Student Spotlights – April 2025

Children’s author, Candice Marley Conner, came to Little Flower Catholic School and worked some special magic with her storytelling. The students were spellbound listening to her tell about her love for nature, especially her love for squirrels and fascination with alligators. Her “M is for Moon Pie” got everyone’s attention with Mardi Gras words we are all familiar with. We hope she comes back soon.

Bright Academy hosted their annual Career Day. The students had a chance to visit with many local companies who came to share about their careers, talents, and skills. This year, we were honored to have Ensec Pest and Lawn, WKRG News 5, Village Animal Clinic, Harvey and Thomas, Spectrum Automotive, Landshark Promotions, and Cheryl McCormick-Hann from Edward Jones with us. This is always a fun day and encourages the students that with hard work and goal planning, they can become anything they want to become!

CHCA third grader, Alek Brown competed in the 56th Annual Sonata Competition at the University of South Alabama recently! Alek competed against older students and earned third place for his performance of Sonatina in C Major by Timothy Brown.

Mobile Christian’s First Grade celebrated Famous Americans in February. The students each dressed and memorized a speech of a president, first lady, or other famous American. They had a performance during school and at Regency Church of Christ on February 21.

Three Scholars Bowl teams recently advanced to state competition: The middle school teams from Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies and Causey Middle, an the Alma Bryant varsity Scholars Bowl team at the high school level. Congratulations to these dedicated scholars!

Robotics teams from Eichold-Mertz Magnet School of Math, Science & Technology and Tanner Williams Elementary competed at the Alabama State Elementary VEX IQ Championship in Hanceville, with one team from each school advancing to the finals.
Meanwhile, teams from Alba, Barton Academy and Lott competed in the Alabama State VEX IQ Middle School Competition in Auburn. Alba robotics coach and LOTC instructor SSG (Ret.) Wesley Porter was named the state robotics Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to new inductees into the Council Traditional School Taylor-Peek National Elementary Honor Society! This elite group of students has worked hard to reach the highest academic standards at CTS. The speaker for the prestigious occasion, Shayla Morgan Holloway, is the 2025 Distinguished Young Woman for Mobile County and the state of Alabama. Miss Holloway brought an awesome message that challenged the students to be “Super Heroes”.

Booker T. Washington Middle School and Hankins Middle School are among 32 schools statewide to be named 2024 CLAS Schools of Distinction! This award recognizes school programs that serve as outstanding educational models for other schools in Alabama. Both schools were recognized for their Leadership Officer Training Corps (LOTC) programs. They will be honored at an awards luncheon in May, when they’ll find out if they are among the eight schools to be named as a CLAS Banner School.

Congratulations to William Henderson, a 5th grader at Council Traditional Elementary School. We are so proud of your incredible achievement at the science fair. Your dedication and passion for engineering have truly paid off. Winning 1st place in the Engineering division and claiming the top award as the Best In Show is a remarkable accomplishment. The Council community is extremely proud of all the participates who contributed to the success of this year’s science fair. Other first place winners were Arnav Joshi-Chemistry, Julien Miller– Earth Science, Caleb Lofton– Physics, Richard Odom– Biology, and William Henderson – Engineering. Keep reaching for the stars and inspiring others with your love for science.

Mobile Christian earned all Superior Ratings at the Alabama Bandmasters Music Performance Assessment on February 25.

A Night Among the Stars! Cultivate Studios proudly hosted parents for an unforgettable Outer Space Movie Premiere—an original student production that took creativity to new heights! From script to screen, our young filmmakers dazzled with their cosmic storytelling!

Sophomore, Carson Lilly Grimes was selected to represent CHCA at the University of Alabama Capstone Leadership Academy that was held last week. The Leadership Academy features dynamic speakers and group activities for students to develop leadership skills. We are so proud of Carson, and how she represents CHCA!

