Hayes Richey, STAR Student
Hayes Richey has been named STAR Student for the 2019-2020 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) M. B. Swayze Foundation, sponsor of the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program. This year marks the 55th Anniversary of the STAR program. Established by the Mississippi Economic Council in 1965, the purpose of the STAR program is to recognize outstanding students & teachers in Mississippi.
The New Albany High School senior will be acknowledged among the over 330 STAR Students in Mississippi for their academic achievements. 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.
Richey is a member of the Pride of New Albany Marching Band, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Technology Student Association, and the ACT 30+ Club. He was a member of the Union County Leadership Academy and served as a Boys State delegate. Richey attends Fredonia Baptist Church. He is the son of Kristen and Drew Richey.
Phillip Laney, STAR Teacher
The STAR program encourages and promotes academic achievement among Mississippi’s high school seniors. Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher, the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement.
Richey chose Phillip Laney as his STAR Teacher. Laney teaches science at NAHS where he also serves on the girls’ basketball coaching staff. He is also the head Cross Country Coach at Blue Mountain College where he has received the NAIA Women’s Coach of the Year and has been awarded the SSAC Coach of Character. He holds degrees from Delta State University and the University of Mississippi and has sixteen years of experience in education.
This year, over 660 STAR Students and STAR Teachers will receive this prestigious recognition from MEC’s M.B. Swayze Foundation.
