South Panola High School senior Hannah Selvy earned the Class of 2020 STAR Student title and chose Annah Bailey as her STAR Teacher. (Jeff Eubanks)

By Jeff Eubanks

When she recorded a near-perfect ACT score as a sophomore, teachers knew South Panola High School student Hannah Selvy would be an academic star.

Now she’s the SPHS Class of 2020 STAR student.

“For me, it means the world to know that hard work pays off,” Selvy said. “I am thankful for the people who have pushed me, and I’m thankful to represent South Panola as the great learning environment that it is.”

To be eligible for the STAR student honor, a student must be a regularly enforced senior or an approved dually enrolled student in an accredited public or private high school, or an accredited post-secondary institution.

The student must maintain an overall cumulative average of 93 or above in selected subjects in the 9th-11th grades and the first semester of the 12th grade, along with an overall composite ACT score of at least 25.

Selvy, the 16-year-old daughter of Justin and Heather Selvy, plans to continue her education at Vanderbilt University where she will major in Medicine, Health, and Society while also completing an undergraduate pre-med program.

Following Vandy she hopes to attend medical school to pursue a career in surgery.

Selvy has been a part of the Technology Student Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Hugh O’Brian Leadership Program, Health Occupational Students of America, Beta Club, and the National Honors Society.

She served as chapter president for TSA, was a member of the SPHS soccer team, and is an SPHS Class of 2020 Hall of Fame inductee.

Although she will be leaving SPHS a year early, Selvy still has plenty of moments that stood our in her high school career.

“Sophomore year was the year with the best memories, and I don’t think I could ever choose just one,” she said. “It was the year with the most challenging classes, a great soccer eason with my best friend, the year I attended Hugh O’Brian Leadership, the year I got third place in flight endurance at TSA Nationals in Washington, D.C., and the year I made this ACT score. These stand out the most when I look back at my times as a high school student.”

Selvy listed her favorite subjects as math and science, so it was no surprise that her choice for STAR teacher was Annah Bailey, the instructor who taught her advanced and college algebra classes, and helped prepare her for the ACT.

“Being around her so much, we were allowed to build a great relationship,” Selvy said. “She is such a caring person, and she will do absolutely anything she can for others. She inspires me to have generosity, compassion, and the constant drive to learn something new.”

Bailey is completing her fifth year with the South Panola School District, and second as a teacher at SPHS. It is her first time to be chosen as STAR teacher.

“Being chosen for STAR Teacher by Hannah has meant the world to me,” Bailey said. “It is always rewarding to be told that you have made an impact on a student. Hannah is quite a successful student, so to know that I have been able to enrich her high school educational experience in a matter that she would want to choose me is such an honor.”

“Seeing how much she’s been able to accomplish in just three years of high school has been mind-blowing for me and has shown me just how much promise we have in the students in our school. Hannah has a long-term goal of being a surgeon, and I know that she is going to be an amazing one. I have no doubt that she will be able to achieve anything she puts her mind to and will be a leader in her field.”