Student Spotlights – November 2025

A heartfelt thank you to our St. Mary’s Men’s Club volunteers who spent the morning teaching our middle school boys how to tie a proper tie and give a confident handshake- two small skills that make a big impact. They were reminded that how we present ourselves reflects the dignity God has placed within us. These lessons weren’t just about dress codes, they were about character, respect, and rising to the occasion with grace. We are grateful for these role models who continue to guide our young men in faith, fellowship, and fatherly leadership at St. Mary’s Catholic School.

Big thanks to Mobile Public Library’s Book Mobile for rolling up to St. Mary’s Catholic School – and an even bigger thanks to the Librarian, Mrs. Brewer for always championing a love of literacy on our campus! Because of her dedication and contagious enthusiasm for literacy, 106 students went home with brand-new library cards today-opening the door to a world of stories, knowledge, and imagination.

Coach Heath and Coach Luis from Union 10 Football Club came to Little Flower Catholic School to give some pointers on how to be a better soccer player. The P. E. students got to learn and practice soccer skills that will make them shine on the field!

Students in Mr. West’s computer class at Little Flower Catholic School know that attention and concentration are needed to get the job done. Independent learning is alternated with group lessons to bring the skills together. The skills taught in the computer class in areas of literacy and mathematics are put to use throughout the school day.

Trinity Moore, a senior at Alma Bryant High School, was named the top JROTC cadet in Mobile County, as she and cadets from four different high schools were named as Brigade Leaders for the MCPSS JROTC program.
Moore was named Cadet Brigade Commander, which is the highest-ranking cadet officer in the county’s Brigade Command.
Each year, hundreds of JROTC students throughout the school system are invited to participate in the JROTC leadership competition. It’s a rigorous process that requires students to demonstrate a mastery of many leadership skills, including citizenship and character development, according to LTC Chevelle Thomas, Director of Army Instruction. Their selection also reflects their dedication to JROTC.
Moore and the other new members of the Brigade Command were honored at promotion ceremonies at their respective schools. (Photos attached.)
These remarkable students are responsible for leading and organizing JROTC events and activities across the district throughout the school year.
They are listed here with their new titles and ranks:
– Cadet Brigade Commander: C/LTC Trinity Moore of Alma Bryant High School
– Cadet Command Sergeant Major: C/CSM Kaden Brooks of Baker High School
– Cadet Deputy Brigade Commander: C/LTC Jaimee Roberts of Citronelle High School
– Cadet Brigade Operations Officer: C/LTC Zamara Hudson of Williamson High School
– Cadet Brigade Logistics Officer: C/LTC Ke’Asia Davis of B.C. Rain High School
The JROTC Cadet Selection Board process is one of many programs at MCPSS that helps prepare students to become college and career ready.

Floretta P. Carson Visual and Performing Arts vocal students A’nya Brown, Gwendolyn King, Stella Millhouse-Johnson and Ky’Rihanna Abston shined at the Vocal Collective Masterclass at the University of Mobile on Saturday, September 27! The students loved connecting with university professors and learning from their encouraging feedback to their performances —what an inspiring day!

St. Luke’s Biomedical Sciences Interventions Classes visited the University of South Alabama’s Covey College of Allied Health Professions for a full day of hands-on learning and exploration. They toured Radiologic Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Pathology & Audiology, Biomedical Sciences, Emergency Medical Services, and Physician Assistant Studies. Thank you to the University of South Alabama for a fantastic learning experience!

In honor of Constitution Week, Bright Academy had the privilege of welcoming some very special guests!
Lizzie Nix and Lisa Harlan, members of the Tristan de Luna Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), along with Lydia Lanford, Mobile Belle and Alabama State CAR President, visited our students to share about the history and importance of the U.S. Constitution. Our students loved learning more about the foundation of our nation and the freedoms we celebrate today.

St. Luke’s celebrated the annual Blessing of the Animals, one of the most beloved traditions of the school year. Students brought their pets—or photos of them—to receive a special blessing from Rev. Mary Alice Mathison. This meaningful event is a way to give thanks for the joy animals bring to our lives while asking for their continued protection and well-being.

