Wyatt Fisher and Angela Trigg: STAR Student & Teacher

Each year, a graduating senior is chosen to represent Hartfield Academy as a STAR Student. This is a great honor bestowed upon a senior who exemplifies academic excellence as well as personal integrity and leadership. Wyatt also had the opportunity to select a STAR teacher, the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to his scholastic achievement. He chose Middle School Principal and Robotics instructor, Angela Trigg. Both individuals are exemplary members of the Hartfield Academy community, and we are proud to have them represent our school.
Wyatt Fisher has been named STAR Student for the 2022-2023 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) M. B. Swayze Foundation, sponsor of the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program. Established by the Mississippi Economic Council in 1965, the purpose of the STAR program is to recognize outstanding students & teachers in Mississippi through its Education Celebration. The theme this year is: The Pursuit of Excellence. 

Wyatt will be acknowledged among the over 600 STAR Students and STAR Teachers recognized for their academic achievements from MEC's M.B. Swayze Foundation at the Celebration on April 14th, 2022. The top 20 STAR Students -The ALL-STAR Scholars - will receive scholarships and their STAR Teachers will receive awards provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation. The highlight of the Education Celebration will be the naming of the Mississippi ALL-STAR Scholar for the 2022-2023 school year, winner of the coveted $24,000 Cook Foundation Scholarship.

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. The STAR program encourages and promotes academic achievement among Mississippi’s high school seniors. Wyatt’s reflection upon this honor is truly emblematic of his hard work during his high school years. Wyatt is incredibly thankful for the honor and Hartfield, as it plays an important role in his academic excellence. 
 
“Wyatt is a very bright student that strives to do well in anything and everything he is part of. I have known Wyatt for six years and was immediately impressed by how smart he was.  Over the years, I have had the opportunity to get to know Wyatt more in Robotics and have found that he has a great sense of humor and handles stressful situations with a positive attitude and quiet resolve. Wyatt has a very creative mind and has lots of ideas to solve problems. He never gives up when things get hard.” said Angela Trigg. With these words, it is easy to see why Wyatt and Angela both deserve the high honor of STAR student and teacher!

In addition to this honor, each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher, the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement. Angela Trigg was chosen as this year's STAR Teacher. Mrs. Trigg has been a part of Hartfield for the last eight years. She has served many roles including a teacher of AP Physics, Physical Science, AP Calculus, and College Algebra. She has also served as Science Department Chair, Director of Instructional Technology, and Assistant Principal for the Middle School. Angela Trigg is among the many hardworking administrators we have at Hartfield. In her 16th year as an educator, she recently received her Master of Education in Educational Leadership.

When asked what being named a STAR Teacher by Wyatt meant she responded by saying "This recognition is particularly meaningful because it comes from a student that I have known for six years and I take great pride in seeing Wyatt grow and flourish, both in the robotics program and his academic pursuits. To be recognized as the STAR Teacher by such a dedicated and talented student is a great honor and a reminder of why I chose to become a teacher in the first place.”

As a teacher, administrator, or school leader, the goal is to build relationships with students. When those leaders inspire a student to learn and love to understand, it is an incredible reward. In those positions, recognition does not always come in showy ways. That is why we want to highlight this honor! Congratulations, Wyatt and Mrs. Trigg!
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Hartfield Academy is fully accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the MidSouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Southern Association of independent Schools (SAIS).