By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— Dozens of students and educators from the Shelby County area were recognized April 27 at the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon.

Each school in Shelby County was invited to submit a college and career ready Student of the Year to represent their school. All nominees were evaluated on the following criteria: GPA, extra-curricular activities and awards, a written essay on their proposed occupation or course of study and a letter of recommendation.

In the Career Ready Students category, Emily Hill of Calera High School was selected as the overall Student of the Year, and Peyton Strickland, of Pelham High School, was named the College Ready Student of the Year.

Hill and Strickland received an award of $1,000, which was meant to go toward higher education, according to chamber president and CEO Kirk Mancer.

Mancer said he enjoyed having the opportunity to review all the student applications and conducting interviews with all the students.

“A lot of people are worried about our future, but I just want to say this: Our future is very, very bright if every student throughout Shelby County, in our municipalities, are like you,” Mancer said of the student nominees. “You are wonderful individuals, and we are lucky to have you in Shelby County.”

The Educator of the Year candidates were nominated in two categories—elementary and secondary—by their school principals. The candidates were evaluated on their philosophy of teaching, community involvement and recommendations from colleagues and school administrators.

Michelle Dunning, of Oak Mountain Intermediate School, was named Elementary Educator of the Year, and Dawn Cabrera, of Montevallo High School, was recognized as Secondary Educator of the Year.

The two educator recipients received a $750 cash award.

“I would be remiss if I did not, on a personal note, thank each and every one of you educators for what you do every day,” Mancer said.

Each nominee received a memento from the chamber for being selected from his or her school.

The 2015-2016 nominees are listed below in alphabetical order by last name in each category:

College Ready Student of the Year Nominees:

Julia Buckner of Oak Mountain High School

Christian Fauer of Chelsea High School

Tamera Fletcher of Montevallo High School

Marjorie Head of Shelby County High School

Jordan Ingram of Helena High School

Jordan Mooney of Calera High School

Ashley Pope of Thompson School

Emma Smith of Shelby County College and Career Center

Emily Stewart of Kingwood Christian School

Peyton Strickland of Pelham High School

Davis Whitfield of Vincent High School

 

Career Ready Student of the Year Nominees:

 

Nolen Burke of Thompson High School

Christopher Davis of Shelby County College and Career Center

Jacqueline Grado of Pelham High School

Emily Hill of Calera High School

Cecil David Lawley of Montevallo High School

Collin Neitfield of Oak Mountain High School

Kris Phillips of Vincent High School

Kaylee Toles of Kingwood Christian School

Franklin Razo of Chelsea High School

Abigail Stith of Helena High School

Elementary Educator Nominees:

Martha Bentley of Elvin Hill Elementary School

Vickie Birdsong of Forest Oaks Elementary School

Marlee Clifton of Vincent Elementary School

Michelle Dunning of Oak Mountain Intermediate School

Cammie Eanes of Oak Mountain Elementary School

Kristal Lawrence of Shelby Elementary School

Melissa McMurray of Meadow View Elementary School

Amanda Miller of Helena Intermediate School

Shannon Moseley of Helena Elementary School

Allison Nylen of Wilsonville Elementary School

Diane Prince of Kingwood Christian School

Whitney Pruitt of Valley Elementary School

Joan Ray of Inverness Elementary School

Sidney Saindon of Valley Intermediate School

Katie Thompson of Mt Laurel Elementary School

Ashley Vann of Thompson Intermediate School

Christina Walsh of Creek View Elementary School

Tanya Wilson of Calera Intermediate School

Secondary Educator Nominees:

Becky Bagby of Columbiana Middle School

Nick Baumbaugh of Chelsea High School

Kathleen Brotherton of Riverchase Middle School

Dawn Cabrera of Montevallo High School

Marcy Campbell of Shelby County College and Career Center

Dustin Cleckler of Shelby County High School

Brooke Dennis of Thompson High School

Andrea Fordham of Thompson Middle School

Brooke Gifford of Vincent Middle School

Ashley Grainger of Chelsea Middle School

Lucie Harding of Kingwood Christian School

Heather Holmes of Oak Mountain Middle School

Alice LaGrone of Oak Mountain High School

Anita Lewis of Helena High School

Evelyn Moore of Montevallo Middle School

Jenifer Nabors of Calera Middle School

Elise Skellie of Thompson Sixth Grade Center

Karen Varner of Pelham High School

Tammy Wilburn of Linda Nolen Learning Center

Sharon Worthy of Helena Middle School

Michael Zauchin of Oak Mountain High School