LaGRANGE — Last week, one Troup County student was called into the counselor’s office for a good reason — to find out she was named to the Georgia Department of Education’s list of Georgia Scholars.

Jisu Lee, a senior at Callaway High School, was surprised to find out she made the prestigious listing.

“I filled out the application a few months ago and didn’t hear anything back. I thought I didn’t make it,” Lee said through a wide smile. “Then my counselor … called me in the office and I thought I had done something wrong, but then she told me I made the list and I was so happy.”

Lee and her family moved to Troup County from Korea when she was in middle school.

“I didn’t know any English, I only knew Korean. I used a lot of body language and my friends and teachers helped me out while I learned English,” she said. “My family was very excited for me to have this opportunity. They think it is amazing.”

A total of 151 graduating seniors from across Georgia received this recognition. Through the Georgia Scholar program, the GaDOE identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school, extracurricular activities, and community outreach. The program is coordinated through the GaDOE’s Excellence Recognition Office and local coordinators in each public and private school system throughout the state.

When Lee walks across the graduation stage and receives her diploma, she will have a special seal notating the recognition. As a Georgia Scholar, students must have carried an exemplary course load during their high school career and performed excellently in all courses.

They must also successfully participate in interscholastic events at their schools and in the community. In addition, they must have assumed active roles in extracurricular activities sponsored by their schools.

As president of the Key Club at school, Lee said a community service project inspired her to major in biochemistry when she attends University of Georgia.

“I was president of Key Club and one of our projects was an immunization project. I saw so many kids and parents who couldn’t afford the shots and it touched my heart,” she said. “It really inspired me to major in biochemistry and become a pharmacist. After graduation from college, I plan to work for Doctors Without Borders. It’s a national organization that can help people across the world who lack health insurance.”