, Marina leads with creativity, collaboration, and empathy. She helped establish the Science Olympiad at Tallulah Falls School, guiding the team to regional competitions.
Her leadership extends to community service, where she has mentored younger students, organized events, and worked with the Traces of Tiger nursing home. Additionally, Dumas’ involvement in the Secretary of State Student Ambassador Program and as a TFS Student Ambassador illustrates her commitment to civic engagement and social responsibility.
As part of the honor, Dumas, in turn, recognized TFS English teacher and Assistant Academic Dean Kelli Bly, who has played an important role in her success. “Mrs. Bly is one of the best teachers I have ever had. She has inspired me to always work my hardest and always to seek out ways to be of service to other people,” said Dumas. “She invests so much of her time helping students and providing meaningful connections to what we learn in our English classes. She has always been a source of encouragement for me and I am grateful to have been her student.”
Bly offers high praises for Dumas. “Marina is a young lady who has that polish that I strive to develop in my students. She is intelligent, curious, humble, and invested in her experiences and the experiences of others,” said Bly. “She has a servant's heart, she is a natural leader, and she just as easily steps back and encourages others to do so. She is also the type of person the world needs more of.”
President and Head of School Dr. Larry A. Peevy offered high praises for Dumas and Bly. “The STAR student recognition is one of the highest honors awarded to a senior student at TFS. It is a real pleasure to recognize Marina Dumas as our recipient for 2025,” said President and Head of School Dr. Larry A. Peevy. “Marina is an outstanding representative for STAR student, but without a doubt, she also truly possesses all of the qualities we hope to develop in every student at TFS.”
Peevy is delighted that she chose Bly as STAR teacher. “Kelli is one of our outstanding English teachers and she is also the assistant academic dean at the upper school.”
The Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development, according to the PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) Foundation.
