Student Spotlights-Dec 2021

Congratulations to the Davidson RobotEx team for winning the first-place Overall BEST award at the 2021 Montgomery BEST robotics competition! RobotEx also placed in various categories: third-place robot, first-place marketing presentation, first-place founders award for creative design, first-place most robust machine, first-place team exhibit design and construction, second-place most photogenic robot, second-place most elegant robot, second-place critical design review, second-place team exhibit and interview, second-place engineering notebook, and first-place engineering drawings. RobotEx advanced to the regional South’s BEST competition.

The Mock Trial Warrior Law Team at Davidson High School had a great season! Mock Trial is a competitive club aimed at teaching high school students the fundamentals of trial law. Team members include Hannah Broders (11th grade/team captain), Lydia Burnham (11th grade), Madison Hunter (11th grade), Raphael Young (11th grade), Kendall Craft (10th grade), Kelvin Edwards (10th grade), Harrison Abernethy (10th grade), Nolan Pham (9th grade). At regionals in Montgomery, two DHS teams participated and one advanced to state. Fatma Mohammed and Lydia Burnham won Outstanding Witness Awards, and Blessings Kibet and Hannah Broders won Outstanding Attorney Awards. At the state competition, the team was led by Hannah who won another Outstanding Award there as well. We are so proud of their hard work!

Antwone Tillman is the first Augusta Evans Special School student to be named an honorary JROTC cadet. LTC (Ret.) Robert F. Barrow, MCPSS Director of Army Instruction, presented Tillman with a uniform he can wear to school on Wednesdays. Congratulations, Antwone!

On October 28, E.R. Dickson celebrated Read for the Record, an annual fall campaign from Jumpstart.  This was the 16th annual Read for the Record day that engages over 2 million participants worldwide reading the same book. This year’s book was Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang.  This book is a celebration of cultural symbols, family, and self-affirmation.  In celebration of the day students dressed as their favorite book character.  The Azalea Trail maids and various readers from the community came to read to the students.

Sunny Side Theater traveled to Dothan in November to compete in the SEACT Theatre Festival.  Their one act play, “Aliens vs Cheerleaders” took home two Ensemble awards; Alby Lopuhovsky and Faith Swanson were named All Stars; Joey and Matthew Paragone won first place for their duologue; and Bella Clark and Jay Ramsay won first place for their duet. This competition was the second of the season for Sunny Side Theater following the AYTE fall fest. At the fall fest in October, hosted by Azalea City Center for the Arts in Mobile, Sunny Side Theater racked up over a dozen individual and duet awards. Next up is the Junior Theatre Festival in January.

Congratulations to MacKenzie Lawrey of Collier Elementary School, who won the Flight Works Alabama Catapult Competition with a design that launched her pumpkin 70.5 feet! Team Aces of Denton Magnet School of Technology won the Creative Design Award.

Congratulations to Josh Gifford, who was selected as the Crichton Optimist Club Player of the Week. During the game against Leflore, Josh made two sacks and picked off two interceptions to contribute to the Warrior victory. Coach Bobby Parrish was proud to accompany Josh and his mom Tracy to the luncheon. Warrior Nation is proud of you, Josh! #WarriorWay #FaithFamilyFuture.

Congratulations to Logan Quinley, our 1st place Spelling Bee Champion! Logan will represent Faith at the county level of the SCRIPPS spelling bee later this year!

What does it take to be named one of the top schools in the state? U.S. News & World Report rated Council Traditional School as the best elementary school in the state and Clark-Shaw School of Math, Science and Technology as the best middle school in south Alabama (#4 in the state). Other MCPSS schools ranked among the best statewide were: Eichold-Mertz School of Math, Science & Technology (#3); Old Shell Road School of Creative & Performing Arts (#11); and Phillips Preparatory School (#5).

It was a great day for the Bulldogs. The Girls’ & Boys’ Cross Country teams placed 2nd and brought home RED MAPS in the 5A State Competition! Joseph Perry was the individual State Champion and Charles Perry placed 3rd, making them both All-State Athletes! 8th grader Alex Gamble also placed in the top 20! 7th grader Mallory Helms placed 10th, Sophomore Carlen Cook placed 13th, and Senior Annie Jeffery placed 14th. All three of these girls made All-State! Senior Barclay McGinley also placed in the top 20! First Row L to R: Malcom Warren, Sadie Norris, Kenley Cooper, Ella Otts, Skinner Childers, Anna McAnnally, Annie Jeffery, Barclay McGinley, Ann Elliott, Carlen Cook, Mallory Helms, Amelia Aran. Back Row L to R: Charlie Piggott, Alex Gamble, J. Roe Hand, Peyton Holderer, Josh Holston, Charles Perry, Paul Mayson, Joseph Perry, Tate McAnnally and Parker Dexter.

