SCHOLARS

Celebrating Student Achievement

Jernberg Scholar Announced

Junior Jeffrey Gao of Madison has been named a Jernberg Scholar for the 2021-2022 school year. Jackson Academy awards this scholarship to current and incoming students who enhance their school community through academic excellence and character. The scholarship honors JA President Emeritus Peter Jernberg, who significantly influenced independent education during his career in education that included 26 years at JA.

Jeffrey, who has been at JA since first grade, is the son of Pei Jian and Jie Zheng Gao of Madison. His younger sister Crystal is an eighth grader at JA.

Cum Laude Inductees

The Cum Laude Society recognizes the highest degree of scholastic achievement in secondary schools and has only granted charters to four Mississippi schools. During the 2020-2021 academic year, the school’s chapter of Cum Laude welcomed the following students and faculty member Sandra McKay to membership; (from back, left) Coleman Dinkins, Thomas Arnold, Logan Huff, Paul Bautista, Drew Antici, Emery Thigpen, Wilson Eatherly, Wes Thomas, Sandon Guild; (second row) Elena Roberts, Priya Ray, Gracie Coe, Avery Hendrick, Anna Claire Seago, Zoe Ladner, Ava Couey, and Emma Roberts; (front) Connor Gee, Caroline Harrington, Abbie Arnett, Miles Taylor Leverette, Regan Felder, Maysa Vivians, Emma Collums, Isabelle Lee, and Gibson Cheney.

SOPHOMORES

JUNIORS

SENIORS

National Honor Society

Sophomores inducted into the National Honor Society at Jackson Academy were (from back, left) Elizabeth Copeland, Bailey Berry, Blake Jones, Ishmam Bhuiyan, Parker Yarborough, Dev Sharma, Jeffrey Gao, Win Hooker, Coleman Chustz, Cooper Flechas, Bennett Wier, Houston Hearn, Ava Ladner, Mary Grace Foster, Avery Brooks; (front) Kathleen Thigpen, Olivia Claire Williford, Collett Hudson, Grayce Geary, Emma Duncan Hogue, Gracie Drew Pratt, Sarah Clay, Molly Baldwin, Stella Allen, Eliza Perkins, and Camille Towery. Not pictured: Thomas Antici

Juniors inducted into the National Honor Society at Jackson Academy were (from back, left) Hayden Parr, Banks Whittington, Barton Boyll, Reid Felder, Wilson Eatherly, Drew Barrentine, Harrison Johnston, Banks McNair; (second row) Daniel Martin, Tye Gardner, Reed Travelstead, Davis Lee, Andrew Burks, Hudson Hadley, Matthew Frost, Cade Gadman, Garrett Smith, John Wicks; (front) Ashton Tate, Olivia Quin, Molly McClure, Elizabeth Castle, Caroline Crisler, Anna Claire Bush, Kennedy McKee, Rachel Beth Deaton, Natalie Turner, Jalia Coins, and Samuel Hadley. Not pictured: Remy Jones

Seniors inducted into the National Honor Society at Jackson Academy were (from back, left) Alex Summerford, Andrew Holmes, Ford Hudson, Caleb Hernandez, Lachlan McLendon, Michael Lowe; (front) Jenna Daly, Parker Bracken, Madison Lampley, Isabelle Eiland, Ava Crawford, Caitlin Johnson, Elizabeth Pedigo, Grace Owens, and Rosemary Caldwell. Not pictured: Simms Baker, and Ally Sessums

National Junior Honor Society

The National Junior Honor Society recognizes seventh and eighth-grade students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. Jackson Academy’s National Junior Honor Society chapter inducted 27 new members during the 2020-2021 year. Inductees were (from back, left) Layla Farmer, Cayden Shorter, Natalie Shepardson, Sanders Reeves, Sadie Sandifer, Sara Kate Long, Rebekah Brooke Benson, Natalie Roberson, Chappell Lang, Josephine Haines, Anna Martin, Crystal Gao, Morgan Cheatham; (front) Jack Voyles, Breck Hines, Blake Bartlam, Cash Malouf, Carter Mathison, Crew Hassell, Caroline Wier, Rimes Dehmer, Mary Lamar Chustz, Katherine Gault, Presley Tanner, and Caroline Johnson. Not pictured: Emily Martin, and Libby Woosley

National Merit Finalists

Isabelle Lee, Zoe Ladner, and Priya Ray earned recognition by the National Merit Scholarship Program as National Merit Finalists. The status of National Merit Finalist is achieved by only the top 0.5 percent of all high school juniors taking the PSAT test.

Hall of Fame

Jackson Academy seniors (from back, left) Wes Thomas, Coleman Dinkins, Drew Antici, Thomas Arnold, Bryant Seago, McNeill Dinkins; (front) Maysa Vivians, Emma Collums, Zoe Ladner, Priya Ray, and Isabelle Lee were inducted into the school’s hall of fame for exemplifying the highest standards of integrity and engagement in all areas of school and community life.

STAR Students and Teachers Recognized

The Mississippi Economic Council sponsors the StudentTeacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program to encourage scholastic performance among high school students. STAR students are selected based on ACT scores and scholastic averages, and designate a STAR teacher for significant contribution to their success. Jackson Academy’s STAR students and teachers for 2020-2021 were Isabelle Lee recognizing Chemistry Teacher Richard West and Priya Ray honoring former JA Latin Teacher Judy McKeigney.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Priyadarshini “Priya” Ray, daughter of Anandhi and Paresh Ray of Brandon, was the Jackson Academy Class of 2021 Valedictorian. Andrew “Drew” Antici, son of Angie and Brad Antici of Madison, was the Jackson Academy Class of 2021 Salutatorian.

29+ ACT

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 63 Jackson Academy Upper School students achieved a score of 29 or above on the ACT. As a college-preparatory school, Jackson Academy proudly celebrates students’ pursuit of academic excellence and congratulates each of the following students on their accomplishment.

Drew Antici Abigail Arnett Thomas Arnold Simms Baker Drew Barrington Paul Bautista Bailey Berry Gibson Cheney

Joseph Ciaccio Gracie Coe Emma Collums Elizabeth Copeland Ava Couey Ava Crawford Grant Dean Morgan Dilworth

Coleman Dinkins Wilson Eatherly Lucy Elfert Regan Felder Cade Gadman Jeffrey Gao Connor Gee Caroline Graven

Sandon Guild Caroline Harrington Houston Hearn Avery Hendrick Logan Huff Harrison Johnston Maggie Koury Zoe Ladner

Annalee LeDuff Davis Lee Isabelle Lee Miles Taylor Leverette Parker Lowe Daniel Martin Anabel McCraney Hensley Moulder

Thomas Nance Anna Carlisle Nichols Grace Owens Hayden Parr Elizabeth Pedigo Eliza Perkins Will Pilkington Priya Ray

Caroline Redman Elena Roberts Emma Roberts Elise Robinson Anna Claire Seago Dev Sharma Ben Sigler

Rett Stanley Emery Thigpen Wes Thomas Jack Varner Annalee Willson Parker Yarborough Anne York James Smith