Congratulations to our E. R. Dickson Elementary School 2025 National Elementary Honor
Society Inductees:
4th Grade: Giiuguulem Amarzaya, Marlie Barnes, Keith Gilchrist, Kaemani Rogers, and Scarlett Weaver
5th Grade: Isabella Beam, Ava Rembert, Sebastian “TJ” Hudson, Jaxon Jones, Samantha Lohn, Jacob Robertson and Michael Thigpen
We are looking forward to their exemplary demonstration of the 4 Pillars: Scholarship, Responsibility, Service, and Leadership.
How do you celebrate such a momentous event? By continuing the fun at Top Golf, of course!
We are proud of our scholars!

Middle School students at Little Flower Catholic School teamed up with the youngest students to put on the annual Order of Little Flower parade. Moon pies, beads, candy and stuffed animals were tossed to the crowds. Parents designed and constructed impressive Mardi Gras costumes and child sized floats. The “crowds” happily left with bags full of throws.

A huge congratulations to all the incredible members of the Tech Team at Council Traditional School for their outstanding achievements at the 2025 ACTE Annual Region 7 Tech Fair. Sponsors, Ms. Claiborne and Ms. Asberry, took on the challenge and guided students in producing amazing outcomes. Your hard work, creativity, and dedication truly shine through, and we are incredibly proud of your performances across various categories.

Davidson High School Sophomore Pre-IB student Thy Do raised an incredible $1,008.01 in a Penny Wars competition, designed to benefit USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital—all thanks to pocket change and a competitive spirit! Her AP Psychology teacher, Mrs. Van den Bosch, provided her with a space in her classroom for donations to be held. With the amazing support of students and administration, she also raised $487 through out-of-uniform passes!
This fundraiser is part of Thy’s service project for Mobile United’s Youth Leadership program.

The archery team at E.R. Dickson shot at the Regional Archery Tournament to wrap up their season! Super proud of this group of archers, they have shown incredible dedication and perseverance! Go Tigers!

Congratulations to Vigor High School’s boys basketball team, which won the AHSAA 5A State Championship in Birmingham with a 71-53 victory over Guntersville in the final. The Vigor girls team also had a strong finish, making it all the way to the state semifinals. Go Wolfpack!

Davidson High School is excited to announce that Owen Farmer, Sean Mitteer, and Kamden Raiford have been selected as finalists for the 2024 Alabama Governor’s App Challenge! All three of these students are juniors in DHS’s IB and EPIC programs. They are now preparing for the Alabama Computer Science Summit to be held in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 15th.

Mrs. Connick’s first grade class went all out with their Mardi Gras “floats” inspired by their favorite books! The creativity and thoughtfulness put into these creations are simply amazing! From beloved characters to exciting adventures, each float tells its own unique story. (Pictured Charlie Lipsey)

During St. Luke’s last Biomedical Sciences class, Interventions, students are required to choose one field of interest to research and immerse themselves in for the entire year. They conduct extensive research and write a 25-page APA paper while shadowing mentors who allow them to participate in patient care under their supervision. The class culminates with a Capstone Presentation.
Senior Avery VanAlstine’s chosen field of interest is general and trauma surgery. During her first job shadowing with Dr. Caleb Butts at University Hospital, she observed two surgeries, three trauma cases, and participated in post-operative rounds. Avery’s second job shadow focused on burn treatment, where she observed Dr. Butts and Dr. Ryan Deci handle two complex burn cases.
Thank you to Dr. Butts for his gift of time and passion for teaching students, including those in St. Luke’s Biomedical Sciences Program. This mentorship ensured that Avery not only observed but also understood the complexities of medical care, enriching her educational journey.

45 members of the McGill-Toolen Catholic High School junior class embarked on a college visit to the University of South Alabama. They got to explore campus life and learned about academic programs.

St. Luke’s recently hosted a joyous Grandparents Day Celebration, embracing the spirit of love and gratitude across both of its campuses. This special event provided a wonderful opportunity for students to honor their grandparents and grandfriends who have played such a significant role in their lives. At the Japonica Campus, students showcased their hard work and musical talents in a delightful musical performance. At the University Campus, students treated their grandparents and grandfriends to a warm, welcoming lunch with live music. It was a perfect and special day to celebrate love and appreciation!

