Hannah Key, a senior at Winona High School, was chosen as the Winona High School’s 2019 Star Student.
A press release from Winona High School stated that each year, schools across the state are privileged to select one senior who is designated as the school's STAR Student. The STAR Student award is presented to the senior student who meets the following criteria set forth by the MS Economic Council.
The STAR student must have a seven-semester average of 93 or above in English, math, social studies, science, and foreign language, and an ACT composite score of 25 or above.
It went on to say, the STAR Student has the privilege of selecting a teacher who the student feels has made the greatest contribution to his or her scholastic achievement. Hannah has chosen Mrs. Rochelle Armstrong as her STAR Teacher. Mrs. Armstrong has taught school for 16 years, and earned her B.S in Chemical Engineering from Mississippi State University. She currently teaches chemistry, physical science and physics. This is the second time Mrs. Armstrong has received the honor of being named Star Teacher.
“She challenges me and pushes me to do my best,’ she said. Key said Armstrong breaks things down so if someone doesn’t understand, they can get whatever the subject that she’s teaching.
“She goes above and beyond,” she said. “It’s not just teaching, she even helps after school. She cares about my future and she wants me to be successful. She doesn’t just do the bare minimum. She comes up with different ways to help people understand what she’s teaching and she helps us to really improve.”
Key recently found out she’s also the Valedictorian for the 2019 Winona High School graduating class with a GPA for 99.15.
“They (Counselors) hadn’t too long announced it,” she said. “They said it so fast I almost missed it.”
After graduating Winona High, Key plans to attend Mississippi College and major in biochemistry and says she wants to become a doctor. She plans to specialize in either trauma or orthopedics.
“I thought about trauma because I do better under pressure and I like it when things are constantly going and I know how to handle certain situations. My problem solving skills are really good and I’m quick thinking. But, then, I thought about orthopedics would be fun. I get to help people walk and regain movement,” she said.
Hannah and Mrs. Armstrong were recently recognized at the 2019 STAR Banquet in Jackson on April 11.
“It was good,” she said. “I also went to Governor’s School, and I saw a lot of my friends from there that were also STAR students. That was nice to see. I think they said it was the most STAR students they’ve had. There were a ton of people there.”
She said to know she’s among many top students in the state makes her feel special. “It made me feel really good,” Key said smiling.
