STAR Education Celebration

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STAR 2026 Education Celebration

Mark your calendar. Plan ahead for this year's milestones.

• December 31, 2025 — Last accepted ACT test date for consideration in the 2026 STAR Education Celebration.
• February 9, 2026 — Deadline for submitting STAR Student and STAR Teacher information (including photos for both student and teacher).
• March 9, 2026 — Deadline for submission of attendee list for both STAR Student and STAR Teacher.
• April 9, 2026 — STAR 2026 Education Celebration — Clyde Muse Center, 515 Country Pl Pkwy, Pearl, MS 39208 (8:00 AM registration; 9:30 AM opening and welcome).

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.

Submission Checklist

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; 1 semester or 1/2 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
Propel Education Forum
STAR Program
P. O. Box 23276
Jackson, MS 39225-3276

Questions? Contact the STAR program.

Forms & Downloads

• Updated School Contact Information (Update 2025)
• STAR Student Biographical Information Form (2025)
• Student Release Form (2023)
• Teacher Release Form (2023)
• Update Information Form
• STAR Requirement Form
• Free ACT Resources
• 2025 STAR Celebration Program

2025 Education Celebration Recap

For 60 years the STAR program has recognized the success of over 20,000 STAR Students and STAR Teachers. The STAR Education Celebration was held on April 10, 2025, at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, MS. The theme for the event was “The Journey Begins.” This year, 302 STAR Students along with their STAR Teacher joined the more than 20,000 top scholars and leading teachers who have qualified for recognition in the STAR program since 1965.

A Saint Andrew's Episcopal School student with a perfect 36 composite score on the American College Test (ACT), combined scores of 144, and grade point average of 99.9941 GPA has been named Mississippi's TOP ALL-STAR Scholar for 2025. Verena C. Bhagat is the daughter of Rajesh and Claudia Bhagat of Ridgeland, Mississippi. Verena will receive a $24,000 scholarship provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. She is undecided on where she will attend college and what she will study.

Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher — the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student's scholastic achievement. Verena designated Sallie R. Moseley as her STAR Teacher of Jackson, Mississippi. She has been teaching for 40 years and has been named STAR Teacher multiple times.

Ryan Boyd Wu, STAR Student from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science 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 Xiaohua Wu and Xiaoxia Li of Madison, Mississippi. Wu designated William Keith Funderburk of Columbus, Mississippi as his STAR Teacher. He has been teaching for 26 years and this is his 4th time being named STAR Teacher.

Andrew Russell Keen, STAR Student from Tupelo High School 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 of Tupelo, Mississippi. Keen designated Jonathan C. Begnaud of Tupelo as his STAR Teacher. He has been teaching for 14 years and has been named STAR Teacher 4 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 received a $500 award. The Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. provided $88,500 in scholarships and awards to STAR Students and STAR Teachers.

See full list of STAR Students and Teachers (2025)
2025 STAR Celebration Program

Education Celebration Highlights (2020)

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 (2020)

A Saint Andrew's Episcopal School student with a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT, combined scores of 144 and average of 99.50 was named Mississippi's TOP ALL-STAR Scholar for 2020. John C. Kees received a $24,000 scholarship provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. John C. Kees is the son of Lara and Chris Kees of Jackson, MS. Kees planned to attend college and study Biology.

Each STAR Student designates 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 was his 1st 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. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the STAR program worked to keep schools connected and to celebrate these accomplishments across the state.

1st Runner-Up (2020)

Riwad Arnob Iftekhar, a Madison–Ridgeland Academy STAR Student, was named 1st runner-up and received 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 was his first time being named STAR Teacher.

2nd Runner-Up (2020)

Nathan F. Keen, a Tupelo High School STAR Student, was named 2nd runner-up and received 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.

One-time scholarship awards of $1,000 are provided to the remaining top 17 ALL-STAR Scholars. The remaining 17 ALL-STAR Teachers receive a $500 award.

This year, the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. provided $88,500 in scholarships and awards.

Top 20 ALL-STAR Students & Teachers (2020)

* Listed in order of rank