Senior Gabrielle Culberson has been named a 2026 Georgia Scholar and earned the P.E.O. STAR scholarship ahead of Commencement later this month.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods recently announced that the Georgia Department of Education is recognizing 162 graduating seniors across Georgia as 2026 Georgia Scholars. Through the Georgia Scholar program, GaDOE identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life. Georgia Scholars carry exemplary course loads throughout their four years of high school, demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, actively participate in school and community activities, and serve as leaders in extracurricular and service organizations.
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship is highly competitive and given as a one-time scholarship of $2,500 to deserving high school seniors. This year, approximately 1,200 students throughout the U.S. and Canada received the scholarship. P.E.O. is a philanthropic educational women’s organization throughout the United States and Canada whose purpose is providing scholarships to deserving young women to further their education.
"Gabrielle embodies everything these awards are intended to recognize," said Dean of Community Life Tara Inman. "Her academic accomplishments are exceptional, but even more impressive is the way she has transformed personal challenges into meaningful service and leadership. She leads with humility, resilience, and genuine purpose, and she has had a lasting impact on the Darlington Community through both her intellect and her compassion. This recognition is incredibly well deserved."
Culberson is a four-year day student from Cartersville, Ga., and the daughter of Rayan Hart-Culberson. She is a member of Darlington's Senior Ventures program, where her project focuses on political education for students. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, the Young Democrats, Varsity Library, Hugs & Threads and the varsity girls' soccer team. She has taken 18 Honors and AP classes in high school. Outside of school, Culberson is a graduate of Youth Leadership Bartow and has participated in Harvard Summer School Program and the Brown Environmental Leadership Lab: Eastern Sierras. She also organizes an annual blanket drive for the children on the transplant floor of Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta.
