HOOVER – Four Hoover graduating seniors were presented scholarships at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, May 18.

Kyndrah Moore and Julia Sasser of Hoover High School, and Madeleine Bell-Colpack of Spain Park High School were awarded $4,000 Hoover Chamber Foundation Scholarships.

Sungkyung “Luci” Shin of Spain Park High School was awarded the $4,500 Annual Matthew and Dr. Abby Allen Scholarship.

Eligible students had to attend Hoover City Schools or have a family member employed by a Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce member business.

Applicants submitted essays about how the Chamber benefits businesses, which in turn improve the quality of life for residents.

“We couldn’t do this without each of the members,” said Paul Dangel, who presented the scholarships. “We’d love for this program to continue to grow.”

Bell-Colpack maintained a 3.4 GPA and scored 29 on the ACT.

She plans to attend the University of Montevallo for environmental studies, and wants to work for timber companies to help make their clear cut practices sustainable.

Bell-Colpack has participated in Law Academy, Advanced Theatre, Diamond Dolls and the Mock Trial Team.

Shin maintained a 4.14 GPA and scored 1330 on the SAT.

She plans to attend UAB and study biology/dentistry, with a desire to be a dentist for poor and third-world countries.

Shin’s father is pastor of the Korean Presbyterian Church, where she is the pianist and also translates the sermons to English for American members.

Shin has been involved with National Honor Society, Student Council, Rotary Interact Club, Beta Club, orchestra, tennis, swim and cross country.

The luncheon, which was held at the Hoover Country Club, also included a presentation from Rick Davis, senior vice president of economic development for the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Davis said the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan statistical area is the 49th largest in the country, and the area’s $64 billion gross domestic product represents 31 percent of Alabama’s GDP.

“This community—Birmingham, Hoover—is the economic engine for the state of Alabama,” Davis said and added that the MSA has grown jobs for 69 consecutive months. “You ought to be proud of what’s happening here.”