2010-2011 STAR STUDENT AND TEACHER
Sylva-Bay Academy
Home of the Saints!
Collin McGill & Ginny Mercier
Sylva-Bay Academy
Star Student and Star Teacher
2010-2011
The Mississippi Economic Council and its M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation sponsor the Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program in an effort to encourage scholastic achievement among the state’s high school students. The STAR Program has two specific purposes:
•Emphasize scholastic excellence and encourage greater scholastic effort among Mississippi students; and
•Recognition of the teaching profession.
Congratulations to this years recipients!
Collin M. McGill has been named as STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student for the 2010-2011 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council's M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation, sponsor of the STAR program.
The Sylva-Bay Academy senior will be honored during the annual Education Celebration on April 21 at the Jackson Convention Center in downtown Jackson. The prestigious event is co-sponsored by Entergy Mississippi, At&T, Mississippi Power Company, BancorpSouth, and Trustmark National Bank.
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, vice president of Foundation Programs. "The STAR program encourages and promotes academic achievement amount Mississippi's high school seniors," she said.
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.
Ginny R. Mercier was designated STAR Teacher.
McGill, 17, of Louin, is the son of Gene and Melodye McGill. While at Sylva-Bay, McGill has been involved in the Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. He has earned all A's and Highest Average in Biology ! and II, World History, Algebra I and II, English I and II, Business, Spanish I, U.S. History, Calculus, Trigonometry and Chemistry. He has earned his Red Cross Pin, the Presidential Award and Perfect Attendance. McGill lettered in high school football and earned a full academic scholarship to Jones County Junior College. He recently served as a page for the Mississippi Senate. He plans to attend JCJC before moving his education to William Carey University where he plans to study medicine and become a plastic surgeon.
Mercier teaches English and Spanish for grades eighth through twelfth at Sylva-Bay Academy. She has been with the school for three and one half years. She has earned her associates degree at Jones County Junior College and her Bachelor's and Master's degree from William Carey University.
She received the 2010 SBA High School Teacher of the Year. Southern Writers Conference Paper Presenter 2009 and PCA Conference Paper Presenter 2009.
Over 500 STAR Students and Teachers will receive recognition from MEC's Swayze Foundation at the celebration. The top 20 STAR Students - the ALL-Star Scholars - and their STAR Teachers will be presented scholarship awards, provide by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr., Charitable Foundation. The highlight of the Education Celebration will be the naming of the Mississippi All-Star Student for the 2010-2011 school year, winner of the coveted $24,000 Cook Foundation Scholarship.