St. Luke’s 8th-grade “Bigs” met their K5 “Littles” for the first time this school year, enjoying books and playground time together! This is such a fun tradition, and they are looking forward to many more visits together!

Congratulations to piano and vocal students of Floretta P Carson Visual Performing Arts Academy on giving a beautiful recital Lifted by Sound at the University of Mobile.

Our MCS Leopards gathered around the flagpole September 24th for See You at the Pole, joining students nationwide in prayer for our school, community, and nation.
Thank you to our student leaders who made this morning so special: Titus Wu (SGA President), Andrew Bell, Jason Todd (who brought a personal message from Habakkuk), and Landyn Gardner.

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Student Government officers at Little Flower Catholic School. We are grateful for their willingness to lead the Vikings in many aspects of our school year. Left to right: Mary Byrum (Secretary), Isaac Mirzakhani (Vice President), Sa’Nya Smith (President), and Layla Mirzakhani (Treasurer). They are working under the guidance of Ms. Ward, the SGA faculty advisor.

The State of Alabama is making national strides in education with one state-wide high school being named in the Top 20 best public high school rankings in America. The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) in Mobile, AL is proud to announce it has been recognized as the #19 Best Public High School in America by Niche — the country’s leading college and school search platform. ASMS is the highest ranked Alabama public high school on the list.
In addition to the Top 20 USA ranking, Niche has also ranked ASMS for the second year in a row as:
#1 Best Public High School in Alabama
#1 Best High School for STEM in Alabama
#1 Best College Prep Public High School in Alabama
#1 Best Magnet High School in Alabama.
ASMS has always been set apart in Alabama as the state’s only 100% residential public school. The school educates 10th-12th graders from all 67 Alabama counties who live and learn on campus, and there is no charge for tuition.
ASMS President Dr. John Hoyle credits the ASMS staff, students, parents, alumni, and community for their hard work in making the school worthy of these national recognitions and shedding light on the great things happening for Alabama.
“I knew from my first step on campus three years ago that ASMS was something incredibly special, and these rankings solidified that. Seeing the school that changed my life get recognized not just as the best in our state, but also within the very best in our nation, makes me even more proud to be a dragon. Now, the world gets to know what I do – everything that happens here at ASMS is nothing short of extraordinary,” says Emma Kate South, a senior from Baldwin County.
The prestigious 2026 Niche rankings reflect ASMS’s exceptional performance across numerous factors analyzed by Niche including academic performance, extracurricular activity opportunities, data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education, and input from current students, alumni and parents.

Eichold Mertz Magnet School of Math, Science and Technology is thrilled to announce our 2025–2026 Peer Helpers! This incredible group of students has stepped up to serve as role models, leaders, and encouragers for our school family.
The purpose of Peer Helpers is simple but powerful. Peer Helpers are to provide support, guidance, and a listening ear to classmates in need. They are here to inspire, uplift, and make a difference in the lives of their peers—whether it’s offering a helping hand, spreading positivity, or simply being someone others can count on.
We can’t wait to see the impact these young leaders will make throughout the year. They will be the shining example of kindness, leadership, and service in action. Let’s give a HUGE round of applause to our Peer Helpers of 2025–2026!

The MAEF Public Charter Schools District held a groundbreaking ceremony to commence the construction of a new gymnasium for ACCEL Day and Evening Academy. The gym is the first new construction building for the district. Board member Richard Perry opened the ceremony with a welcome on behalf of the MAEF Public Charter Schools Board of Directors.
“This building will be pretty incredible,” said Jordan Jones, Chairman of the MAEF Public Charter Schools Board of Directors. “It has everything you can need inside of this building–coaches offices, restrooms, showers, lockers for multiple classes of students.”
The new gymnasium will be located immediately adjacent to the ACCEL Academy campus in the Mobile Festival Center. The 15,960-square-foot facility will feature a full competition court, a performance area and stage for school assemblies, and all necessary amenities to meet AHSAA requirements for hosting playoff games. It will include locker rooms for home and visiting teams as well as officials and seating for 700 fans in bleachers.
Seven students representing grades 6 through 12 led the ceremonial dirt toss, symbolizing the start of construction and the future of ACCEL Athletics.Construction mobilization and site preparation will begin in the coming weeks, with completion anticipated within 12 months.
Pictured: Superintendent Dr. Marlon Firle stands with ACCEL Academy student representatives before the groundbreaking ceremony for the school’s new gymnasium.

