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Erica Techo
The award winners at the Third Annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon hosted by the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce.
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Erica Techo
Calera High School student Emily Hill receives the Career Ready Student of the Year award at the Third Annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon hosted by the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce.
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Erica Techo
Nominees for secondary educator of the year at the Third Annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon hosted by the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce.
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Erica Techo
Nominees for elementary educator of the year at the Third Annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon hosted by the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce.
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Erica Techo
Nominees for career ready student of the year at the Third Annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon hosted by the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce.
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Cindy Warner, Cammie Eanes, Debbie Horton and Jane Hampton at the April 27 Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
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Kirk Mancer and the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce recognized Melanie Goodwin for 20 years of service with the chamber.
Shelby County students and educators were recognized for their achievements at this month’s Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Awards were given for career ready students, college ready students, elementary educators and secondary educators during the chamber’s third annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon on April 27.
Chamber president and CEO Kirk Mancer thanked the students for their hard work, noting that their efforts showed hope for the future.
“Our future is very, very bright if every student throughout Shelby County is like you,” Mancer said.
He also thanked educators for helping students excel and providing the tools needed for a strong workforce.
“Thanks to each and every one of you for what you do because you truly are developing our future,” he said. “So thank you very, very much.”
After all nominees were recognized, Emily Hill from Calera High School was named Career Ready Student of the Year, Peyton Strickland from Pelham High School was named Vollege Ready Student of the Year, Michelle Dunning from Oak Mountain Intermediate School was named Elementary Educator of the Year and Dawn Cabrera from Montevallo High School was named Secondary Educator of the Year.
The winners received a cash prize which was intended to go toward education or career preparedness for the students and toward classroom tools or continuing education for teachers, Mancer said.
Also at the luncheon, Mancer discussed the programs the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce has collaborated on. One was the third year of the Keeping it Real program, where chamber volunteers worked with ninth graders throughout the county and helped educate them on the impact of an education on their futures and financial responsibility.
“I am pleased to report that once again this year the feedback from students, teachers and the hundreds of volunteers who helped with this program has been extremely positive,” he said. “As a result, we will be planning for our fourth year for that program in the 2016-2017 school year.”
Mancer also said that this fall, the chamber will hold its second annual career awareness fair for 10th grade students. Students will learn about career opportunities as well as what local job opportunities are available.
“As the leading voice for business, both big and small in Shelby County, your chamber is engaged in these programs and collaborating with our partners in education for two very basic reasons,” Mancer said. “The first is to ensure our 1,000 investor organizations and businesses throughout Shelby County will have the qualified workforce they need in the future. And second, that all of our students know about the outstanding opportunities we have for quality employment right here in Shelby County.”
The full list of nominees included:
Career Ready Students
- Emily Hill, Calera High School
- Franklin Razo, Chelsea High School
- Abigail Stith, Helena High School
- Kaylee Toles, Kingwood Christian School
- Cecil David Lawley, Montevallo High School
- Jacqueline Grado, Pelham High School
- Collin Nietfield, Oak Mountain High School
- Christopher David, Shelby County College and Career Center
- Nolen Burke, Thompson High School
- Kris Phillips, Vincent High School
College Ready Students
- Jordan Mooney, Calera High School
- Christian Fauer, Chelsea High School
- Jordan Ingram, Helena High School
- Emily Stewart, Kingwood Christian School
- Tamera Fletcher, Montevallo High School
- Julia Buckner, Oak Mountain High School
- Peyton Strickland, Pelham High School
- Emma Smith, Shelby College and Career Center
- Marjorie Head, Shelby County High School
- Ashley Pope, Thompson High School
- Davis Whitfield, Vincent High School
Elementary Educators
- Tanya Wilson, Calera Intermediate School
- Christina Walsh, Creek View Elementary School
- Martha Bentley, Elvin Hill Elementary School
- Vickie Birdsong, Forest Oaks Elementary School
- Shannon Mosley, Helena Elementary School
- Joan Ray, Inverness Elementary School
- Diane Prince, Kingwood Christian School
- Melissa McMurray, Meadow View Elementary School
- Katie Thompson, Mt Laurel Elementary School
- Cammie Eanes, Oak Mountain Elementary School
- Michelle Dunning, Oak Mountain Elementary School
- Kristal Lawrence, Shelby Elementary School
- Ashley Vann, Thompson Intermediate School
- Whitney Pruitt, Valley Elementary School
- Sidney Saindon, Valley Intermediate School
- Marlee Clifton, Vincent Elementary School
- Allison Studdard, Wilsonville Elementary School
Secondary Educators
- Alice LaGrone, Calera High School
- Jennifer Nabors, Calera Middle School
- Nick Baumbaugh, Chelsea High School
- Ashley Grainger, Chelsea Middle School
- Becky Bagby, Columbiana Middle School
- Anita Lewis, Helena High School
- Sharon Worthy, Helena Middle School
- Lucie Harding, Kingwood Christian School
- Tammy Wilburn, Linda Nolen Learning Center
- Dawn Cabrera, Montevallo High School
- Evelyn Moore, Montevallo Middle School
- Michael Zauchin, Oak Mountain High School
- Heather Holmes, Oak Mountain Middle School
- Karen Varner, Pelham High School
- Kathleen Brotherton, Riverchase Middle School
- Marcy Campbell, Shelby County College and Career Center
- Dustin Cleckler, Shelby County High School, Brooke Dennis, Thompson High School
- Andrea Fordham, Thompson Middle School
- Elise Skellie, Thompson Sixth Grade Center
- Brook Gifford, Vincent Middle School
