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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer 

MONTEVALLO – Three local students throughout Shelby County were recently awarded NAACP scholarships that seek to empower future leaders in the local community thanks to a partnership between the Montevallo Legacy Project and the Shelby County chapter of the NAACP.

On Friday, May 10, the Montevallo Legacy Project announced that a total of three Shelby County NAACP Scholarships were awarded to students in amounts varying from $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000.

Although the scholarships were supported by the Shelby County NAACP’s partnership with the Montevallo Legacy Project, the recipients of the awards were from across the county and not strictly limited to candidates who reside in Montevallo.

In all, the scholarship opportunity sought to aid graduating public school seniors in the county who have specifically demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of racial justice and who have also shown the potential of serving in the next generation of community leaders.

Graduating senior Caley Peterson, from Pelham High School, received the largest scholarship in the amount of $2,500.

“She aspires to be a chemical engineer and hopes to inspire other African American women to work towards their dream of working in a (science, technology, engineering, and math) field,” said Harrison Neville, director of communications for the Montevallo Legacy Project.

Vincent Middle High School was also represented in the scholarship awards with senior Chloe Abrams being awarded $1,500. Abrams will serve as her school’s senior class valedictorian during graduation and has announced her intention to pursue a career as a veterinarian.

“She has set her sights on being a large animal veterinarian and has a strong passion for rodeo and cattle farming,” Neville said.

The last award of the three went to Destiny Burns of Montevallo High School in the amount of $1,000. Burns is set to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham to study finance and has expressed a desire to start a business of her own.

“(Destiny) wants to have a positive impact on other people of color (that are) of her generation,” Neville said.

The Montevallo Legacy Project is a community action group that seeks to find, preserve and share the untold and unknown stories of the community’s past. It was first established in the fall of 2022 with the focus of supporting efforts to recognize historical African American contributions to the city and to create additional opportunities that give voice and visibility to the Black community in and around Montevallo.

Those who wish to learn more about the Montevallo Legacy Project are encouraged to visit the organization’s website at Themontevallolegacyproject.com.