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Dozens of Pelham High School students received awards and scholarships during the school's Awards Night on Monday, May 22. (Reporter photo/Briana Harris)

PELHAM – Parents beamed with pride during Pelham High School’s Awards Night on Monday, May 22, as their children walked across stage to accept their awards and scholarships – many of them making the walk multiple times.

“We are here to recognize your accomplishments, which have made for a great year,” PHS principal Amanda Wilbanks said. “PHS is better because of your greatness. Your excellence shows everyday by your actions and interactions with others.”

Wilbanks advised the students to be persistent in their endeavors moving forward.

“Being persistent also means that you have to be bad before you can be good,” she said. “You probably won’t be good at first, but you’ll get better. We are proud of you and we will miss you.”

During Awards Night, dozens of students were recognized for receiving scholarships and enlisting in the U.S. military. Colleges such as the University of Alabama, Troy University, Auburn University, UAB, Jacksonville State University, Mississippi State University and the University of Montevallo sent representatives to PHS to personally honor scholarship recipients.

Multiple military branches also sent representatives to the awards night to recognize students who have enlisted. Two PHS students will be graduating high school and going directly into the military.

Several community organizations also presented students with awards. The following organizations presented awards: Bobbye Gray Mobley Scholarship, Tyler Kell Plemons Scholarship, Buck Creek #410 Scholarship, Adam Marcus Marmurek Scholarship, Southwest Water Company Scholarship, MacLean-Fogg Scholarship, American Legion Oratorical Contest, David Lindsey Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and the DAR Good Citizen Award.

National Merit Scholar winner Kaitlyn Smith was recognized, as well as students in the Youth Leadership Development Program, Youth Leadership Shelby County, Jacksonville State University’s Emerging Leaders program, American Legion Girls State and American Legion Boys State.

Several teachers and administrators also presented departmental awards to students who excelled in their classes.

At the end of the ceremony, the school’s valedictorian and salutatorian were recognized.

Pelham High School’s graduation will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, at the Pelham Civic Complex.

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