By CONNIE NOLEN / Community Columnist

“Awards Night begins at 6:00 in the auditorium,” said Pelham High School Senior Class Sponsor Karen Varner. Varner shared that the seniors would be wearing their caps and gowns for the occasion and that the program had been streamlined.

Original news of the streamlining indicated that Awards Night would wrap up in one hour. What a joy to report that there were so many awards and scholarships to distribute that, while the ceremony did progress at a steady pace, it actually continued for over an hour-and-a-half. With newly originated and returning scholarships, military awards, college and university scholarships, along with senior and underclassmen recognition, PHS has much to celebrate.

One new scholarship is the Ollie B. Owens Animal Welfare Scholarship given by Lee Owens.

“I hope to continue this scholarship as long as I possibly can—and grow the scholarship as well,” said Owens. Jamie and Jessie Abbott received the charter Ollie B. Owens Scholarships.

Pelham High School’s proud tradition of memorial scholarships continued with Pelham City Schools Board of Education Vice-President Angie Hester presenting the Bobbye Gray Mobley Scholarship to Gracyn LeSueur, who also won the Adam Marmurek Scholarship. New to PHS this year, LeSueur’s impressive academic, athletic and leadership strengths were richly recognized with numerous awards and with her title as salutatorian. Braxton Jeffcoat, who was awarded valedictorian, also garnered many awards.

The Tyler Plemons Scholarship was awarded to Hannah Norris.

Addison Fuller and Justin Allison won numerous scholarships along with Maria Quintana Garcia who received a J. Craig and Page T. Smith Scholarship, last captured by Pelham High School with Scarlett Lara Alcantara’s win in 2012.

Seven Honor Graduates were named for the Class of 2018 including Caleb Page, Addison Fuller, Luci Smitherman, Grace Nolen, Mallory Waggoner, Noor Obaid and Aleisa Hulcher.

Caps and gowns cast Awards Night as a more formal occasion. As underclassmen receiving awards took note of the many senior scholarships, perhaps they were creating future goals for themselves. As the class of 2018 prepares to graduate, their hard work creates their future success.