On Valentine’s Day Clark-Shaw’s 9th grade Career Tech Education Health Science students saved the day in a hands-on, mock disaster drill when a “tornado” hit the school. Combined with community partners at the University of South Alabama and local EMS, ninth graders practiced life-saving skills that they have been learning under the instruction of their Health Science teacher, Mrs. Anh Nguyen. Yearbook students and Broadcasting students served as the press for the event, reporting the events to the school. This mock-disaster drill was a fantastic learning experience for the students at Clark-Shaw and one that will help prepare them for future careers in healthcare and other emergency services.

At Old Shell Road Magnet School this year during February, the student council partnered with the choir, dance company, and drum club to present the black history program, “African Americans and Labor.”

Some of St. Luke’s sophomores and juniors attended Auburn’s High School Leadership Conference. The purpose of the conference was to give students the tools they need to become successful leaders in both their schools and communities accomplished with breakout sessions, guest speakers, service learning as well as team building exercises designed to develop each students’ character and challenge their leadership abilities with the goal of students leaving more confident in their leadership skills and to use these skills to make their school and community a better place.

Impalas lead the way to victory in CYO basketball! We had 5 champion teams and 1 runner up team in the 2025 basketball season. All CYO sports are surrounded by faith and moral development. Each practice and game with a prayer. Each CYO coach and representative agrees to uphold the standards of St. Ignatius and lead with Christ in the center. We are so proud of our teams and very thankful for all the coaches who dedicate their time to developing our talented student athletes. Way to go: 4th grade girls green (champion), 4th grade boys gold (champion), 3rd grade girls green (champion), 3rd grade boys green (champion), 3rd grade boys gold (runner up) and 2nd grade girls green (champion). #HisPathTheirFuture

Covenant Christian’s Scholars Bowl Team has had an outstanding season, showcasing the school’s commitment to academic excellence. The Scholars Bowl allows students to compete in areas such as English, science, social studies, math, geography, and current events. The competition format includes three rounds: a 10-minute toss-up round followed by a bonus question, a rapid-fire round with 10 short-answer questions, and a final 9-minute toss-up round. The event encourages both individual and team participation, promoting a fun and educational challenge for all involved.

Congratulations to Davidson’s Hudson Spivey and Citronelle’s Thomas Jackson, who have been selected as regional winners of the 2025 Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Scholarship Program. The Bryant-Jordan Program honors students who are exceptional academically, as well as those who have overcome major obstacles to succeed.
Jackson was honored as the Class 5A, Region 1 Scholar-Athlete, and Spivey was selected as the Class 7A, Region 1 Scholar-Athlete. They’ll be honored at the Bryant-Jordan Awards Banquet on April 14 in Birmingham, where they’ll find out if they are selected for top statewide honors.

Old Shell Road School of Creative and Performing Arts 5th-grade students performed Aladdin Kids on March 11 and March 13. We are so proud of these outstanding performances.

Let the Good Times Roll! Cultivate Studios’ 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Ball was a day of joy, creativity, and celebration—where our learners and families danced, laughed, and made unforgettable memories together! Even the Azalea Trail Maids made a visit!

