Montgomery Student Spotlights – May ’22

Saint James School Athletic Director and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Katie Barton was named by AL.com Alabama Sports Writers Association as Class 4A Coach of the Year.

Coach Barton’s Lady Trojans finished as the 4A AHSAA State Runner Up. On their way to the state championship game, the Trojans defeated Geneva winning the 4A Southeast Regional Tournament and punching their ticket to state. In the Final Four, Coach Barton and her team defeated New Hope in the semi-finals before losing in the championship to Deshler.

Coach Barton has been the head girls basketball coach at Saint James School for the past 21 years. When asked what being named Coach of the Year means to her, she replied, “It is a huge honor to receive this recognition as a coach.  There is a lot of time, energy, and passion that goes into the coaching profession.  However, I am blessed to coach some pretty amazing athletes who are committed to our mission, program, and school.  They deserve so much of the credit.  What an incredible season they put together!”

On Monday, March 22, 2022, Saint James School Head Football Coach Jimmy Perry was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. As the winningest coach in Saint James school history, Coach Perry has made an impact at Saint James School, as well as the schools where he coached prior to Saint James. Coach Perry was one of 12 Inductees honored at the Renaissance Hotel and Spa Convention Center.

Coach Perry began his career at Trinity School in 1979, then his next coaching job was at Robert E. Lee High School. After the 1999 season, Perry left Lee to join the Auburn University staff of Tommy Tuberville. He served as director of NFL relations, then as director of football operations. In 2008, Coach Perry returned to high school coaching as head coach at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama. He then began his years at Saint James in 2012. Ten years later, he has made his mark on Saint James history!

While at Saint James, Coach Perry has led his team to the football state playoffs 9 times during his 10 years. He holds an impressive record over his 40+ year coaching career.

George Washington Carver Senior High School started a Speech and Debate program and competed in online tournaments across the country, competed in their first Mockingbird District State Tournament at Samford University, and are going to Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. This is a great accomplishment for the team; their program is new and thriving.

A number of Booker T. Washington Magnet High Visual Arts and Photography students placed in the DOOT (Doing Our Own Thing) Art Competition sponsored by The Arts Council of Montgomery. Below are the students and their awards.

Best in Show – Hannah Johnson (BTW Photo)

Black & White Photography
1st Place – Aleena Andersen (BTW Photo)
2nd Place – Zion Easterling (BTW Photo)
3rd Place – S Mackenzie Donaldson (BTW Photo)
HM – Hannah Johnson (BTW Photo)

Color Drawing
2nd Place – Suraj Patel (BTW VA)

Graphic Design
3rd Place – J. Amir Robinson (BTW Photo)

Color Photography
1st Place – Kaylee Carter (BTW Photo)
2nd Place – Desiree Senn (BTW Photo)
3rd Place – Madison Taite (BTW Photo)

Painting
1st Place – Ashley Mendez-Luna (BTW VA)
2nd Place – Anterricka Piner (BTW VA)
3rd Place – Christa Murray (BTW VA)
HM – Christa Murray (BTW VA)

Printmaking
1st Place – Naeun Nania Kim (BTW VA)
2nd Place – Amaya Utsahagarn (BTW VA)
3rd Place – Ada Withers (BTW VA)
HM – Isabella Dennison (BTW VA)

Two Saint James athletes were chosen by AL.com Alabama Sports Writers Association as part of the 2022 Class 4A All-State Basketball Teams.

Senior Bradley Thomas was chosen as part of the boys basketball All-State Second Team. Bradley helped lead the Trojans to the Final Four for the first time in school history. Bradley was responsible for 22 points in the team’s win over BTW in the Regional Final.

Sophomore Ava Card was tapped as part of the girls basketball All-State Second Team. Ava helped her team make it to the Final Four, where she and her team defeated New Hope in the semi-finals before losing in the championship to Deshler. Ava was responsible for the game winning shot in the defeat of New Hope.

Brewbaker Technology Magnet High students were back in action this year with TSA, with 14 BrewTech students attending the 42nd Annual Alabama TSA Conference.

Held at the Renaissance Center in downtown Montgomery, this was the first in-person Alabama TSA Conference in over two years, and BrewTech did a great job competing in it. There were over 500 students from around the state of Alabama in attendance.

Below are the many awards and recognitions BrewTech students received.
1. TSA Honor Society inductees – Emma Rountree, Madison Morgan and Parker Schell.
2. Zoe Preston was awarded fourth place in Digital Video Production.
3. Zoe Preston was awarded fourth place in Forensic Science.
4. VEX Robotics Team 4828-E with Bradyn Stallworth, Brady Tolerson and Brooks Tolerson won second place in the VEX Robotics competition.
5. VEX Robotics Team 4828-C with Chase Jones and Kameron Davis, came in 6th place in the VEX Robotics competition.
6. VEX Robotics Team 4828-A with Jaydon Ngugen and Kaden Davis came in 10th place in the VEX Robotics competition.
7. Travis Karvwnaris served as the head VEX Robotics referee and Mason Hatch served as assistant referee for the VEX Robotics Competition.
8. Mason Hatch was elected Alabama TSA’s Sergeant at Arms for the 2022-2023 school year.
9. Bradyn Stallworth was elected Alabama TSA’s Treasurer for the 2022-2023 school year.
10. Robert Parker was the 2021-2022 Alabama TSA State President and did an outstanding job representing BrewTech.

The Saint James High School Choir and Marching Band competed in the Walt Disney World’s Festival Disney Competition during April 1-2, 2022. Students from Dr. Sallye York’s High School Choir and Mr. Andy Martin’s Marching Trojans earned high marks and praise for their talents.