Congratulations to Keisha Mack, media specialist at B.T. Washington Middle School, who recently received the Herman Moore LAMP Award of Exceptional Service to Alabama libraries. She is pictured with James Taylor, the Alabama Library Expo President.

The Lady Eagles varsity volleyball team is soaring high after clinching the title of 2025 Season Champions! With a hard-fought victory on the road to close out the season, these talented athletes have proven what dedication, teamwork, and heart can achieve.
All season long, the Lady Eagles brought their best to the court—playing with relentless hustle, unwavering determination, and the kind of sportsmanship that makes our school community proud. Whether defending the net, diving for a save, or celebrating each other’s victories, these girls exemplified what it means to be champions on and off the court.
A huge round of applause goes to Coach MariKate Wilson, whose leadership, passion, and belief in each player helped the team reach new heights this season. Under her guidance, the Lady Eagles not only sharpened their skills but also built lasting bonds and confidence that will serve them well beyond the game.
To the girls who left it all on the court this season—Way to go, Lady Eagles! Your school, families, and community are incredibly proud of you. Go Eagles!

Eichold Mertz Magnet School of Math, Science and Technology amazing school counselor, Mrs. Freeman, was recognized in Birmingham with the RAMP Award. The RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) is one of the highest honors a school counseling program can achieve! This award celebrates her dedication to supporting our students’ academic, social, and emotional growth every single day. We are so proud of her and grateful for all she does for our school family here at Mertz!

St. Dominic Catholic School recently set to reimagine education as it participated in Rock Your School, a worldwide educational movement created by Get Your Teach On. On Septmeber 29, classrooms across the school were transformed into dynamic, immersive learning environments designed to engage, inspire, and energize students and teachers alike.
Now an annual tradition in schools across the globe with over 100,000 educators participating last year, Rock Your School empowers teachers to step outside the box with hands-on, creative lessons that make learning not just effective—but unforgettable. From themed classroom makeovers to high-energy, standards-based activities, the day was all about fostering a love of learning and celebrating the power of passionate teaching to change the world.
St. Dominic encouraged its teachers to think big AND small—using themes, costumes, music, and movement to deepen their students’ understanding of academic content, and also discover small things they can do every day to engage students. The goal was connecting classrooms at St. Dominic in a shared mission to ignite a lifelong love of learning.
This year, themes that were seen at SDCS included Wizard of Oz, pirates, glow party, camping, NASA and more. Teachers reimagined traditional lessons to create engaging, hands-on experiences that surely rocked the school.

We are proud to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our Covenant Christian Cross Country team! This fall, our determined runners competed in the Mobile Elementary XC League and showed what it truly means to be Eagles—resilient, spirited, and always striving for excellence.
Throughout the season, the team worked hard, pushed their limits, and improved tremendously with each race. Their dedication paid off in a big way: 13 of our runners earned Top Ten finishes or grade-level medals—a huge achievement in a highly competitive league! In addition, the boys team placed 3rd overall! The season culminated in a high-energy Championship Meet at Faith Academy Sports Complex, where our team not only ran with heart but also demonstrated outstanding school spirit and sportsmanship.
We couldn’t be prouder of this team and all they’ve accomplished. Their growth, grit, and unity this season have been nothing short of inspiring. Way to go, Covenant Cross Country! Go Eagles!

Five Mobile County Public Schools Counselors were honored this month with the Alabama School Counseling Association’s Program of Distinction Award and one was recognized as the Alabama New School Counselor of the Year. The Program of Distinction Award recognizes school counseling programs that demonstrate high implementation of a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program. The Alabama New School Counselor of the Year is Faith Hammons of Alba Middle.
The Program of Distinction Award winners are: Nikki Dailey and Demetria Smith of B.C. Rain, Jennifer Feagin of Craighead Elementary, Zatavia Spears of Pillans Middle, Buckley Freeman of Eichold-Mertz Magnet, and Amber Turner of North Mobile County K-8.
Congratulations to all these exemplary counselors!

