Clinton Public School District

Clinton High School seniors Grayson Fortenberry, Owen McCleese and Faith Taylor have been named STAR Students for the 2024-2025 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) M. B. Swayze Foundation, sponsor of the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program.

Established by the Mississippi Economic Council in 1965, the purpose of the STAR program is to recognize outstanding students and teachers in Mississippi through its Education Celebration.

These three Clinton High School seniors will be honored during the annual Education Celebration on April 10, 2025, at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, MS.

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.

Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher, the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement.

Angel Olinger was designated as STAR Teacher for Grayson Fortenberry, Gavin McAdams was designated as STAR Teacher for Owen McCleese and Jo Purvis was designated STAR Teacher for Faith Taylor.

Over 600 STAR Students and STAR Teachers will receive recognition from MEC’s M.B. Swayze Foundation at the Celebration. The top 20 STAR Students—The ALL-STAR Scholars—will receive scholarships and their STAR Teachers will receive awards provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation.

The highlight of the Education Celebration will be the naming of the Mississippi ALL-STAR Scholar for the 2024-2025 school year, winner of the coveted $24,000 Cook Foundation Scholarship.