Riojas named 2017 STAR Student
Juan Ramon (J.R.) Riojas, a senior at St. Patrick Catholic High School, was recently named St. Patrick’s STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student for the 2016-2017 school year. The STAR program is sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council’s M. B. Swayze Educational Foundation. STAR students are selected on the basis of academic excellence. To become STAR Student, the graduating senior must have the highest ACT score in the class, the highest set of sub-scores, and at least a 93 academic average.
Riojas is the son of Dr. Ramon and Amy Riojas of Woolmarket. After graduating, Riojas plans to attend a four-year university and major in political science with aspirations to attend law school. Riojas currently holds the position of Student Body President and has been a member of the St. Patrick Student Council for six years. Not only has Riojas shown excellence in the classroom, but he is also involved in many of our school-sponsored extracurricular activities such as Mu Alpha Theta President, Chess Club President, Mock Trial Attorney Captain, Quiz Bowl Captain, a member of the Campus Ministry Team, and a member of the State Championship Soccer Team.
Each STAR student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher – the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement. Riojas designated Mrs. Amber Buckley as STAR Teacher. Buckley currently teaches AP English Language and Composition, English III, and English I. Buckley is also the Student Council advisor at St. Patrick.
Approximately 500 STAR students and STAR teachers will receive recognition from the Mississippi Economic Council’s Swayze Foundation later this spring. The top twenty STAR students (the ALL-STAR Scholars) will be presented scholarship awards provided by Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation. From there, one of the students will be named the Mississippi ALL-STAR Student for the 2016-2017 school year and will receive a $24,000 Cook Foundation Scholarship.
An integral Part of the mission of St. Patrick Catholic High School is to assure intellectual growth through academic excellence. We are proud of the many accomplishments of our students and faculty.