Champions of Character
The Tuscaloosa Character Council presented the second annual Champions of Character Awards Banquet on April 2 at the Bryant Conference Center.
The Champions of Character Awards were created as a way to honor citizens, educators and students for demonstrating extraordinary positive character in the community and schools.
Paul W. Bryant JROTC Color Guard provided the presentation of colors. Lauren L'Etang of Tuscaloosa County High School sang the national anthem. The Tuscaloosa City Schools orchestra provided the music.
Tuscaloosa City Schools Champion of Character award winners include Jadah Rice, Alberta School of Performing Arts; Daniela Zamora, Arcadia Elementary; Ki'Anthony Jones, Central Elementary; JaMiya Pickens, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary; Latrinity Richards, Northington Elementary; Kimora Haygood, Oakdale Elementary; Aileen Charles, Rock Quarry Elementary; Yesenia Izaguirre, Skyland Elementary; Alexandra Villaltra-Ceron, Southview Elementary; Emia Sesson, Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary; Ramirah Speight, University Place Elementary; Khadira Gipson, Verner Elementary; Briana Hanks, Woodland Forrest Elementary; Nicholas Pate, Eastwood Middle; Samantha Savage, Rock Quarry Middle; Ivy Eppes, Southview Middle; LaBoris Perry, Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle; Ivy Fulford, University Place Middle; Charde Brantley, Westlawn Middle; Treyon Sanders, Oak Hill Success Prep Academy; Micah Madison, Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy; Moses Mason III, Paul W. Bryant High; Ryan Foster, Central High; and John Chwe, Northridge High.
Tuscaloosa County School System Champion of Character Award winners include Hannah Harris, Big Sandy Elementary; Cheyenne Gray, Brookwood Elementary; Olivia Harless, Buhl Elementary; Jay Dockery, Cottondale Elementary; Rashad Magana, Crestmont Elementary; Karlee Garth, Englewood Elementary; Savion Gellington, Faucett-Vestavia Elementary; Tyson Gardner, Flatwoods Elementary; Nohemi Orozco, Holt Elementary; Paislee Roberts, Huntington Place Elementary; Ezekiel Hitt, Lake View Elementary; Kassie Reed, Matthews Elementary; Anna Stone, Maxwell Elementary; Austin Brewer, Myrtlewood Elementary; Cooper Dreyfus, Sprayberry Education Center; Bailey Denard, Vance Elementary; Christian Boyd, Walker Elementary; Jennifer Benitez, Westwood Elementary; Tristan King, Brookwood Middle; Samantha Swindle, Collins-
Riverside Middle; Hayden Drucker, Davis-Emerson Middle; Miller Park, Duncanville Middle; Isabella Baldo-Downs, Echols Middle; Abby Holmes, Hillcrest Middle; Amber Fenimore, Northside Middle; Grant Lewis, Sipsey Valley Middle; Kayla Gilliland, Brookwood High; Kaci Crawford, Hillcrest High; Arthur Conway, Holt High; Jordan Smith, Northside High; Heather Sellers, Sipsey Valley High; and Marla Hogue, Tuscaloosa County High School.
Major Valerie Wilder of Central Elementary received the Tuscaloosa City Schools 2015 Educator Champion of Character Award. Ryan Foster of Central High School received the $500 scholarship for the Tuscaloosa City Schools.
Jerry Boatwright of Collins-Riverside Middle School received the Tuscaloosa County School's Educator Champion of Character award. Kayla Gilliland of Brookwood High received the $500 scholarship for the Tuscaloosa County Schools.
The first Community Champion of Character Award was given to Verta Barr Meherg. The other Community Champion of Character award recipient was Mike Chambers.
