From the gridiron to the classroom, Warren Central senior Mack Foley has proven to be one of the best Warren County has to offer.

Foley, who was named The Vicksburg Post’s All-County center in football this year, has earned the honor of being his school’s STAR student for 2018.

“It is amazing. It is a confirmation of everything that I have gone through for four years and trying to keep making good grades and paying attention in school,” Foley said of being named STAR student. “Some kids, they will just worry about ACT and in the ninth and 10th grade year they won’t worry about grades. Then 11th and 12th grade they’ll pick it up. To be STAR student, you’ve got to do it all four years.”

The STAR student program is sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council’s M.B. Swayze Foundation and recognizes the senior in each graduating class with the highest ACT.

To be eligible, students must score at least a 25 on the ACT and hold a cumulative average of 93 in core classes through the first semester of their senior year.

Foley scored a 29 on the ACT and has a 4.51 GPA in his core classes.

“He is an awesome student,” said Terry Wong, who Foley selected as his STAR teacher. “I have had him for three years now and he does his work, he is active in anything and everything we can do and he is one of those that if I have anything I do need, I can call on Mack and he will get it done. He thinks outside of the box when there is a problem and he takes care of things if there is something.”

This marks the third consecutive year that Wong has been chosen as the STAR teacher at Warren Central.

“To me, it is one of the highest things a teacher could have,” Wong said. “For him to think of me and to think I have impacted his life, it is awesome to know I have an impact and that what I do does matter.”

He previously taught Foley Algebra 3 and AP calculus and is currently teaching him AP physics.

“He is the best teacher here probably and he has been the STAR teacher,” Foley said of why he chose Wong. “He’s made me so much more, not just a mathematician, but also a person and being more compassionate and empathetic with people. I was not very social early, but he will build you and not just your academics, but in everything else.”

Along with football, Foley is also a member the golf team. He is also the historian of the National Honor Society and a member of Mu Alpha Theta.

He will attend Mississippi State University next year where he will study biological engineering.

Foley’s plan is pursue a career in the biofuel industry.