Jackson Academy is proud to recognize this year’s STAR students and their chosen teachers: Morgan Cheatham, who selected chemistry teacher Richard West, and Crystal Gao, who selected French teacher Zoubir Tabout.
Jackson Academy senior Shelby Grant has been awarded the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia. The full-ride scholarship covers four years of undergraduate study, paid study abroad opportunities, and access to a distinguished alumni network.
Jackson Academy senior shortstop Justin Word has been named a 2026 Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen selection for baseball, joining one of the most recognized groups in Mississippi high school sports.
Tenth through twelfth grade students were inducted into the National Honor Society and seventh through ninth grade students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society this past week, highlighting their scholarship, character, leadership, and service. The National Honor Society started in 1921 as a way to cultivate these qualities in students. Inductees are expected to maintain the characteristics throughout their high school years. In 1929, the National Honor Society expanded into middle school grades, offering it as the National Junior Honor Society.
It was a historic week for JA basketball as both the Raiders and Lady Raiders advanced to the Final Four of the MAIS Overall Basketball Tournament at Mississippi College, bringing plenty of Raider pride to Clinton.
Jackson Academy’s boys and girls basketball programs have both punched their tickets to the MAIS Overall Basketball Tournament, with the boys claiming the 4A Division II State Title and the girls advancing to the 4A Division II championship game. Both teams will now compete against the top programs of every classification from across the MAIS at Mississippi College in Clinton for the overall championship title.
Originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision are core values of the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Though the creativity is fresh each year, the competition has been going on since 1923!
The efforts of Upper School art students Crystal Gao and Avery Buchanan were recognized at this year’s Scholastic Art Competition. Crystal’s artwork, “Edo,” won a Gold Key and is on display at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Avery’s artwork, “Green Paint,” won an Honorable Mention.
Jackson Academy seniors Sara Madalin Brown and Lucy Jones have been named finalists for Mississippi Christian Living’s 2026 Christian Leaders of the Future, earning a feature in the magazine’s March issue. They were selected from a competitive statewide pool of more than 250 high school students who completed applications, including essays about their Christian faith. A panel of Christian community leaders judges the program, now in its 18th year of honoring young Christian leaders.
Jackson Academy hosted its annual Showchoir Invitational February 6-7 in the school’s Performing Arts Center, drawing elite show choirs from across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee to compete for the Grand Champion title.