Marietta City Schools students and faculty gather and dine at the Lafayette Hotel for the annual Academic Excellence Awards Banquet Thursday evening. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Marietta High School valedictorian Avery Herb shared a full-circle moment Thursday with her first-grade teacher Ellen McVicar, who is now a Title I intervention specialist at Washington Elementary School.

The pair were among the nearly 100 students and educators honored at Marietta City Schools’ annual Academic Excellence Awards banquet held Thursday at the Lafayette Hotel.

“I got the email from Miss Herb, and I was so happy to receive it,” said McVicar. “I haven’t seen Avery since she was in fifth grade, and it’s a huge honor for me.”

McVicar shared that she brought a gift basket for Herb which included letters Herb wrote in the first grade when she was McVicar’s student.

“Oh my gosh, that is so sweet,” said Herb.

McVicar said she never really kept things like that but she did keep the letters and included them in the gift basket so Herb would know how much she meant to her.

The event recognizes students for their academic excellence by achieving a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Students with the respective grade point average were given an opportunity to reach out to a teacher, coach or mentor who they felt had an impact on their life.

“Tonight’s important to me because it’s kind of like one of the last events of my senior year, it’s like a send-off, and I’m glad I got to pick her (McVicar),” said Herb. “I remember telling myself that I would pick her if I ever graduated with honors.”

Herb has accumulated over 80 college credits since her junior year. She said she’s very busy but was excited to attend the banquet.

Guests enjoyed a fresh, hot dinner with refreshments before the awards ceremony.

Marietta High School senior Justin Zheng said he was most excited to see all of his fellow students recognized for their achievements.

“It’s a good thing to recognize the students and their educators,” he said.

Zheng was honored alongside high school English teacher Amy Warren.

“I chose her as my educator because I liked the way she approached teaching her students,” he said.

Warren said it was an honor Zheng selected her as the honoree educator for the banquet.

“Justin is an incredible student with a bright future, and I’m just happy to have been part of his journey,” said Warren. “For him to feel that I made a contribution is gratifying.”

Marietta City Schools Superintendent Mary Schaeffer began the event with a few remarks about the importance of the banquet.

“You made the decision over and over again to prioritize your education, and that consistency led you here tonight,” said Schaeffer.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com

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The 2026 Marietta High School Academic Excellence Award recipients and the mentors they honored are:

* Taylor Addis – Ben Schenkel

* Yousuf Algarhy – Mike Kupfner

* Max Anderson – Lauren Copen

* Jocelyn Arnold – Paige Fleming

* Theodore Bauer – Jason Schob

* Caitlyn Bee – Shyla Schoelkopf

* Kalis Bigley – Scott Rieder

* Hayleigh Chidester – Ryan McClain

* Emma County – Ali Woods

* Jackson Eagan – Jade Thompson

* Lauren Elliott – Paige Fleming

* Jackson Estes – Millie Stuthard

* Kendrick Gast – Justin Warren

* Molly Graham – Sarah Holbert

* Logan Grosklos – Austin Gardner

* Riley Harman – Darci Miller

* Avery Herb – Ellen McVicar

* Ian Horsley – Joseph Rabbene

* Celia Huffman – Jordan Caldwell

* Vincent Ingram – Tanner O’Connor

* Graycie Jones – Alissa McPeek

* Averi Kendall – Suzannah Cortright

* Evangelina Leal – Mark Hannuksela

* Kendyl Love – Jared Hindy

* Valentina Marasco – Jill Ruff

* Christopher Mclntire – Darci Miller

* Robert Moore – Jeff Ritzman

* Benjamin Nguyen – Millie Stuthard

* Sophia Parlin – Melissa Parlin

* Addison Parks – Robert Banyas

* Ella Patterson – Lauren Copen

* Isabella Riggs – Bill Mannix

* Isabella Salazar – Jade Thompson

* Karli Schaad – Amanda Warner

* Jonathan Schmidt – Ken Gebhardt

* Reid Sloter – Suzannah Cortright

* Paul Smith – Paige Fleming

* Brooklyn Stimpert – Sarah Holbert

* Roman Tatalovich – Korey Parlin

* Drennan Threatt – Joe Tewkesbury

* Reagan Vuksic – Victoria Slonaker

* Colbie Wheeler – Heather Klintworth

* Haley Wilkinson – Victoria Sonaker

* Justin Zheng – Amy Warren