American Christian Academy
The all-A's honor roll for the third nine-weeks for the elementary includes Laura Beth Aaron, Justin Michael Allen, Wyatt Allen, Laney Allgood, Lilly Allgood, Tristen Ash, Jackson Barwick, Hadley Bates, Dylan Baxter, Russell Baxter, Carson Bishop, Kailey Bishop, Emma Blackwood, Lily Blair, Sophia Blair, Karlee Hope Booth, Ethan Boyd, Jace Boyd, Elizabeth Boykin, Holly Grace Brantley, J.P. Brasfield, Sam Brewer, Anna Brown, Carson Chastine, Taylor Chastine, Belle Chism, Addison Colvin, Belle Cormier, Benjamin Cormier, Ella Crews, Madi Croft, Kaelyn Darling, Colin Davis, Andrew DeLoach, Cooper Dempsey, Sydney Dempsey, Jenny Do, Judson Dowling, Brooklyn Duarte, Shelby Faulkner, Hagan Graham, MaryClaire Green, Caitlyn Greene, Lily Hamner, Austin Hand, Sarah Beth Hardin, Sim Hartsfield, Tyler Hearing, Chance Henderson, Emma Henry, Katelyn Hill, Walker Hill, Nathan Hodgson, Anna Holloway, Christian Horn, Clayton Howell, Lily Grace James, Oliver Jarrell, Kyler Jayne, Luke Jenkins, Caroline Karrh, Mary Maxwell Karrh, Saidy Kennedy, Christopher Knight, Katie Laferrera, Aidan Lambert, Gabby Lang, Mary Blake Lang, Elise Larson, Greyson Lee, Michael Lemmon, Logan Lovvorn, Nathan Lovvorn, Reagan McDonald, Reagan McGough, Morgan McGuire, Gabriel McKinney, Sadie McPherson, Ben Miller, Karly Mims, Jackson Mitchell, Halle Moffitt, Parker Montgomery, Ethan Moore, Raegan Morrison, Blake Moseley, Tyler Newman, Britney Nguyen, Crystallynn Nguyen, Maddie Nix, Sydney Nix, Will Nolen, Isabel Oldshue, Cate Olson, Trudi Osborn, Erin Oswalt, Trey Pearson, Buffy Perkins, Walker Perkins, Caroline Phillips, Carter Plowman, Kolby Preskitt, Sara Grace Ramey, Kolton Ray, Brock Renicks, Carson Renicks, Laura Kate Robertson, Anna Ross, Haylee Ross, KP Rowland, Caleb Sampsell, Lindy Beth Sanford, Kaylee Shaw, Anna Morgan Shelton, Lexi Grace Sims, Carly Grace Skelton, Maggie Skelton, Max Sloup, Tiffany Sloup, Greyson Smith, Kayla Smith, Naia Smith, Aiden Southern, Luke Southern, Jessica Stevenson, Jaidyn Sullivan, Allie Grace Sute, Conner Sute, Brexton Taft, Britton Taft, Matthew Taylor, Hunter Tennyson, Anna Stuart Thomas, Davis Thomason, Leanna Thurston, Andrew Turner, Haley Vinson, Mc-Kenna Walker, John Ross West, Jack Glyien Williams, Jackson Williams, Kylie Williams, Nick Wilson, Weston Wright and Landon Wyatt.
The all-A's honor roll for the third nine-weeks for the high school includes Katie Alexander, Tori Ash, Kayleigh Atkins, Caroline Baird, Jack Ballard, Anna Grace Barrett, David Barrett, Elizabeth Barrett, Mary Boyd Bentley, Becca Billman, Luci Brittain, John Wallace Bridges, Lauren Bridges, Jackson Bryant, Noah Bryant, Eliza Carpenter, J. Mike Comer, Zoie Comer, Bailey Comier, Allie Coogler, Sean Daly, Alicia de Fays, Anna DeLoach, Julia Diorio, Makayla Dorroh, Connor Edwards, Hannah English, Melissa Fray, Cayla Gilliland, Vivian Gilmore, Olivia Goldsby, Chandler Grammer, Hudson Grammer, Katherine Grill, John-Cheney Hajek, Anna Hardin, Tanner Hearing, Trevor Hegenbarth, David Higginbotham, David Hodgson, Cade Hoggle, Paige Hollingsworth, Alayna House, Luke Hydrick, Brock Isom, Hayden Johnson, Katelyn Kahler, Mary Kelley, Caleb Kennedy, Leanna Logan, Marion Mann, Analiese McDonald, Anna Miller, Katherine Miller, Claudia Mitchell, Mary Beth Mitchell, Sania Mitchell, Kaitlyn Mohlenbrok, Drake Montgomery, Catherine Moore, Brantley Moris, Christian Motley, Claire Motley, Anna Kate Nelson, Kristi Nguyen, Anna Grace Oswalt, Sarah Taylor Patton, Brody Perdue, Cody Perkins, Caitlin Pippins, Erin Roberts, Harper Roberts, Gray Shook, Carson Skelton, Luke Skinner, David Sputh, Molly Sputh, Lauryn Stahl, Andrew Stanley, Maggie Sullivan, Alli Swann, Trayton Taft, Mary Madison Taylor, Andrew Thigpen, Charlie Thigpen, John Thigpen, Jackson Tubbs, Austin Walker, Garrett Welch and Brandon Werner.
