Three Mississippi high school students recognized as among the highest achieving in the state were each honored by the Mississippi Economic Council with major scholarships at the annual STAR Student ceremony in April.
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School senior Verena Bhagat, Ryan Wu of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, and Tupelo High School’s Andrew Keen were named the top scholars in the state. The trio was awarded $60,000 in combined scholarship money from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation.
Bhagat, who achieved a perfect 36 ACT and a grade average of 99.9941, will receive a $24,000 scholarship as the state’s top STAR Student. Currently, the Ridgeland native is undecided on where she will attend college or what she will study.
Wu, of Madison, was named 1st runner up and will receive a $20,000 scholarship. Tupelo’s Keen was named 2nd runner up and will receive a $16,000 scholarship.
Each of the recognized pupils are asked to name a STAR Teacher, an educator who has made the greatest impact on the student’s achievement in the classroom. Bhagat named Sallie Moseley her premiere educator. The Jackson native has been named a STAR Teacher multiple times across her 40-year career.
Wu tabbed William Funderburk as his STAR Teacher. Funderburk has been teaching for 26 years and has now been recognized with the title four times. Keen’s STAR Teacher is Jonathan Begnaud, a 14-year teaching veteran and now four-time winner of the award.
Each of the top-tier educators will be given a $1,000 award. The next 17 “All-Star” scholars will also receive scholarship awards of $1,000, while the remaining 17 All-Star Teacher received a $500 award.
At April’s 2025 MED Education Event, 302 total top students across the state were recognized.