About a decade ago, 8th grade science teacher Mrs. Tami May graduated from the University of South Alabama with a master’s in education and the recipient of the Robert Noyce Scholarship. Now, 10 years later, the NOYCE scholarship is still supporting her and her students. Recently her physical science classes at Clark-Shaw Magnet School received a “wish list” of equipment and materials delivered by faculty members from USA’s College of Education. Pictured with Mrs. May (third from left) are Dr. Katie Guffey and Dr. Susan Ferguson, NOYCE Project directors and professors in the College of Education, and Dr. Andre Green, Department Chair for Leadership and Teacher Education.

Bonjour! Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies participated in National French Week, November 3-9. French classes prepared daily displays on French scientists, French cuisine, French history, the Tour de France, the French Revolution, and the French-speaking world. Students throughout the school participated in the daily themes by visiting the Café Français in the lobby of Barton Academy which served as the hub of the celebration. From tasting crepes and madeleines to watching footage of the Tour de France bicyclists as they raced up mountains, from French music drifting pleasantly throughout the first floor foyer to Marie Curie displays and bookmarks for each student to take that invited the Explorers to be bold and seek knowledge, the French display engaged the students and welcomed them into French culture, sights, sounds, tastes, and more in an impressive fashion. The ninth grade French class worked to construct the display with the guidance of their teacher and are pictured here. From left to right are teacher, Will Edmonds, Henry Evans, Loren Price, Ryan Graham, Ona Larkin, Rain Williams, and Micah Long.

Congratulations to the talented actors and actresses from Mobile County Public Schools on their award-winning performances at the District 5 Walter Trumbauer Theatre competition. Baker (pictured) won Best in Show; Theodore, MGM and Bryant placed first, second & third in the Group Acting category. More than 50 students qualified for the Trumbauer Festival to be held Dec. 2-4 at Troy University.

The St. Paul’s Volleyball team displayed true drive, stamina, and determination this season! Congratulations on bringing home that red map and finishing as the state runner-up. Congratulations to Seniors, Rachel Bell and Peyton Hass, along with Freshman, Hannah Pearce, for making the 6A All-State Tournament Team!

St. Ignatius students recently met their “Impala Buddy”. The Impala Buddy Program is a mentor program aimed at teaching young buddies about some of the pillars of our Catholic faith including service to others, kindness, leadership, stewardship and inclusivity. Impala buddies sit together every second Friday for school Mass and meet after for a service project. These buddies will remain together through their time at St. Ignatius so that the spirit of friendship can deepen as they grow.

Pre-K – 2nd Grade, Front Row: Jackson Yount, Madison Godwin, Mackenzie Vise, Ansley McCoy, Rebecca Ann Degeyter, Abril Rodriguez, and Kai Scott-Clark. Middle Row: Raylon Bolton, Thomas Franklin, Danica Malmqui, Briggs Walley, Emilia Odom, Roman Covey. Back Row – Maria Mateo Gervacio, Emalynn Dearmon, Brynn Pesnell, Kierstyn Lineberry, Bella Montalvo. Not Pictured: Skylar Knighten.

3rd – 5th Grade, Front Row: Cameron Corley, Ethan Jepko, Bayleigh Gray, Jayden Mixon, Elizabeth Taylor, Elliott Devery. Middle Row: Desmond Morrison, Elise Barnes, Shaylee Patterson, Vanessa Rodriguez, Hayleigh Roberts, Ezallah Ali. Back Row: Candy Perez, Gabe Montalvo, Makenzie Johnson, Mason Salato, Caden Lacy, Ivan Arrington. Not Pictured: Jaelyn Freeny.

St. Mary Catholic School Peer Helpers collected Halloween costumes for children in the Mobile Community in need. Students dressed up for morning carpool to remind St. Mary families to donate to their cause!

Congratulations to Faith Academy Varsity Cheer! They placed 1st in traditional Full Routine and 2nd in Game Day at the AHSAA Super Regionals to receive a bid to the 5A State competition in Birmingham.