At the November meeting of the Lake Oconee Academy Board of Governors, two remarkable Cornerstone Students were honored for their dedication, achievement and exemplary representation of LOA’s values.
Camden Jeffords, a third grader in Mrs. Strickland’s ELA class, was celebrated as the first student in his grade to complete the 30 Book Challenge—an initiative designed to foster a lifelong love of reading. To meet the challenge, students must read 30 books and complete a 10-question quiz for each one to demonstrate comprehension. For every finished book, they earn a special “brag tag” to proudly display on their book bag, representing the genre they explored.
“Camden achieved this milestone within the first three months of the school year,” Mrs. Strickland noted. “He continues to be self-motivated, already setting his sights on a new, personal goal of reading and testing on 100 books by the end of the year! It’s this enthusiasm for learning and commitment to excellence that serves as an inspiration to his classmates and teachers alike.” Camden proudly confirmed during the meeting that he has completed 62 books so far, marking a step closer to his personal goal.
Also honored was eighth grader Jane Perez, who was recently named a REACH Georgia Scholar. The REACH Georgia program is a needs-based mentoring and scholarship initiative that helps promising students graduate from high school and pursue postsecondary success.
Jane was recognized for her determination, eagerness to learn and kindness toward others—qualities that consistently shine through in her daily life. Her teachers describe her as hardworking, respectful and focused, with a genuine love of learning and a clear vision for her future.
“Jane truly embodies what it means to be an LOA Titan: driven, compassionate and full of potential,” her Middle School Director, Carina Baxley noted. “We are honored to celebrate her achievements and the example she sets for her peers.”
The LOA Board of Governors takes great pride in recognizing students like Camden and Jane, whose achievements reflect the school’s mission to nurture academic excellence, character and a love of lifelong learning.