Madison Kendall has been named as a STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student at Warren Central High School for the 2015-2016 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council’s M. B. Swayze Foundation.

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 the foundation.

Kendall, the daughter of Susan and Tom Kendall, earned a 33 on her ACT test.

“It was a nice honor,” she said. “My goal was always a 33 because my sister got a 32. It’s always been my goal, so it was super exciting when I got it my junior year.”

Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher, the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement. Kendall selected her trigonometry, pre-calculus, advanced algebra and advanced placement calculus teacher Terry Wong as her STAR teacher.

“He has had the most impact on my school,” Kendall said. “I’ve had him the longest, and he’s a really dedicated teacher.”

Wong said he wishes he could have a lot more students like Kendall.

“She’s very dedicated, and she gets her work done on time,” he said. “She knows her math. She’s a class leader, and people look up to her.”

For Wong, being chosen as STAR teacher was an honor.

“It’s nice to know Madison thought that highly of me, and that I made an impact in her life,” he said. “She’s been in Mu Alpha Theta for three years, and she just continues to do work and has vision about where she wants to go, what she wants to do, and she’s not afraid to do it.

Wong said he’s looking forward to following Kendall’s future.

“Those kind of students are a joy to work with,” he said. “I just want to see where she’s going to go and help her with whatever she needs.”

In the fall, Kendall will major in computer science at Mississippi State, where she is eligible for a $6,000 scholarship for being STAR student.

Kendall is ranked top in her class at Warren Central High School where she serves as Mu Alpha Theta president and district governor and the National Honor Society vice president. She is a former member of the band and a two-year member of the tennis team.

Kendall attends Crawford Street United Methodist Church, and she participates in the Service Over Self philanthropy project each year. Kendall will be honored during the STAR Program at the annual Education Celebration on April 28 at the Jackson Convention Center in downtown Jackson.