OUR STORY
Five Stars Academy was founded by 3 women - Marie Claire (MC) Beauvil, Allison Hudgins, and Andrea Holguin - in 2011. MC had arrived to Panama just a few years earlier as a Christian missionary ready to make a change in Panama. Allison and Andrea moved to Panama in 2006 and 2008 respectively - with young children. Allison had tried various schools in Penonome and Gorgona and frustrated with the options, had decided to homeschool. Andrea had her children in a private school in Penonome. As her frustration with the level of education increased, she had the good fortune of meeting MC. The 3 women spoke and the concept of an American-type curriculum with a personalized focus on each student was born.
Marie Claire Beauvil
Marie Claire (MC) was born in Coteaux Haiti and raised in Miami, Florida. She received a Master of arts with an emphasis in clinical social work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Trinity College in Miami, and a certification with Association of Christian School International. MC has worked in the public school and private school system in the US teaching pres-chool to high school, including counseling children with mental and behavioral problems. As a missionary for 40 years, her heart is to reach children. MC is the foundation of Five Stars Academy and among many other roles, serves as the Director. Her organization, JLM Christian Foundation, is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in the USA, Panama, and Haiti. Five Stars Academy and our students work very closely with her Foundation to serve the communities and families in need in Panama.
Allison Hudgins
Allison grew up in St. Louis, MO and graduated from the University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana. After some international travel, she moved to Washington DC to pursue a career in politics. With experience on Capitol Hill, working for various elected officials at the local and national level, managing a congressional race, and continuing work in the political realm, Allison took a political hiatus to move to Sierra Leone and pursue business/political opportunities. Due to the civil war that had escalated during that time, Allison returned to Washington DC for several more years, until the decision to take a 1 year sabbatical and move to Panama with her young family in 2006. Upon arrival to Panama, Allison opened up a new business, and soon after, met MC and Andrea. With the opening of the school in January 2011, Allison's 2 older children were 2 of the 5 children who began attending. Her 3rd child soon followed suit. Allison's older children graduated in 2020 and 2022 and went on to attend University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Her 3rd child is set to gradate from Five Stars Academy in May 2029.
Andrea Holguin