St. Aloysius senior Ryan Jarratt can add yet another accomplishment to the growing list of honors he has earned as he wraps up his high school career.

Jarratt was named St. Al’s STAR student for the Class of 2018 after scoring a 35 on the ACT and earning a 98.14 course average.

“It is really honoring to be able to represent my school and my class and get to be a STAR student,” Jarratt said. “I was really excited because I put a lot of work and effort into taking the ACT and preparing for it. It was gratifying to know that work paid off.”

The STAR student program is sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council’s M.B. Swayze Foundation and recognizes the senior in each graduating class with the highest ACT.

To be eligible, students must score at least a 25 on the ACT and hold a cumulative average of 93 in core classes through the first semester of their senior year.

Jarratt’s recognition as STAR student is yet another feather in his cap that already includes being named a National Merit Finalist, Coca-Cola Scholar Finalist, the statewide winner of the Governor’s GIVE award for Outstanding Youth Leadership and more.

Jarratt accumulated more than 1,400 hours of community service while in high school and was a varsity letterman in tennis and basketball.

“Ryan is like the best of the best,” Jarratt’s selection for STAR teacher Dawn Meeks said. “Academically talented, his work effort is fabulous. He has a goal and he makes sure he gets there. He is the kind of guy that if we don’t offer a course that he wants, then he finds a way to take it. He is extremely varied with lots of different interests. He is just a really broadminded young man. He’s got a way of making sure his goals are met and along the way he helps other people.”

Meeks taught Jarratt biology and AP biology and coached the Math & Science team and Quiz Bowl team while he was a member. He said he chose her as his STAR teacher because, “Ms. Meeks has stood out as being one of the best. She’s supported me in everything I do, school and otherwise, and she really helped to instill a love of science and biology.”

This marks the second year in a row Meeks has been chosen as STAR teacher and her seventh time overall.

“It is an honor and privilege to be named STAR teacher,” Meeks said. “I am fortunate to be able to work with really great students all the time and that’s been a blessing.”

Jarratt will attend Mississippi State on a full ride scholarship. He plans to study biomedical engineering.