We are so proud of the following UMS-Wright students on their induction into the National Junior Honor Society! Their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence deserve to be recognized!
Marley Jane Santana, Todd Watford Boehm, Mason Dat Bui, Norah Laxmi Burkett, Grady Mitchell Cook, Ana David, Sadie Mae Davis, Sara Caroline Dodson, William Chase Dodson, James Tatum Fillers, Charlotte Ruth Ford, Hayes Harrison Giddens, Elliott Guy Hagler, Kyleigh Adele Harbin, Caroline Lee Helms, William Christian Hines, Elizabeth Manly Howell, Aubrey Jones, Sophia Mayela Johnson, Caroline Ladd Lamar, Emily Grace Lawler, Madelyn Rae Massey, Bender Matthew McKean, Elizabeth Grace McMahon, Branson Garrett Miller, Emory Mattison Mitchell, Carson McMillan Moore, Jasmine Tuyetminh Nguyen, Cayden James Odom, Griffin Douglas Otto, Kate Elyss Tulao Pacheco, Aarya Vishal Patel, Heidi Elizabeth Peak, Jackson Porter Perdue, Bradley Gray Peterson, Ava Basham Pfeiffer, Madison Thien-An Phan, Emmit Matthew Quin, Celia Frances Reid, Elizabeth Louise Reynolds, Eleanor McRae Roberds, Jacob Preston Roe, Ava Leigh Rowell, Lillian Maragaret Smith, Joseph Douglas Stevens, George Rogers Seawell, Ruth Ellis Touchton, Emma Kaitlyn Trawick, Chase Logan Weaver, Ryann Elizabeth Whitman, Julia Clayton Wilkins, Matthew Beasley Wills, Kinley Grace Winter, Samuel Travis Winter, Bernard Augustine Wood and Bradley Alexander Wynn.

Our middle school students participated in our annual speech contest with the powerful prompt, “Someone that is a true American hero to me is…”. The contestants showed incredible courage and passion in sharing their thoughts!
Congratulations to our winners!
1st Place: Mary Rose Spadafora
2nd Place: Ellen Wentworth
3rd Place: Emily Miller
We are so proud of all our participants for their hard work and dedication!

In February, St. Ignatius first graders took a journey to the Arctic! In social studies, they explored where the Arctic is located and learned about the Inuit people—their way of life, how they adapt to the cold climate, and their traditions. In science, they studied amazing Arctic animals. Each student researched an animal, learning about its adaptations, diet, and life cycle. To bring learning to life, students worked together on an Arctic diorama in art, creating a miniature version of this icy habitat. Students also marveled at the beauty of the northern lights, discovering how they illuminate the Arctic skies. It was a fun and engaging week of hands-on learning complete with an entire classroom takeover of all things Arctic! Special thanks to first grade teachers Mrs. Hodges, Mrs. Snead, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Ewing & Mrs. Abruscato for making learning fun at St. Ignatius!

St. Dominic Catholic School offers multilingual opportunities for their middle school students by incorporating both Latin and Spanish into their curriculum. The 8th grade Latin class held a traditional Roman feast to celebrate all they have learned about the culture of ancient Rome. Students wore traditional dress, ate traditional foods, and conversed only about topics they had learned about in their Latin classes.

Our National History Day participants had an outstanding showing at the South Alabama Regional Competition.
Junior Group Documentary:
1st Place: Sephina Worrell and Leonor Hinojosa
3rd Place: Caitlyn Zeine and Aniya Clark
Junior Individual Documentary:
1st Place: Ava Wendt
Junior Individual Exhibit
1st Place: Iyunna Williams
2nd Place: Brylan Bickerstaff
3rd Place: Lillian Harvey

