JACKSON, MS- Mississippi Economic Council Leadership Mississippi will be hosting a Virtual Coffee and Conversation “Celebrating MEC’s Star Students and Teachers” Thursday, May 21, 2020. This event will be a free live event on Facebook. Please click here to register. There is NO cost to watch. You can also follow the STAR program on Facebook-@mecstarstudent.
Due to Covid-19 the Mississippi Economic Council canceled its Annual Meeting that was scheduled for April 23. This event brings nearly 2,000 business and community leaders together as well as STAR students and teachers for the Education Celebration that is held in conjunction with MEC’s Annual Meeting.
As the end of the school-year approaches, health officials are still urging schools and organizations to host virtual ceremonies and celebrations online instead of in-person in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Recognizing the need for people to connect and celebrate is important. However safety is our top priority. The purpose of this Coffee and Conversation is to highlight and celebrate the 332 students from around the state that were recognized as STAR students and teachers.
Madison Central High School was honored with the Peggy Howard Award of Distinction for 2020. The award is given to the school with the most STAR Students. The award began in 2015. Peggy Howard retired from the Mississippi Economic Council in 2005 after nearly 40 years of service. She retired as Senior Vice President of MEC and COO of MEC's M.B. Swayze Foundation. During her tenure, Howard launched the Mississippi Scholars program, and contributed to Mississippi's educational and business community in ways that are still felt today.
This event will also give insight on the role of The Mississippi Economic Council, M.B. Swayze Foundation with the Star Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program. In addition, we will hear from the Top 3 Scholarship Winners on what is next for them after graduating.
Top 3 Scholarship Winners:
(Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher – the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement.)
John C. Kees 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. Kees is the son of Laura and Chris Kees of Jackson, MS. He will receive a $24,000 scholarship provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. Kees plans to attend college and study Biology. Kees designated Thomas B. Riesenberger of Jackson as his STAR Teacher. Riesenberger has been teaching for 9 years and this is his first time to be named STAR Teacher.
Riwad Arnob Iftekhar a Madison Ridgeland Academy STAR Student has been name 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.
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 one time $1,000 award. The remaining 17 All-Star Teachers will each receive a one time $500 award. The Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. provided $88,500 in scholarships and awards to STAR Students and STAR Teachers.
The theme for the 2020 Education Celebration was “Above and Beyond.” This year the MEC’s M. B. Swayze Foundation recognized 332 STAR Students. Each STAR Student received a medallion, lapel pin and certificate in recognition of their academic achievements.