The Friendship class had a wonderful opportunity to visit Mrs. Maria’s Spanish class. The children listened to the story of Cinderella told in Spanish. Mrs. Maria even provided costumes for those who wanted to dress up, making the experience extra fun and memorable. The students were introduced to new vocabulary and enjoyed hearing a familiar story in a different language. This special activity helped them see how stories can be shared in many ways around the world.
Afterwards, the class returned to their room to continue learning about fairytales. Together, they discussed the origins of fairy tales and discovered that many of these classic stories actually originated in Greece. It was an exciting day filled with learning, imagination, and cultural discovery!

Council Traditional School staff, students, and families came together to participate in the 38th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup at Dog River Park. It was a wonderful opportunity to work side by side while giving back to the community and helping protect our local environment. We are proud of our Council family for serving with enthusiasm and showing what it means to make a difference together.

The cutest little gardener, Bradley Ball, has been hard at work helping St. Dominic’s campus shine. Bradley and many other volunteers have spent countless hours planting fall flowers and weeding beds. Their work has paid off-the grounds are looking their best!

Mrs. McGinley’s Seventh Grade science class learned about the properties of the cell membrane by using bubbles. They also had fun creating hand bubbles in class!

St. Luke’s Mrs. Haynes’ Civil Engineering & Architecture students brought their lessons to life with hands-on projects and a field trip through downtown Mobile! After building models of different architectural styles, students explored landmarks like the historic Old City Hall, the Van Antwerp Building, and the RSA Battle House lobby—where they even tested out the famous whispering arches! Along the way, they studied Greek Revival, Beaux-Arts, and Egyptian Revival styles and learned how adaptive reuse preserves these treasures. The day wrapped up with lunch at The Cheese Cottage and a sweet stop at Cammie’s Old Dutch. Bravo to Mrs. Haynes for giving our students such a dynamic way to see how architecture, engineering, history, and culture shape our community!

The Heartwood Christian Academy student body recently gathered around the flagpole for See You at the Pole, a nationwide day of student-led prayer. Student Council members helped lead the special time of worship by reading Scripture, praying for their school, community, and nation, and lifting their voices in song. The gathering reminded students of the importance of standing together in faith and seeking God’s guidance. Pastor Byron Wilmoth shared a short, encouraging message and prayer. It was a powerful time as students of all ages came together, united in prayer, reminding us that God is at the center of our school community.

St. Dominic Catholic School celebrated those who help our cities and schools operate with Community Helper Week! Visitors from the Mobile Fire and Police Departments, medical professionals and animal services visited with the students to help them grow in awareness of the needs in our community. Pictured here is St. Dominic’s very own community helper, Fr. Driscoll, who provides assistance and counsel to so many in need.

Congratulations to Brandon Montgomery, our 2025-2026 Red Ribbon Leader! Brandon is a 5th grade student at E.R. Dickson Elementary School. His leadership and commitment to making positive choices sets a great example for our school community. We are excited to have him lead our school in activities to bring awareness to drug and alcohol education and prevention.

Seniors in Ms. Ramos’s Finite Math class at Davidson High School brought logic to life using Snap Circuits! Students explored conditional statements, truth tables, conjunctions, and disjunctions—and got to see truth values evaluated right before their eyes. Warriors love hands-on learning!

Congratulations to all of the students who were selected as Allentown’s September Gator Kids. Students are selected as Gator Kids by their teachers for being on their best behavior and exhibiting good character traits.

Through a new state-wide initiative from Alabama Possible, students were invited to apply to multiple colleges in- and out-of- state through a portal. They were “matched” with admissions offers and scholarship dollars today.
From MCPSS’s 12 high schools, 1,198 seniors received 12,082 admissions offers and $250 million in scholarships from Alabama colleges and universities.
Acceptance and scholarship figures are expected to increase on Oct. 20, when the students will hear back from out-of-state colleges and universities.
MCPSS leads Alabama with today’s scholarship offers.
“This is a game-changer,” said Dr. Monica Motley, Director of School Counseling Services for Mobile County Public Schools. “This is going to make it easier for students to have access to higher education.”
It is also a confidence-booster for students who may have doubted whether they would be accepted to college or who were concerned about how to pay for it. Last year, 650 MCPSS students who received college scholarships were the first in their families to attend college.
“This lets our students know that they have what it takes to go to college,” Dr. Motley said.
Dr. Motley credited school counselors and teachers for encouraging their students to apply.

