STAR Students receive MEC scholarships
Two high-achieving seniors from Madison County were honored with major scholarships at the 2025 STAR Student event, where $88,500 in awards were presented to top students and teachers across the state.
The students recognized at the event were Verena C. Bhagat of Ridgeland and Ryan Boyd Wu of Madison. Andrew Russell Keen of Tupelo was also named a runner-up.
The theme for the 2025 Education Event was “The Journey Begins 1965-2025.” This year, the MEC’s STAR program recognized 302 STAR Students across the state. The event was held on April 10, 2025, at the Clyde Muse Center, Pearl.
Bhagat, a student at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School, has been named Mississippi’s TOP ALL-STAR Scholar for 2025. Bhagat has a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT. Bhagat also has achieved a combined score of 144 and a grade point average of 99.9941 GPA.
She is the daughter of Rajesh and Claudia Bhagat of Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Bhagat will receive a $24,000 scholarship provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. She is reportedly undecided on where she will attend college and what she will study.
Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher. They are designated the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement. Bhagat designated Sallie R. Moseley as her STAR Teacher. She has been teaching for 40 years and has been named STAR Teacher multiple times.
Wu, the STAR Student from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, has been named 1st runner-up and will receive a $20,000 Scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc.
His parents are Xiaohua Wu and Xiaoxia Li of Madison. Wu designated William Keith Funderburk of Columbus as his STAR Teacher. Funderburk has been teaching for 26 years, and this is her 4th time being named STAR Teacher.
Andrew Russell Keen, STAR Student from Tupelo High School has been named 2nd runner- up and will receive a $16,000 Scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. His parents are Fred and Melissa Keen of Tupelo, Mississippi. Keen designated Jonathan C. Begnaud of Tupelo as his STAR Teacher. He has been teaching for 14 years and has been named STAR Teacher 4 times.
Each STAR Teacher of the top three ALL-STAR Scholars received a $1,000 award. One-time scholarship awards of $1,000 are provided to the remaining top 17 ALL-STAR Scholars. The remaining 17 All-Star Teachers received a $500 award. The Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. provided $88,500 in scholarships and awards to STAR Students and STAR Teachers.