A high school research team at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) was selected to receive a federal grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). ASMS Biology Department faculty members, Dr. Rebecca Domangue and Dr. Natalie Ortell, put together a team of 6 students who live at ASMS but hail from across Alabama. Theirs is the only high school-level team to receive the highly-competitive NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) Education Mini-grant Program award to increase ocean acidification awareness, grow ocean literacy, and foster interest in career pathways in NOAA mission disciplines.
Through the ASMS Research Fellows Program, ASMS students are paired with a faculty member at the school to conduct college-level research projects. Students paired with Dr. Domangue and Dr. Ortell this year joined a research study called: “Alabama Oysters Taste Best with Tabasco, Not Ocean Acidification.”
According to NOAA, “Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere” (web). Dr. Domangue and Dr. Ortell explain that the Alabama oyster industry is highly susceptible to ocean acidification while also being an essential part of the Gulf of America economy. By bolstering ocean and ocean acidification literacy among student populations and by connecting them to this community in Alabama, the faculty members aim to set the stage for Alabama youth to help work toward adaptive solutions.
6 individual student research projects were funded through the NOAA grant award,
including:
• Calcium-binding proteins in Crassostrea virginica as indicators of in situ pH stress. Lillian Abernathy, senior from Geneva County
• Evaluating the impact of phytochemicals on reducing pathogenicity in Crassostrea virginica under ocean acidification. Naria Khristoforova, senior from Shelby County
• Effect of ocean acidification, Perkinsus marinus, submerged aquatic vegetation on apoptosis of hemocytes in Crassostrea virginica. BoKyeong Kim, junior from Autauga County
• Ocean acidification's impact on the susceptibility of Perkinsus marinus in Crassostrea virginica. Hyerin Park, junior from Autauga County
• Effects of ocean acidification on Pif gene expression in Crassostrea virginica. Kayty Phan, junior from Mobile County
• Lower pH levels decrease the productivity of the nitrogen cycle in Crassostrea virginica pallial fluid. Emma Kate South, junior from Baldwin County
In addition to the research projects, the NOAA funding for the project also allowed Dr. Domangue and Dr. Ortell to connect students in the ASMS BL400-2 class to the direct importance of oysters in the coastal Alabama region. The course included a focus on career development, ocean acidification science, and stewardship. Students have conducted empirical laboratory research experiments under the theme of OA affecting oyster homeostasis, visited local oyster farm Bama Bay Oysters, and used NOAA weather and ocean monitoring data to understand the susceptibility of oysters to ocean acidification. Their course meets a need for a region that lacks ocean acidification education and also helps young people make a connection between the food web and industry impacts of ocean acidification in the region.

Students at LeFlore Magnet High School recently participated in the school’s own version of Shark Tank! They prepared and showcased their innovative business ideas, impressing a panel of “sharks” with their creativity and passion. The winner was Daven Roland and Shot Creationz, a photography, media and entertainment company. Roland received a $500 contribution toward making that vision a reality.

Owen Farmer, Kamden Raiford and Sean Mitteer of Davidson High have been selected as finalists for the 2024 Alabama Governor’s App Challenge. All three are members of the Computer Science pathway in Davidson’s EPIC Signature Academy.

UMS-Wright is thrilled to announce the appointment of Coach Sam Williams as our new Head Football Coach. After an extensive and comprehensive search and interview process, Coach Williams was selected from a group of highly qualified candidates to lead the UMS-Wright football program into its next chapter.
The search committee, led by Dr. Doug Barber, Head of School, and members of the Board of Trustees, focused on finding a coach whose values align with the strong traditions and culture of UMS-Wright. The committee sought a leader of high character who understands and embraces the mission and vision of UMS-Wright and has a proven track record of success. Sam’s experience and reputation for excellence—both as a current head football coach and a former collegiate athlete—make Coach Williams the perfect choice for UMS-Wright.
We are eager to welcome Coach Williams and his family to UMS-Wright and the Mobile community.
“Sam embodies the values and tradition of excellence that define our school and our athletic programs. His leadership, passion for developing student-athletes, and keen awareness of the importance of building relationships, make him the perfect fit to continue helping our students reach their highest potential. We are excited for the future under his guidance and look forward to seeing the impact he will have on our players, both on and off the field.” – Dr. Doug G. Barber, Head of School.

CHCA welcomed over 60 students into the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society for 2025! We are proud of how they exemplify the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character!

The Causey Middle School Dance Team is bringing home the titles again! Competing in Orlando, Causey won the NDA national championships in pom and hip hop for the second year in a row, and also earned the showmanship award.

Government Street Christian School art student, Rita Dees, has produced consistently creative works of art in 2025 and, recently, she has mastered matting and framing one of her most recent ink works. Great Job, Rita!

