Oak Mountain, College and Career Center teachers and students recognized by Chamber
The Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce took time to recognize students and educators from across the county during its April luncheon.
As part of the fourth annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon, the chamber received nominees from each school, for college-ready and career ready-students and for elementary and secondary educators.
Student nominees were evaluated on their GPA, extra-curricular activities and awards, a written response on their proposed occupation or course of study and a letter of recommendation. Educators were evaluated on their teaching philosophy, community involvement and recommendations from colleagues and school administrators.
Before announcing the nominees and winners, chamber Chair Keith Brown discussed some of the chamber’s programs to prepare students for college and their future careers. He discussed Keeping It Real, a program that teaches financial literacy; Communications Matter, a program that teaches soft skills and the chamber’s annual career awareness fair.
“Your chamber is leading these efforts for two very basic reasons,” said Brown. “One, we want to make sure you, our investors, and businesses throughout Shelby County, have the qualified workforce you will need in the future. And we also want our students to know of the outstanding opportunities and quality employment right here in Shelby County.”
The following students were nominated:
College-ready student of the year
- Faith Blair, Calera High School
- Kayley Dotson, Chelsea High School
- Tucker Johnson, Cornerstone Christian School
- Sarah Kathryn Murdaugh, Evangel Classical Christian School
- Sarah Kallaher, Helena High School
- Hunter Cunningham, Kingwood Christian School
- Samuel Reece, Monevallo High School
Armeen Barghi, Oak Mountain High School - winner
- Kelsey Schoenmeyer, Pelham High School
- Shelby Middleton, Shelby County College and Career Center
- Samantha Slaughter, Shelby County High School
- Leah Warman, Thompson High School
- Kaylee Littlefield, Vincent High School
Career-ready student of the year
- David Lawrence, Calera High School
- Amanda Francis, Chelsea High School
- Ryan Atchison, Cornerstone Christian School
- Brianna Pennington, Helena High School
- Molly Sullivan, Kingwood Christian School
- Taylor Sellers, Montevallo High School
- Nathan Mercer, Oak Mountain High School
- James Keon Hollingsworth, Pelham High School
Ben Jones, Shelby County College and Career Center - winner
- Kody Farmer, Shelby County High School
- Freddie Dale McSherdon Jr., Thompson High School
- Hayle Brasher, Vincent High School
Elementary educator of the year
- Shawn Nash, Calera Elementary School
- Cindy Carlisle, Calera Intermediate School
- Jessica Adams, Chelsea Park Elementary School
- Stephanie Cochran, Creek View Elementary School
- Leah Klimchak, Elvin Hill Elementary School
- Kathleen Boehme, Forest Oak Elementary School
- Mandie Gibbs, Helena Elementary School
- Christy Cordrey, Helena Intermediate School
- Cathy Hart, Inverness Elementary School
- Holly Kline, Kingwood Christian School
- William Holley, Linda Nolen Learning Center
- Lindsey Thigpen, Meadow View Elementary School
- Jenna Campbell, Montevallo Elementary School
- Stephanie Tucker, Mt Laurel Elementary School
- Sara Askew, Oak Mountain Elementary School
- Amy Miller, Oak Mountain Intermediate School - winner
- Caron Riley, Pelham Oaks Elementary School
- Jennifer Church, Pelham Ridge Elementary School
- Christina Shaler, Shelby Elementary School
- Matt Wilson, Thompson Intermediate School
- Deana Anderson, Vincent Elementary School
- Brooke Brock, Wilsonville Elementary School
Secondary educator of the year
- Doug Forsythe, Calera High School
- Melanie Thomas, Calera Middle School
- Shannon Goodwin, Chelsea High School
- Ashely Evans, Chelsea Middle School
- Krista Smith, Columbiana Middle School
- Melina “Mendy” Adams, Helena High School
- Amy Cook, Helena Middle School
- Lee Scott, Kingwood Christian School
- Lee Pastor, Montevallo High School
- Natalie Jackson, Montevallo Middle School
- Marissa Rath, Oak Mountain High School
- Vicki Jackson, Oak Mountain Middle School
- Elizabeth Lee Short, Pelham High School
- Alicia Melton, Riverchase Middle School
Gary Griffith, Shelby County College and Career Center - winner
- Marisol “Soli” Lilly, Shelby County High School
- Deborah DeCroes, Thompson High School
- Ron Munday, Thompson Middle School
- Amber Willis, Thompson Sixth Grade Center
- Leunika Davis, Vincent Middle High School
The recipients of college-ready and career-ready students of the year each received a $1,000 cash award, and the elementary and secondary educators of the year each received a $750 cash award.
“This truly is a great day and opportunity to celebrate excellence in the classroom, both students and educators throughout Shelby County,” said chamber president and CEO Kirk Mancer.