Students at E.R. Dickson Elementary participated in a school-wide out of uniform day fundraiser which raised and donated $694 to the Berry Strong Foundation! This money will be used to support childhood cancer research that is dedicated to finding cures, raising awareness, and helping our local cancer families.

Clark-Shaw’s 9th graders attended Ur Keys 2 Drv, which is an interactive educational day for young drivers. Mike Lützenkirchen, Executive Director of the Lutzie 43 Foundation and father of former Auburn football star Philip Lützenkirchen, served as the guest speaker for the event. The students attended four breakout sessions:
– Power of You(th), presented by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) & ABC Board
– Alabama Teen Driver Quiz, presented by ASF Foundation & State Farm
– Choices Behind the Wheel: To the ER and Beyond, Presented by Children’s of Alabama (COA)
– Drive Safe Alabama, Presented by Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)

Congratulations to Clark-Shaw’s 9th Grade Health Science students! These students successfully earned their BLS (Basic Life Support) certification. They demonstrated essential life-saving skills, including CPR on adult and infant manikins, as well as anti-choking maneuvers such as the Heimlich and back thrusts for infants.
We are so proud of their hard work and dedication to building strong skills. These Eagles are ready to take flight in the world of healthcare!

A huge thank you to all the wonderful grandparents who joined us for Grandparents Day at Council! Your love, encouragement, and support mean so much to our school community. Having you with us over two special days was truly rewarding for students, staff, and families alike.

During the first week of October, Cypress Grove Academy celebrated Greek Week. Greek Week complements the mission and vision of our school. Cypress Grove Academy promotes a classical Christian education that has roots in Greece and Italy and nurtures a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom. The students and staff enjoyed festivities throughout the week in their individual classrooms. Parents of the students provided a special Taste of Greece lunch including baklava, spanakopita, hummus with pita chips, and olives. Students also participated in the school’s annual Greek games. This special week is just one of our special events that we offer our students as we strive to foster a passion for knowledge and an appreciation for Greek culture.

Mobile County Public Schools recently announced its 2025-26 JROTC Cadet Brigade Command. These cadets excelled in a rigorous interview process and have displayed strong leadership qualities. They will organize JROTC events such as drill competitions throughout the county this school year.
They are:
Cadet Brigade Commander: C/LTC Trinity Moore, Alma Bryant
Cadet Command Sergeant Major: C/CSM Kaden Brooks, Baker
Cadet Deputy Brigade Commander: C/LTC Jaimee Roberts, Citronelle
Cadet Brigade Operations Officer: C/LTC Adrianne Adams Baker High
Cadet Brigade Logistics Officer: C/LTC Ke’Asia Davis, B.C. Rain

Students enrolled in Drivers Education at Davidson High School have the opportunity to earn their boating license in addition to their driver’s license.
Coach O’Gwynn and Coach Denney welcomed Officer Irsik and Officer Smith to campus to teach our Warriors about boating safety—and they even brought boats for some hands-on learning!
Davidson is thankful for our community partners for helping Warriors stay safe on the road and the water!

Davidson High School was proud to announce that Owen Farmer and Sariah Hossain, seniors in our IB and EPIC programs, have been named National Merit Semifinalists! Out of over 1.3 million juniors who entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, these two Warriors are among the top 1% of U.S. high school seniors who took the PSAT in the fall of 2024. We are so proud of their achievement!

Congratulations to the Lott Middle School LOTC cadets, who won first place overall in a recent squad drill competition! Cadet Wilder also won first place on the female individual drill competition.

Congratulations to Emmalyn and Addalyn Chappell of Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, who won the City of Mobile’s Kids Day: Young Entrepreneur Pitch Competition with their business: Just Beads! They received a three-month membership at Innovation Portal to continue building their business dreams.

