NAHS Names Star Student and Star Teacher

Kristen Olson has been named as a STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student for the 2014-2015 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council’s M. B. Swayze Educational Foundation, sponsor of the STAR program.

The New Albany High School senior will be honored during the annual Education Celebration on April 30 at the Jackson Convention Center in downtown Jackson.  This prestigious event is co-sponsored by:  AT&T, Atmos Energy, BancorpSouth, Barksdale Management, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Entergy Mississippi, Ergon, Inc., Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mississippi Power Company, Nissan North America, Inc., Sanderson Farms, Inc., Trustmark National Bank, Walmart, and Yates Construction.  Additional local support for the STAR program is provided by MEC members from communities across the state.

Star Students are selected on the basis of academic excellence.  Both American College Test scores and scholastic averages are compared to determine the school’s STAR Student, explained Vickie Powell of Jackson, Senior Vice President of Foundations.  “The STAR program encourages and promotes academic achievement among Mississippi’s high school seniors,” she said.

Olson is the daughter of Jeff Olson and the late Tracy Olson.  She is a member of the National Honor Society, Anchor Club, and Mu Alpha Theta.  Olson is also a member of the soccer and tennis teams.  She was selected to serve as a maid on the 2014 Homecoming Court.

Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher, the classroom teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement.  Olson chose Stephanie Gregg as her STAR teacher.

Gregg earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education from Blue Mountain College and a Master of Arts Degree in English from the University of Mississippi.  She is National Board Certified, has fifteen years of teaching experience, and has been selected as STAR Teacher two times.