Senior Gira Patel, 18, of Sterling, is one of Sterling High School’s February Students of the Month. She is the daughter of Mukesh and Minaxi Patel of Sterling; her sister is Rinku Patel, 23, of Rockford, and her brother is Shivam Patel, 13, a seventh-grader at Challand Middle School.

Favorite class: Publications. We put out the monthly student newspaper and the yearbook. We’re such a diverse group, and every year, we get so close. Plus, the class requires a lot of skills outside of those in any other classroom.

Top teacher: Steve Johnson, chemistry. He goes above and beyond just lecturing. He is personable, calm and collected.