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NATCHEZ — Maggie Gray, the daughter of Dawn Green at Eric Gray, is the 2020 Adams County Christian School STAR Student. Gray doesn’t compete for the student spotlight at ACCS but like a star always strives to shine her brightest, she said.

“I’m very excited about being this year’s STAR student,” Gray said. “I heard about this title last year and it’s something that I’ve wanted. I’m also honored because it’s a high title. … I try not to be too competitive when it comes to academics but overall I’ve found that as long as you do your best and do well enough to make it into college then that is good enough.”

Sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council, the STAR award recognizes scholastic achievement among Mississippi’s high school students and also recognizes the teachers of the selected students’ choice.

Gray chose her English teacher Juliet Wesberry as her STAR Teacher.

“I’ve had her class for about three years and she’s just a really good teacher,” Gray said. “She is very thorough in her teaching. … On my ACT I had a 36 in reading, which is a perfect score, and a 35 in English. I honestly don’t think I would’ve gotten those marks if it weren’t for her.”

Wesberry said she feels honored to be chosen as STAR Teacher and equally honored to teach Gray.

“I would like to congratulate Maggie Gray on her hard-earned success,” Wesberry said. “All of Maggie’s teachers are very proud of her, and I have enjoyed every minute of teaching her. She is truly a wonderful student and person, and this honor means a lot to me.”

Gray said she has a difficult time deciding what her favorite class in school is. She has a nearly perfect average in all of her classes.

Gray said she does enjoy reading and does a lot of independent reading at home. Mostly she reads her Bible every day and lately is reading “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, she said. Her other favorite books include the “Lord of the Rings” series, “Little Women” and “Pride and Prejudice,” she said.

Gray is also a dancer and this school year placed first in AC’s Got Talent alongside her dance partner and freshman, Ella Boyd.

Gray is her school’s captain of the dance team, the Student Council vice president and president of the National Beta Club; was a member of the National Honor Society; Drama Club and Homecoming Court and a member of the archery, tennis and track teams. Gray was also a member of Natchez Youth Leadership, Fellowship of Christian Students and was chosen as Merit Health Natchez’s first “Female Athlete of the Month,” in October.

Gray said she plans to attend the University of Louisiana in Lafayette this fall on an academic scholarship and pursue a degree in Business Management and possibly double major or minor in Dance. Her ultimate career goal is to start a business that produces faith-based reading and devotional materials, she said.

Gray has a long history of performing dances in various capacities: in the First Baptist Church Natchez Christmas Cantata, the Natchez Ballet Academy’s “Nutcracker,” as a gypsy in the “Angles on the Bluff” tour of the Natchez City Cemetery and in the pre-game performance at the 2016 Citrus Bowl in Orlando.