Chamber adds awards in recognizing students, educators

Each year, the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce hosts a luncheon to honor two teachers and two students in Shelby County. This year, the chamber continued that tradition while taking the chance to honor two additional individuals.

At the April 25 Student and Educator of the Year awards luncheon, the chamber recognized the college ready and career ready students of the year, as well as the recipient of the future leader award — a new addition. The elementary, middle and high school educators of the year were also recognized.

Chamber President and CEO Kirk Mancer said the opportunity to add the future leader and middle school educator of the year awards was thanks to the luncheon sponsor.

“Given that our 1,000-plus investor organizations are the future employers of these students, we think it’s an important step to recognize the excellence that is taking place throughout our Shelby County classrooms at both the student and educator level,” Mancer said.

The chamber is also involved in Shelby County schools through its Keeping it Real program, a yearly Career Awareness Fair and other programs. It is important to stay involved in schools within the county, said 2018 Chamber Chair Joe Meads, for two reasons — it helps ensure there is a qualified workforce within the county and it is a good opportunity to showcase to students that there are great job opportunities within Shelby County.

The college and career ready students of the year were evaluated based on GPA, extracurricular activities and awards, a submitted essay and a letter of recommendation. They also attended a 20-minute interview with a panel of three judges.

Teachers were nominated by their school principals and evaluated based on their philosophy of teaching, community involvement and recommendations from colleagues and school administrators.

“Our panel of judges who reviewed the information once again had an extremely challenging time in choosing just one recipient in each category. That’s a true indication of the excellence we have right here in Shelby County classrooms,” Mancer said.

The students each received a $1,000 cash award, and the three educators received a $750 cash award, suggested to be used for continued education and career development or for classrooms, respectively.

The following students and educators were nominated:

College Ready Student of the Year Nominees:

Oscar Becera, Calera High School

Jessica Lewis, Chelsea High School - recipient, College Ready Student of the Year

Alex Smith, Cornerstone Christian School 

Caitlin Rutland, Helena High School

Cade Horton, Kingwood Christian School

Jessie Evans, Montevallo High School - recipient, Future Leader

Cole Sullivan, Oak Mountain High School

Gracyn LeSueur, Pelham High School

Dakota Wells, Shelby County Career Technical Educational Center

Tyler Morris, Shelby County High School

Tyrone Tyger Quarles, Thompson High School

Colby Brooks West, Vincent High School

Career Ready Student of the Year Nominees:

Cason Crowe, Calera High School

Luke Carter, Chelsea High School

Carlee Halbert, Cornerstone Christian School

Andy Perry, Helena High School

Kayci Forrest, Montevallo High School

Jan Foksinski, Oak Mountain High School

Joshua Brantley, Pelham High School

Destin Sackreiter, Shelby County Career Technical Educational Center

Nicholas Crittenden, Shelby County High School

Diego Flores, Thompson High School - recipient

Samantha Walker, Vincent High School

Elementary School Educator Nominees:

Laura Kaylor, Calera Elementary School

Krysten Gunn, Calera Intermediate School

Jennifer Martinez, Chelsea Park Elementary School

Tiffany Cleckler, Cornerstone Christian School

Ann Coe, Creek View Elementary School

Emily Vansant, Elvin Hill Elementary School

Jennifer Williams, Forest Oaks Elementary School

Wendy Woods, Helena Elementary School

Natalie Landrum, Helena Intermediate School - recipient

Jennifer Nix, Inverness Elementary School

Julie Kennemer, Kingwood Christian School

Joy Gould, Meadow View Elementary School

Dora Newell, Montevallo Elementary School

Landra Edwards, Mt. Laurel Elementary School

Janet Butterfield, Oak Mountain Elementary School

Kimberly Ethridge, Oak Mountain Intermediate School

Ginger Aaron-Brush, Pelham Oaks Elementary School

Brittney Woodley, Pelham Ridge Elementary School

Chanda Jennings, Shelby Elementary School

Chelsea Shanks, Thompson Intermediate School

Elyse Bristow, Vincent Elementary School

Brooke Brewer, Wilsonville Elementary School

Middle School Educator Nominees:

Mark Windham, Calera Middle School

Elizabeth Howard, Chelsea Middle School

Patsy Casella, Columbiana Middle School

Bobby Cummings, Helena Middle School

Sara Coombs, Kingwood Christian School

Crystal Dreyer, Linda Nolen Learning Center

Lucie Harding, Montevallo Middle School

Sarah Hutchings, Oak Mountain Middle School

Nathan Collins, Pelham Park Middle School

Dori Hardee, Thompson Middle School

Donna Ott, Thompson Sixth Grade Center - recipient

Laura McKeller, Vincent Middle/High School

High School Educator Nominees:

Leigh Anne Brown, Calera High School

Amy Hann, Chelsea High School

Monica Youngblood, Cornerstone Christian School

Gardner Moseley, Helena High School

Kim Sullivan, Kingwood Christian School

Erma Hinton, Montevallo High School

Lauren Ingram, Oak Mountain High School

Rebecca Burnett, Pelham High School - recipient

Robert Irwin, Shelby County Career Technical Educational Center

Michelle Branson, Shelby County High School

Charli Lindley-Hamlin, Thompson High School

Amy Lee, Vincent Middle/High School