Capitol School
The Capitol School preschool's Trike-A-Thon, a fundraising event to support children at St. Jude Children's Hospital, was held March 27. Children ages 3 to 5 rode their tricycles around a course marked on Sixth Street. The annual event, also designed to teach tricycle and bicycle safety to children, raises about $2,000 per year.
Central High School
-- Cai'Lyb Collins and Ryan Foster, two senior choral music students from Central High School, recently attended the 2015 Alabama Music Education
Association In-Service Conference held at the Renaissance Hotel and Montgomery Performing Arts Center in Montgomery.
Collins participated in the Future Alabama Music Educators Conference, and Foster was selected to perform with the 2015 Alabama All-State Show Choir. He was the only student selected from Tuscaloosa County. In addition, Foster was the Area II Winner of the Alabama Music Educators Scholarship.
-- The Central High School Singers participated in the 2015 Alabama Vocal Association Choral Performance and Solo and Ensemble Assessments held Feb. 23-24, at the University of Alabama Moody Music Building in Tuscaloosa. The Central Singers received a superior rating for their choral performances.
Carlesheia Smith, a junior soprano soloist, and Ryan Foster, a senior baritone soloist, each received superior ratings for their solo performances; and Cai'Lyb Collins, a senior bass soloist, received an excellent rating for his solo performance.
The choir is under the direction of Levert Hedgemon Jr., director of choral activities; Samuel R. Robinson, accompanist; and Ryan Foster, student accompanist.
-- The American Spiritual Ensemble, under the direction of Everett Mc-Corvey, was presented in concert on Feb. 20 at Central High School. Members of the ensemble held master classes with eight select choral music students. Carlesheia Smith, Kiesha Hall, LaKinda Griffin, Jordan Latham, Abraham Myers, Ky'Andre Banks, Cai'Lyb Collins and Ryan Foster each presented prepared solos in the master classes.
-- Central High School held the Induction Ceremony for National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and JROTC on March 31.
New National Honor Society members include Tyler Bell, Sydney Bryant, Miya Chambley, Shalandria J. Cosby, Ryan Foster, Accaizia D. Fuller, Asia A. Hall, Jasmine E. Harris, Byron Hudson, TaNiquewa J. Monroe, Justin A. Morrow, Katlin D. Parham, Jessalyn L. Peoples, Shaundasia L. Pinkston, Brandon Reedy, Diamonise T. Sidberry, Diamond D. Sidberry, Kristian T. Simmons, Valencia A. Smith, Taylor M. Young and Aaron L. Wright.
New Spanish Honor Society members include Daveeta Banks, Alisha Caves, Miya Chambley, Mar-keithius Channel, Tyra Hollis Clark, Mari Filer, Charmelia Gibson, Jasmine Harris, Lauren Hill, Byron Hudson, Nikiyah Lavender, Shamekia Mc-Kinstry, TaNiquewa Monroe, Katlin Parham, Jessalyn Peoples, Raniza Peoples, Shaundasia Pinkston, Brandon Reedy, Kristian Simmons, Aaliyah Smith, Valencia Smith, Nicole Trayvick, Carsulea Wilson, Latisha Woods and Taylor Young.
New JROTC members include Asia A. Hall and Valencia Smith.
Faucett Vestavia Elementary School
The all-A's honor roll for the third nine-weeks includes Mary Goodloe Aaron, Natalie Diane Aldridge, Emma Faith Appling, Andrew David Bailey, Ananda Cierra Ball, Brody Cameron Bell, Avery Marie Boyle, Morgan Ayanna Burrell, Emma Suesan Chambless, Meadow Pearl Chandler, Zain Kinley Cochran, Samantha Morgan Crowe, Amelia Ann Davis, Mikayla Grace Davis, Alexis Mikayla Dobbins, Aleena Brooke Drummond, Alyssa Marie Faircloth, Shelby Elaine Freeman, Olivia Paige French, Heather Joy Gann, Savion Mckenzy Gellington, Zaccai Nathan Gleason, Dylan Lee Hall, Woods Young Hobbs, Nathan Boyd Holder, Mariana Esther Illescas, Sara Nicole Illescas, Isabella Ann Jones, Kolbe James Maksym, Isabel Claire Marable, Hayley Denise McDaniel, Cheyenne Susauna McKenzie-Erdman, Emma Lee Meggs, Daniel Tyler Mills, Marley Ann Mitchell, Abbey Leigh Noland, Julieta Rodriguez Ortiz, Tristin Riley Pierce, Alexis Keely Quinn, Carly Cristina Reyes, Jonathan Douglas Richey, Caden Britt Robinson, Emily Kristen Sandlin, Yannick Fabian Schad, Sarah Frances Seale, Marianna Lindsey Sellers, Mahya Paz Stevens, Grant Robert Stubbs, Wesly Devine Teague, Gabriel Lee White, Ever Grace Williams, Haleigh Melia Williams and Angel Zhang.
