Education Celebration
STAR Program Celebrates 332 STAR Students, STAR Teachers
Click Here for Full List of STAR Students and STAR Teachers
Click Here to View the Education Celebration Powerpoint and Message from Governor Tate Reeves
Top ALL-STAR Scholar
A Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School student with a perfect 36 composite score on the American College Test (ACT), combine scores of 144 and average of 99.50 has been named Mississippi’s TOP ALL-STAR Scholars for 2020. John C. Kees is the son of Lara and Chris Kees of Jackson, MS. John will receive a $24,000 scholarship provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. Kees plans to attend college and study Biology.
Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher – the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement. Kees designated Thomas B. Riesenberger of Jackson as his STAR Teacher. Riesenberger has been teaching for 9 years and this is his 1 st time to be named STAR Teacher.
The theme for the 2020 Education Celebration was “Above and Beyond.” Each STAR Student received a medallion, lapel pin, and certificate in recognition of their academic achievements. MEC has worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide information to each school district and connect our STAR Students, their parents, STAR Teachers, and school administrators in order to celebrate these significant accomplishments.
MEC 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. This year, The Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. provided $88,500 in scholarships and awards to STAR Students and STAR Teachers.
1st Runner-Up
Riwad Arnob Iftekhar a Madison Ridgeland Academy STAR Student has been named 1st runner-up and will receive a $20,000 Scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. His parents are Sadeka Tamanna and Iftekhar Ullah. Iftekhar designated Matthew B. Bramuchi of Madison as his STAR Teacher. Bramuchi has been teaching for 17 years and this is his first time being named STAR Teacher.
2nd Runner-Up
Nathan F. Keen a Tupelo High School STAR student has been named 2nd runner- up and will receive a $16,000 Scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. His parents are Fred and Melissa Keen. Keen designated Jonathan C. Begnaud of Tupelo as his STAR Teacher. Begnaud has been teaching for 10 years. He has been named STAR Teacher 3 times.
Each STAR Teacher of the top three ALL-STAR Scholars received a $1,000 award. One-time scholarship awards of $1,000 are provided to the remaining top 17 ALL-STAR Scholars. The remaining 17 All-Star Teachers will each receive a $500 award. The Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. provided $88,500 in scholarships and awards to STAR Students and STAR Teachers.
Congratulations to the Top 20 ALL-STAR Students & Teachers!
*- Listed in order of rank
Mississippi Top ALL-STAR Scholar
$24,000 Scholarship
John C. Kees
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
$1000 Award to STAR Teacher
Thomas B. Riesenberger
1st Runner-Up - $20,000 Scholarship
Riwad “Arnob” Iftekhar
Madison-Ridgeland Academy
$1000 Award to STAR Teacher
Matthew B. Bramuchi
2nd Runner-Up - $16,000 Scholarship
Nathan F. Keen
Tupelo High School
$1000 Award to STAR Teacher
Jonathan C. Begnaud
Kevin Zhang
Clinton High School
Teacher - Angela S. Olinger
Chase A. Yano
Harrison Central High School
Teacher - Cody Eadie
Nathan R. Chandler
Itawamba Agricultural High School
Teacher - Thomas W. Clayton
Vinson Lu
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
Teacher - Darin Maier
William T. Betts
East Rankin Academy
Teacher - Josh K. Stuart
Sophia Adams Quinn
Oxford High School
Teacher - Stella D. Lindsey
Nicholas T. Dean
Jackson Preparatory School
Teacher - Kimberly M. Van Uden
Matthew C. Rester
Presbyterian Christian School
Teacher - Rhonda Robertson
Isaac G. Martinolich
Clinton High School
Teacher - Sarah Camille Hankins
Railey S. Mayatt
West Lauderdale High School
Teacher - Shauna R. Waters
Alyssa L. Stoner
Harrison Central High School
Teacher - Sharon M. Johnson
Katie L. Baker
Long Beach Senior High School
Teacher - Jonathan M. Hart
Abigail G. Wiest
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
Teacher - Richard O. Muli
Claire E. Richert
Ridgeland High School
Teacher - Christine M. Davidson
Sreya Maddali
Madison Central High School
Teacher - Rebecca K. Temple
Jeremy M. Wright
Harrison Central High School
Teacher - Cody Eadie
John A. Dale
Cathedral High School
Teacher - Laura Denise Thibodeaux
The above 17 ALL-STAR Scholars will receive a $1,000 Scholarship.
The 17 ALL-STAR Teachers will receive a $500 award.