Lauren Henson, a District School Social Worker for the Mary G. Montgomery feeder pattern at Mobile County Public Schools, has been selected as the Alabama School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Work Association of Alabama. Henson was praised for her work to empower students with the tools they need to overcome obstacles to academic success.
“Lauren is very passionate about not just removing, but obliterating barriers for students and families,” MCPSS Lead Social Worker Denise Riemer said. “She works closely with her fellow social work team members, school administrators, and community partners, including law enforcement, to bring innovative ideas and solutions to solve the often-difficult challenges her students and families are facing. At the same time, Lauren offers warmth, compassion and comfort to all those in her care.”
Henson helped organize a community forum in fall 2024 to address and discuss the fentanyl and other substance abuse and mental health issues, working with the Drug Education Council, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Lifelines, the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, the Mayor of Semmes. She has also played a key role in organizing the Royal Closet, a program that brings numerous community partners together to provide gowns, suits, shoes, makeup and accessories to students to attend prom.
At MCPSS, social workers serve as the link between school and community in providing services to students, families and school personnel to promote and support students’ academic and social success. Their duties include crisis intervention and conflict resolution; working with families to address problems affecting the child’s education; providing prevention programs to address destructive behaviors; and identifying and reporting child abuse or neglect.
MCPSS employs 13 social workers, one in each feeder pattern and one transition specialist, who is a liaison for Strickland Youth Center. Each of the 12 social workers covers five to nine schools in the feeder patterns, all of which contain thousands of students.

St. Ignatius forms students in mind, body & spirit. During Lent, the spirit is heightened as students prepare for Easter in and outside of the classroom. By sending your child to a Catholic school, you are welcoming the formation of character, service to others and faith development. St. Ignatius students were proud to kick off Lent with Ash Wednesday Mass and happily accepted Fr. Shields’ challenge “100% for Lent”. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. 100% is attending Mass every Lent Sunday, fasting every Lent Friday and donating what you can to St. Ignatius’ partner charity Cross Catholic Outreach. Students who achieve “100% for Lent” are recognized at a special Mass as ambassadors. Learning is fun at St. Ignatius. Even learning about our beautiful faith! #TheCatholicDifference

At Government Street Christian School, we understand the value of literacy and we take every opportunity to inspire students to become excellent readers and great leaders, as the Lord leads them. We are proud of you, Chargers!

Congratulations to all who competed in the Second Annual Little Miss Dawes Pageant! Nara Bateman was crowned Little Miss Dawes. Addy Davis was named first runner-up, with Emily Reich as second runner-up and Lily Black as third runner-up. Fourth-grade winners were Sadie Jernigan, Lydia Patterson and Charlie Woodcock. Third-grade winners were Carleigh Wells, Kaleah Bateman and Ava Kruml. Lilly Marie Paulk was named Miss Congeniality.

Middle School students at St. Dominic Catholic School completed some amazing projects for their annual Science Fair. Winners pictured with Middle School science teacher, Lincoln Womack, are seventh graders Braxton Crawford, Mason McEnery, Blake Karns, Max Crowe, Lily Crowe. Not pictured: Madison Ward, Mack McClure, Kyle Martin, John Mark Dunn. McKinley Gray, Natalie Moore, and Maggie York.

Track & Field is an exciting and dynamic way for students to showcase their athleticism and teamwork! With a mix of running, jumping, and throwing events, every meet is filled with energy and excitement. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves, improve their skills, and build lasting friendships. Whether sprinting to the finish line or cheering on teammates, track is all about having fun and achieving personal bests!
Covenant’s track team has competed against seven other local schools in three meets so far at Satsuma High. Colson S, Chakira H, Julia T, and Berkeley D have been top finishers at the meets. We’re proud of our Covenant track team.

On Tuesday, March 11, the entire seventh-grade class at St. Paul’s Episcopal School dedicated their day to serving children and families in need. With the guidance of their chaperones, students worked at three different sites, making a meaningful impact in the community.
A large group at Wilmer Hall took on various tasks, including spreading pine straw, raking, clearing debris, cleaning porches and cars, setting up residential rooms, and packing food bags for the pantry. Meanwhile, two other groups assisted with food distribution efforts at Prodisee Pantry and the Love All food pantry, ensuring that struggling families received essential supplies.
The students’ hard work and dedication made a difference, showcasing their commitment to service and generosity.