Holy Spirit Catholic School
Holy Spirit Catholic School in Tuscaloosa recently inducted students into the Fleur de Lis Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society and the Bishop David Foley Chapter of the National Honor Society.
The students have achieved the high standards set by the prestigious national organizations for academic performance, leadership, character, citizenship and service.
Inducted into the Fleur de Lis Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society were Obinna Alilonu, Brooke Bassett, Brendan Fuller, Layne Goodbread, Ameila Hitt, Sylivie Kang, Ben Midkiff, Elijah Sheffer, Chidimma Alilonu, Samuel Contorno, Eve Farrish, Ronica Peramsetty, Sidney Colburn, Peyton Goodbread and Alex Kincaid.
Students inducted into the Bishop David Foley Chapter of the National Honor Society were Max Bassett, Tristan Boler, Caitlin Diano, Angus Durham, Andie Gamble, Maria Garcia, Alex Giggie, Kelsey Johnson, Anna Kidwell, Danika Louw, Mikaela Daniel, Roeder McNair, Nikita Peramsetty, Maria Phelps, Anna Pitts, Henry Pitts, Kate Pitts, Anna Presnall, Jordan Richmond, Caroline Sisson and Olivia
Wyatt.
Students inducted into Mu Alpha Theta include Max Bassett, Tristan Boler, Angus Durham, Maria Garcia, Kelsey Johnson, Grace Ann Lake, Roeder McNair, Abby Mitchell, Nikita Peramsetty, Maria Phelps, Anna Pitts, Henry Pitts, Kate Pitts, Anna Presnall, Jordan Richmond, Reagan Washington, Alexie White and Leah White.
New members of the National Latin Honor Society are Leah Clark, Jackson Colburn, Marian Cook, Julia Giggie, Olivia Kapera and Haley Thompson.
National American Miss
Erica MaKayla Bester of Tuscaloosa has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Alabama Pageant to be held June 15 at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham. Erica will be participating in the teenage division, along with other outstanding young women from across Alabama. She is the daughter of Diane Bester of Tuscaloosa.
North River Christian Academy
-- The all-A's honor roll for the third nine-weeks includes Jalin Alexander, Chloe Beck, Lexie Brown, Abigail Bruce, Audrey Burkhalter, Katelyn Burkhalter, Gracie Corbin, Maura Dent, Lawson Estes, Kayleigh Garner, Justin Guerra, Austin Harmon, Hayden Hensel, Kolby Hite, Gus Kilgore, CY Kim, Zoe Kirby, Avery Peterson, Dylan Pompey, Lydia Richardson, Joey Rogers, Emma Ryan, Joseph Seale, Brandon Smith, Kylie Smith, Xander Smith, Sage Sutton, Vandin Thornton, Isabella Vice, Emily Wallace, Kathleen Watkins, Madison Whinery, Ella Wiseman and Drake Wood.
-- On March 13, North River Christian Academy hosted its annual beauty pageant. Several girls competed in the six divisions, from 1-year-olds to 12th-graders.
K1-K2 age division: Addyson Faith Holifield, queen; and Carolyne Elizabeth Hawkins, first runner-up.
K3-kindergarten age division: Baylee Appling, queen; Amari Wilson, first runner-up; and Era Kate Sutton, second runner-up.
Grades 1-3: Maura Dent, queen; Elizabeth Seale, first runner-up; and Emily Grace Whinery, second runner-up.
Grades 4-6: Katelyn Jones, queen; Sara Cross, first
runner-up; and Rebekah Seale, second runner-up.
Grades 7-8: Katie Cross, queen; Payton Tucker, first runner-up; and Casey Burch, second runner-up.
Grades 9-12: Taylor Reed, queen; Madalynn Stephens, first runner-up; and Baleigh Rushing, second runner-up.