Congratulations to Dawes Intermediate School, which has been named one of Alabama’s Semiquincentennial Schools for the 2025–26 school year as part of the America250 Alabama Initiative! State Representative Dr. Mark Shirey presented the school with a Semiquincentennial flag that will be displayed at the school.

Each year, UMS-Wright joins families and organizations across the country in observing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Our “Yellow Day” began 17 years ago as a celebration of the legacy and life of UMS-Wright student, Krisanna Roberts. Krisanna spread sunshine to all who knew her, and she lived kindness. Yellow Day is a time to promote positive living in all that we do. As we spread the yellow spirit, we hope to brighten the days of all families at UMS-Wright while spreading awareness of childhood cancer!

Congratulations to the Williamson High School culinary team, which won first place in the high school burger category at the Iron Sharpens Iron cookoff.

It is fall y’all! And fall means sports! St. Ignatius students work hard to excel both in and out of the arena. Students participate enthusiastically in McGill-Toolen Catholic’s CYO sports program, which includes flag football, tackle football, volleyball, and cheer. We thank our Impala parents for serving as coaches and Christian leaders to more than 200 students participating in CYO this fall. St. Ignatius forms leaders in mind, body, and spirit.. #thecatholicdifference

St. Ignatius prioritizes leadership development in many ways. One example is the Buddy Program. 4K–8th-grade Impalas are paired together to foster friendship and mentorship throughout their time at St. Ignatius. Each month, the buddies attend Mass and participate in a service project or spend quality time together. Through the Buddy Program, students of all ages walk across campus, know each other’s names, root for one another’s success, and set strong examples of Catholic leadership. The program is both enjoyable and fulfilling.#thecatholicdifference. #hispaththeirfuture #hispathstartshere #impalapride

Each Tuesday, kindergarten through eighth-grade Impalas spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration is a reflective and quiet time designed to help form a strong, prayerful relationship with God. Younger students receive a prayer journal for adoration as they learn how to adore. Middle school students look forward to their weekly quiet time with Jesus, during which they collect their thoughts, evaluate their week, and offer it all back to God. It is truly a blessing to be able to worship where you learn. #thecatholicdifference

1.3 million Juniors in high schools nationwide entered the 2025-2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test. Out of the 1.3 million students, 16,000 (less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors) were chosen as semi-finalists, and we are thrilled to announce that Allen Moore, Emma Marmande and Cooper Buchman (L to R) were chosen from UMS-Wright!
Please join us in congratulating these students on such an outstanding accomplishment!

Ms. Thompson’s PK3 class had a wonderful time celebrating Johnny Appleseed Day! From learning about his love for nature to enjoying apple-themed fun, our little ones made the day extra sweet.

Jacob has been selected to receive the Red Ribbon Leadership Award for exemplifying the six pillars of character—trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Presented by the Drug Education Council, this award honors outstanding students who promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles during Red Ribbon Week (October 27–31). We’re so proud of Jacob for leading by example!

It was a high-energy morning at Covenant Christian as we launched our annual Fall Fundraiser: Fuel the Mission – Fund the Future with a big burst of Eagle spirit! Students, staff, and families were greeted in carline by none other than our Dancing Eagle, setting the tone for an exciting day full of community, fun, and purpose.
To celebrate the start of the fundraiser, we hosted a Spirit Day and Pep Rally that had the entire campus buzzing. Students showed up dressed in school colors, ready to cheer on their classmates and our fall athletic teams. The energy soared as students made their way through a fabulous cheer tunnel, brought to life by our Spirit Squad and Varsity Cheer team, leading into a rally packed with enthusiasm, music, and a celebration of all things Eagle.
The fundraiser will conclude with two exciting community events: Captain Bananas’ Cosmic Dash in PE classes – where students will get active, run in the Glow Run and shine bright! Family Fun Day at Camp Grace – a day of outdoor adventure, fellowship, and celebrating our shared success as a school family. We are excited for what’s ahead and are deeply grateful to our families and community for their continued support. Every dollar raised fuels the mission and funds the future of our school. Go Eagles!