The Music program at St. Dominic Catholic School produces multiple class programs each year. These adorable KIndergarten students were part of “Sing for the Red, White, and Blue” a program where students recited parts of the speeches of famous Americans and sang patriotic songs.

The Sunrise Rotary Club recognized Elizabeth Jones from Barton Academy as one of the 8th graders in our district representing great character, leadership, and kindness. Elizabeth is athletic, artistic, a good friend to others, maintains strong academics, is a school ambassador, and runs a jewelry shop as a young entrepreneur. Way to shine, Elizabeth!

Clark-Shaw Magnet School emerged as the standout winner at this year’s Regional Science Fair, taking home the majority of the awards across most categories. Best in Show was awarded to 7th grader, Corbin Perry, for the second year in a row. Brianna Sarceno-Xicay, 6th grade, earned Runner-Up Best in Show. Adalyn Persons, 9th grader, won First Place in Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences in the Senior Division. Winners in the Junior Division were Beverly David, Adalynn Griffin, Sadie Milstead, Carleigh Spencer, Benjamin Andrews, Tristan James, Kaylee Harwell, Iris Piper, Layla Harper, Aisha Raza, Alice Jones, Landen Nelson, Corbin Perry, Nathaniel Truitt, Layla Elmore, Graham Langham, Cheyenne McCants, Bryson Reed, Brianna Sarceno-Xicay, Eleanor Fernandez, Corey Evans, and Emerson Stuart.
All of the winners have earned the opportunity to advance to the State Science Fair, where they will represent Clark-Shaw and compete at a higher level. Great job to Clark-Shaw’s science program and these dedicated students! Way to go, Eagles!

Hutchens Elementary’s Nicole Baranov has been named the state’s Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher by the Alabama Science Teachers Association (ASTA). Baranov, who leads the STEM lab at Hutchens, received the honor on February 24 in Vestavia Hills at the ASTA Conference, along with a $1,000 monetary award.
Baranov, a National Board Certified Teacher, has earned numerous accolades for her work. In 2022, she received national recognition for her classroom instruction when she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or computer science teaching.

Covenant students are showcasing their creativity in the “All Color by Kids” art contest, sponsored by Springhill Medical Center. With a wide range of media allowed, including watercolor, crayon, pastels, and more, students were free to choose their own subject, and wow, the submissions have been incredible! The winners, along with their families, art teachers, and school administrators, will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 1st at the Mobile Museum of Art. Winning artworks will be professionally framed and displayed at the museum, The Exploreum, and eventually at Springhill Medical Center. We’re so proud to highlight the amazing talent of our young artists!

Congratulations to Henry Gladden on his impressive third-place finish at the state MATHCOUNTS competition in Birmingham. Henry’s dedication and hard work have earned him a spot on the Alabama state team, qualifying him to compete at the MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Washington, D.C.
This achievement highlights Henry’s passion for mathematics and his commitment to excellence. As he prepares to represent both St. Paul’s and the state of Alabama on the national stage, the school community looks forward to cheering him on.

Congratulations to Davidson High School’s Hudson Spivey on being named the 2025 Bryant-Jordan Scholarship winner for 7A, Region 1!
A senior at Davidson in the IB and EPIC programs, Hudson has been a force both on the field and in the classroom. As the starting quarterback for the past two seasons and a standout shortstop for three, he’s led Warrior football and baseball with skill and dedication. His incredible 5.02 GPA proves his academic excellence matches his athletic talent!
Hudson is heading to Auburn University this fall to study mechanical engineering, and we know he’ll continue to achieve great things. Best of luck at the Bryant-Jordan Awards Banquet on April 14 in Birmingham, where he’ll compete for the top 7A and state awards!

At Government Street Christian School, we are excited about motivating children to read. In late February, we joined in the celebration with READ ACROSS AMERICA, encouraging students of all ages to “Explore New Worlds Through Reading.”