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Thompson High School senior Katelyn Roberts smiles after she was one of several students recognized for earning a scholarship to UAB during the THS awards night ceremony on May 17. Many colleges, organizations and the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces recognized students during the event. (Reporter Photo/Neal Wagner)

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – This year’s Thompson High School seniors have set a new school record for the amount of scholarships they secured from colleges, local organizations and the U.S. Armed Forces, THS leaders announced during the school’s awards night on May 17.

“I want to thank the senior class for breaking so many records, and for setting such a great example for classes to come,” Alabaster School Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers told the standing-room-only crowd gathered in the old THS auditorium for the event.

This year’s class of 475 seniors will graduate with a total of about $17.1 million in scholarship offers, which is significantly higher than last year’s school record-setting total of about $12 million.

“Tonight, it’s about everything they’ve accomplished,” said THS Principal Dr. Wesley Hester. “It’s absolutely mind-boggling the amount of success that is in this room. It’s unbelievable. This class has exceeded expectations, and I’m very proud of what they’ve done.”

During the awards night, hundreds of students were recognized for earning scholarships, academic and athletic achievements and for enlisting in the United States military. Many colleges, such as Auburn University, Tuskegee University, The University of Alabama, Mississippi State University, UAB, The University of Montevallo, The University of South Alabama and Troy University, sent representatives to the event to personally honor scholarship recipients.

Multiple military branches also sent representatives to the awards night to recognize students who have enlisted in the Armed Forces, and honored those who have received scholarships to also further their education after high school.

Several of the school’s band members and student-athletes also earned recognition during the ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony, school leaders also distributed honor cords to the valedictorians, salutatorians, Presidential Award recipients and members of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, French Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Quill and Scroll Honor Society, Kitty Hawk Air Society, Leo Club, HOSA: Future Health Care Professionals, American Sign Language Society, National Technical Honor Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Student Government Association, Youth Leadership Development Program, Ambassadors and the City of Alabaster Mayor’s Teen Council. Students who received honor cords will wear them as they walk across the stage at the school’s May 22 graduation ceremony at Bartow Arena.

In addition to colleges and military branches, the following local organizations also presented the following awards: ACS Community Education Scholarship, ACS Superintendent’s Champion of Our Future Scholarship, Alabaster Arts Council Scholarships, including one in memory of Diana Hussey, Alabaster Sports and Entertainment Foundation Scholarship, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Scholarship Buck Creek Masonic Lodge Scholarship, Jefferson State Community College Counselor’s Scholarship, Thompson High School PTO Scholarship and the Zeta Phi Beta Alabama State Association Foundation Scholarship.

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