Era Kate Sutton won Miss Photogenic in the preschool division. Kaylin Butler won Miss Photogenic in the elementary division, and Baleigh Rushing won Miss Photogenic in the high school division.
Payton Tucker won Miss Congeniality in the middle school division, and Madison Whinery won Miss Congeniality in the high school division.
-- On March 11, North River Christian Academy hosted the annual Association of Christian Schools International statewide math Olympics for grades three through eight. There were two division per grade — reasoning and computation.
Winners included:
Third-graders: Hunter Guerra, first place; and Ella Wiseman, second place.
Fourth-grader: Scott Rinehart, fifth.
Fifth-graders: Rebekah Seale, first; Sara Cross, third; Diego Tate, third; and Alair Pineda, fifth.
Eighth-graders: Emily Wallace, third; and Caroline Boswell, fifth.
-- Emily Wallace was recently recognized for three consecutive years of competition at the ACSI Southeast Regional Spelling Bee held in Atlanta on March 21.
Scholar awards for academics were presented to Caroline Bowell, Taylor Reed, Anna Kate Duncan, Jade Stewart and Myeisha Peterson at the Christian Cheerleaders of America National Championships held in North Carolina on March 4.
Tuscaloosa Academy
This year, Tuscaloosa Academy had six students who participated in the national Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
The contest has been around for 50 years and is one of the best nationally recognized art and writing contests in the U.S.
Tuscaloosa Academy had 21 winners. The following students won Gold or Silver Key awards and honorable mentions:
Avery Anderson: Gold Key for painting.
Riley Kate Lancaster: Gold for Key for painting.
MaryGrace Reed: Two Gold Keys for art portfolio, six Gold Keys for drawing and illustration; one honorable mention for printmaking; two honorable mentions for drawing and illustration.
Valerie Sui: one honorable mention for drawing and illustration; one Gold Key for painting.
Victoria Love: two Silver Keys for art portfolio and one honorable mention for printmaking.
Tuscaloosa County High School
The Tuscaloosa County High School Drama Department will present its spring musical, “Back to the '80s,” Thursday through Saturday at the Bama Theatre. Each performance will begin at
7 p.m. Tickets are availabe at the door and cost $10 for general admission and $15 for reserved seats.
The cast is made up of some senior stage veterans, including Amber Mills and Elizabeth Ward as cool twins Mel and Kim and Austin Smith as math teacher Stevie Cocker.
TCHS newcomers Leona Yeager and Billy Hutchins are in the lead roles of Tiffany Houston and Corey Palmer.
Other cast members include Justin Ward as Corey's nemesis Michael Feldman, Zac Spiller and Chase Channell as Michael's cool football buddies Billy and Louie, Anna Taylor as teacher Sheena Brannigan, Tristan Hallman and Christopher Cross as Corey's pals Alf and Kirk, Sarah Morgan Lake as new girl Eileen, Ashley Eavenson and Morgan Imlah as Eileen's geeky friends Laura and Debbie, and Daniel Bryant as class nerd Feargal McFerrin.
TCHS science teacher Robby Workman will be playing the 30-year-old future Corey Palmer. He acts as the narrator of the story, and his role connects the story together.
The musical score is being played live by TCHS students. The play is a fun show about high school, learning lessons and first love.
Sponsors of TCHS drama include Lewis Cole Dentistry, LeCroy and Hunter CPAs P.C., Realtor Lynda Lamon, Pritchett Moore Realty, The Paint Spot, Jalapeno's Mexican Grill, Nucor, Med Center North and South, University Orthodontics, Beasley Excavating, AIG Insurance, Paul Mitchell The School, The Que and TTL Inc.
Westlawn Middle School
The Westlawn Middle School Concert Choir participated in the 2015 Alabama Vocal Association Choral Performance and Solo and Ensemble Assessments held Feb. 23-24 at the University of Alabama Moody Music Building in Tuscaloosa.
Both the Concert Ensemble and the Treble Ensemble each received a superior rating for their choral performances.
Ma'Cailya Dumas, an eighth-grade mezzo soprano soloist, received a superior rating for her solo performances.
The school choir recently completed its African-American Heritage Performance Tour, including performances at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, Central High School and Weeping Mary Missionary Baptist Church.
The tour culminated with performances at Westlawn.
The performances consisted of music from African-American heritage including African folk songs, spirituals, anthems and gospel literature.
The choir is under the direction of Levert Hedgemon Jr., director of choral music activities; Samuel R. Robinson, piano accompanist; and Teddy Hall Jr., percussionist.