NATCHEZ — Adams County Christian School’s Star Student and Star Teacher have one thing in common, they said.

That is, Seth Smith III and his English teacher Arlene Richardson both like to think differently than everyone else in the classroom, they said.

Each year, the senior student at ACCS with the highest ACT score, a standardized test used to measure college readiness, is selected to be the Star Student. The student then chooses a Star Teacher as the criteria for receiving a Star Student scholarship.

Smith said when he thought about who the Star Teacher is at ACCS, Richardson was the first to come to mind.

“I figured the first person that comes to mind is the person I should go with,” Smith said. “To me, studying grammar isn’t fun by itself, but Mrs. Richardson makes it fun.”

Richardson, who has taught for 22 years and seven years at ACCS, said she likes to teach her classes in an unorthodox way.

She uses her own life experiences to help students get to know her better and relate the real world to her lessons, she said.

“We talk a lot in here and tell stories,” Richardson said. “I’ve told a lot of stories about when I was growing up in Harrison, in Jefferson County, and try to bring them into perspective today.”

Richardson said she and her students also discuss a lot of conspiracy theories, adding Smith always has more to add to the conversation.

“I’ve taught Seth for ninth-, 11th- and 12th-grade, and he always had something intelligent — and just earth-shattering — to say,” Richardson said. “He is such an intelligent and thought-provoking person. … You know, if the future of our country is in the hands of people like Seth, I feel like we’ll be alright.”

Smith said he will be attending Mississippi State University this fall on a full scholarship, where he plans to study mechanical engineering.

Smith also received several academic scholarships from ACCS, as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship and graduated with honors as the Class of 2019 Salutatorian at ACCS.

Smith received several scholarships and accolades for showing academic excellence in English and environmental science, was entered into the ACCS student’s Hall of Fame and was a member of the National Honor Society and the Vice President of the student council.

Smith is the son of Seth Smith Jr., Amy Gordon and the stepson of David Gordon.