STAR 2025 EDUCATION CELEBRATION

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
December 31, 2024
Last accepted test date for consideration in the 2025 STAR Education Celebration

February 10
Deadline for submitting STAR Student and STAR Teacher information (including photos for both student and teacher)

March 10
Deadline for submission of attendee list for both STAR Student and STAR Teacher

April 10
STAR 2025 Education Celebration
Clyde Muse Center, 515 Country Pl Pkwy, Pearl, MS 39208
8:00 AM Registration
9:30 AM Opening and Welcome

Click on the link below for directions:
https://musecenter.org/contact-directions

The STAR Student and STAR Teacher MUST BE a U.S. citizen to receive the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Foundation scholarships and awards, respectively.

STAR Requirements and Education Celebration

The student must have an ACT score of at least 25 and an overall average of 93 or above in selected subjects in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and first-semester twelfth grades. Visit the STAR website at www.msstarstudent.org for additional information on requirements on STAR Student and STAR Teacher. Only permanent record label ACT scores on file in the high school office are to be considered. WE DO NOT USE SUPER SCORES FOR THE STAR PROGRAM.

Your package MUST include the following documents:

STAR Student Biographical Information Form (complete numerical grade column(s) – 2 semesters or 1 unit list final grade twice. One semester or one-half unit list final grade once).
STAR Student Grade and Photo Release Form
STAR Teacher Photo Release Form
Photos of both STAR Student and STAR Teacher

Please send package to:
Attn: Vickie Powell
M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation
STAR Program
P. O. Box 23276
Jackson, MS 39225-3276

For additional information or questions Click Here.

SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION NEEDED

Click Here to Make Sure We Have Your School's Updated Contact Information

Click Here for Free ACT Resources

Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation, Maddox Foundation Support MEC’s STAR Program

Please click below for more information regarding the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation and Maddox Foundation's support for MEC's Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program award recipients from across the state.

Learn More

The Mississippi Economic Council and its M.B. Swayze Foundation sponsor the Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program in an effort to encourage scholastic achievement among the state's high school students. The STAR Program has two specific purposes:

Emphasize scholastic excellence and encourage greater scholastic effort among Mississippi students.
Recognition of the teaching profession.

Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. STAR Scholarships:

The top 20 STAR Students will be called ALL-STAR Scholastic Scholars, following the same steps as those used at the local level. Each ALL-STAR Scholar will receive a Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. STAR Scholarship provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. Mr. Cooke was a native of Attala County and was active in worldwide pipeline construction.

The STAR Student or STAR Teacher must be a U.S. Citizen to receive the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Foundation Scholarship.

The honoree (both student and teacher) must be a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Lawful permanent resident to receive any STAR scholarships or be selected as a STAR Student or STAR Teacher.
The honoree must also be a Mississippi resident to be nominated as a STAR Student.

The STAR scholarship will be:

To the state's top ALL-STAR Scholar, a $24,000 Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. STAR Scholarship.
To the first runner-up, a $20,000 Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. STAR Scholarship.
To the second runner-up, a $16,000 Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. STAR Scholarship.

The above scholarships are awarded in equal payments over four years and are contingent upon student performance. One-time scholarship awards of $1,000 are provided to the remaining 17 ALL-STAR Scholars. Teachers of the top three ALL-STAR Scholars will each receive a $1,000 award. The remaining 17 ALL-STAR Teachers will each receive a $500 award.

* - STAR Students and STAR Teachers must be United States citizens to receive scholarships.

Learn More About Kelly Gene Cook, Sr.