STAR Program Enters New Era Under Cook Charitable Foundation
JACKSON, Miss. — One of Mississippi’s longest-standing traditions honoring academic excellence has a new home. The Mississippi Business Alliance Foundation and the Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation jointly announced that the Cook Foundation has assumed responsibility for the Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program.
Established by the Mississippi Economic Council in 1965, the STAR Program has recognized Mississippi’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers who contributed most to their academic success for 61 years. The transition became effective July 8, 2026, with the MSBA Foundation transferring the program’s records, assets and related intellectual property to the Cook Foundation.
“STAR has been an important part of the Mississippi Economic Council’s history and one of Mississippi’s most meaningful traditions recognizing students and teachers,” said Scott Waller, president of the Mississippi Business Alliance Foundation. “Our priority throughout this transition was to protect that legacy and ensure STAR would continue with an organization that understands its value. The Cook Foundation has been an extraordinary supporter of STAR for nearly three decades, and we believe it is the right organization to lead the program into its next chapter.”
“The STAR Program reflects what the Cook Foundation has always believed — that academic achievement should be encouraged, teachers should be celebrated and students should have opportunities to continue their education,” said Katy Pacelli, executive director of the Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation. “After supporting STAR Students and Teachers for many years, we are honored to accept responsibility for the program and committed to maintaining its mission, statewide reach and tradition of excellence.”
Each year, STAR recognizes hundreds of students from public, private and independent schools across Mississippi. Under the Cook Foundation’s leadership, the program will continue its longstanding mission of encouraging scholastic excellence among Mississippi students and recognizing the important role teachers play in student achievement.
