Sam Cagle has been named STAR student for the 2016-2017 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council M. B. Swayze Foundation, sponsor of the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program.

The New Albany High School senior was honored during the annual Education Celebrtion on April 27, 2017, at the Jackson Convention Complex in downtown Jackson.

Sponsors for this prestigious event and the Mississippi Economic Council were:  AT&T; Atmos Energy; BancorpSouth; Barksdale Management; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi; Cooperative Energy, Electric Cooperative of Mississippi; Entergy Mississippi, Inc.; 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.

Cagle is the son of Jeff & Kathryn Cagle.  He is a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Technology Student Association, FBLA, Spanish Club, and FCA.  Cagle is an honor roll student and has received many subject area awards.  He is a member of the NAHS football and basketball teams.  He is a graduate of the Union County Leadership Academy and is an Eagle Scout.

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.  Cagle chose Coach Jake Hill as his STAR teacher.