Sandy Springs Students Named Star Seniors By Fulton Schools

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Fulton County Schools recently named Star Seniors of the district. The Star Seniors include exemplary students who are academically advanced as well as those who have succeeded in various ways.

The Star Seniors include a student from North Springs Charter High School and Riverwood International Charter School.

North Springs Charter High School’s Charles “Charley” Plumly is a busy guy who still has time to smile often.

He is an Eagle Scout who plays lacrosse, water polo and swimming for North Springs. After several years of increasing yearbook responsibilities including designing a popular cover, he assumed editorship.

Plumly's former language arts teacher and yearbook sponsor Kristie Zachary has worked closely with him for years and says she hopes her own children will grow up to be like him.

Plumly’s side gig is as a graphic design and marketing intern at an IT support services company. Plumly credits his parents as being his inspiration and owes his achievements to them. He also appreciates his coaches and teachers who shepherded him through high school.

“He has a good strong work ethic,” remarked counselor Ava Butler, “and has the respect of the administration and his peers.”

Plumly’s favorite subject, U.S. history, dovetails nicely with his post-high school goals and possible career plans for military service. Recently accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, he follows the legacy of his grandfather, Charles Plumley, I, a 1955 USNA graduate. Career ideas include piloting a plane or serving as a surface warfare officer, but no submarines.

Riverwood International Charter School’s Violetta Filatova comes from the farthest away of all the Star Seniors.

A native of the Ukraine, she arrived in the U.S. in ninth grade knowing little English. After a year in Florida, Filatova and her family moved to Atlanta. As if full immersion in an English-speaking school wasn’t hard enough, acclimating to American culture and larger schools than what was familiar in Russia, made the whole experience overwhelming.

However, she worked very hard and eventually became fluent.

Head counselor Shamona Harrell noted, “Violetta has an unbelievable amount of determination.”

Making school and learning a priority, she discovered her strongest aptitudes and interests. Her proudest moment was when she received her first A in math.

Naming her mother as her greatest inspiration, Filatova affirmed she was always supportive throughout the difficult transitions.

Outside the classroom, Filatova participated in FBLA, kickboxing, karate and running.

“When I’m mentally on, I’m physically off and vice versa,” she said of her philosophy for maintaining balance.

Her counselor Ashley Holmes knows how serious Filatova takes her education yet says she is well-respected and well-liked by her peers.

Riverwood is an international baccalaureate school and values embracing different world views. Students like Filatova bring new perspectives that enrich school culture. Her IB economics teacher Jill Johnson, a former corporate executive turned educator, shares that Filatova's love of learning and respect for the process will serve her well in her future career.

This fall, Filatova plans to pursue a psychology degree at Kennesaw State University.