HOOVER – The Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce presented four scholarships to local students at its luncheon on Thursday, May 16.

The recipients were Josh Stanton of Spain Park High School; and Taylor Edwards, Maggie Ethridge and Mary White of Hoover High School.

The Chamber this year awarded four $4,000 scholarships and has awarded more than $200,000 over the history of the program.

Applicants or their parents must be employed by a Hoover Chamber member or the city of Hoover, and be enrolled in or plan to enroll in an undergraduate course of study during the subsequent academic school year at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocation-technical college in Alabama.

Terry Shea, co-founder of Wrapsody, said the scholarship committee looks for students who will better the community, and told the story of an employee who was looking for assistance for her daughter, who was eventually selected for one of the scholarships.

“She is now a registered nurse at St. Vincent’s,” Shea said. “There are lots of stories like that.”

While the Chamber offers many benefits for business owners and managers, Shea said the scholarship program is a direct benefit for Chamber members’ employees.

Shea encouraged members to donate to the scholarship fund, and encouraged the scholarship recipients to remember the generosity of the local business community by patronizing Chamber businesses.

“Just know that that Hoover Chamber member believes in you and they believe in the future of Hoover,” she said.

Ethridge has compiled a 4.089 GPA and scored a 25 on the ACT. She plans to attend Auburn University and study poultry science with a desire to one day open a dental practice in Hoover.

Stanton has a 3.43 GPA and a 25 on the ACT. His activities included participating on the football team, debate team and Engineering Academy. Stanton plans to attend Auburn.

Edwards has a 3.7 GPA and a 28 on the ACT. She plans to attend Auburn to study engineering with the ultimate goal of becoming a Disney Imagineer.

White has excelled despite the challenge of a developmental disability. She will attend Mississippi State University.

Chamber Director April Stone urged the scholarship recipients to make the most of the opportunities presented to them in college to “learn new things and meet new people.”

“Then come back to Hoover and work with us,” Stone said.