The choir received Superior Ratings, won Best in Class in our Division, and won the Silver Award for Concert Choirs. The choir performed “Indodana” arranged by Michael Barrett, “Like a River in My Soul” arranged by Tim Osiek, and “The Storm is Passing Over” arranged by Barbara Baker. They were accompanied on piano by Dr. Sallye York.

The March Band also had a fantastic trip and had a wonderful performance at Festival Disney in front of world-renowned educators and adjudicators. The band received excellent feedback from the judges. The band was also able to participate in a clinic with Professor Emeritus Joseph Hermann from Tennessee Tech University.

While at Disney World the students enjoyed time in the theme parks.

Wetumpka Troop 13 Boy Scout Will Noell, a senior at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, has recently achieved Eagle rank. Noell is 18 years old and got his start in Scouting as a founding member of Cub Scout Pack 429 in 2010, chartered at that time by Mulder Church in Wetumpka. While at Pack 429, he earned the Arrow of Light, the highest level of achievement in Cub Scouts.

In 2015, Noell joined Troop 13, where he held a variety of leadership positions through the years, including senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader and assistant patrol leader. He also completed National Youth Leadership Training and has served as a NYLT staff member for three years, as well as volunteering with Webelos Camp at Tukabatchee three years. In 2017, he was initiated into Order of the Arrow (National Scouting Honor Society), Alibamu Lodge 179.

For his Eagle project, Noell constructed and installed information kiosks on the Swayback Bridge Trail in Wetumpka. These kiosks benefit the River Region Mountain Bike Alliance, the organization that runs the trail, by allowing them to spread information and updates on the trail as well as those that use the trail by providing a place to rest in shade along the trail.

The Montgomery Academy Lower School Chorus received an “Excellent” rating at the Southern Star Music Festival in Atlanta. The students also enjoyed many Atlanta attractions over the weekend: College Football Hall of Fame, World of Coke, and Six Flags.

Macon East Academy 4th-6th grade students recently went to Eastern Hills Baptist Church and competed in the AISA Elementary Choral Festival. After completing, students were treated to Krispy Kreme donuts, where they performed for the staff and patrons inside.

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association recently awarded more than $80,000 to deserving young people from across the state at the 2022 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship Banquet. McKinnon Hammonds, pictured with his Grandfather – a Lowndes county cattlemen, was awarded one of the “Tagged for Greatness” scholarships. We are very thankful for everything that ACA does for the cattle industry, our communities and students. Congrats McKinnon!!

Thirty-five students received membership into The Montgomery Academy’s Robin Goodfellow Chapter of the National English Honor Society. Students must have earned a cumulative average of 93 in all of their English course work, starting in 9th Grade, to receive membership.

Juniors inducted this year are Jane Abbie Alford, Greer Armstrong, Katie Brown, Jenna Chandler, Fionah Desautels, Norah Desautels, Forrest Dockery, Claire Gary, Allie Fitzpatrick, Holden Habermacher, Kenny Heumann, Charlie Hill, Hayes Jenkins, Ted Lee, Campbell Long, Claire Moore, Isabella Navidad, John Poundstone, Elizabeth Ray, Emory Roth, Parker Shegon, Katherine Sinco, Kareena Singh, Carson Springer, Laura Stanton Strickler, and Brett Westhauser.

New senior members are Phipps Fiore, Anna Elizabeth Floyd, Elle Hughes, MaryLee Kelso, Judson Lindsey, Virginia Meacham, Parker Roth, Clara Ryan and Chelsea Trimble.

Many thanks to the chapter’s leadership for planning and conducting this year’s induction: Mary Evelyn McLemore, President; Sarah Kate Barton, Vice President; Haley Cox, Secretary/Treasurer; Sadie Sease, Social Events Chair; and English Department Chair, Mr. Scott Richburg.

Big things are happening with the new Carver High Speech and Debate team. Its coach, Mrs. Rockette-Rogers, has been named the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Mockingbird District’s New Coach of the Year, and the team has received an invitation to Nationals in Louisville, Ky.

Mrs. Rockette-Rogers started the program from scratch and has a dedicated group of hard-working students. The Carver team attended its very first tournament in December. Since then, it has become a member of the NSDA, has been competing in online tournaments across the country, and competed in its first Mockingbird District Tournament and Alabama State Tournament.

Nigel Walker is headed to Morgan State University to join the Bears football program. A signing ceremony was held to celebrate Nigel and his accomplishments on and off the football field.

Trinity held the Arts Honor Societies Induction and Cording Ceremony. Students were inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and the National Art Honor Society. Senior members of these prestigious organizations received cords to be worn at graduation. Congratulations to these students!

The Montgomery Academy Speech & Debate Team traveled to Samford University to compete in the 66th annual State Tournament for Alabama. A total of 41 students from MA competed and as a team captured First Place – Congress, Second Place – Individual Events, and State Runner-Up in the Overall Standings.

Charlie Hill was named Student of the Year. Students who won individual state champion titles were: Senate-Charlie Hill, Junior Varsity Public Forum Debate-Jeb Tucker & Armaan Daryanani, After-Dinner Speaking-Charlie Hill, Duo Interpretation-Tristan Dumas & Jeb Tucker, Prose Interpretation-Sarah Kate Barton

Nine students will participate in the NSDA National Tournament this June at the first in-person National Tournament in two years in Louisville, Kentucky.

Two MPS students have been named semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Hailey Mullins is a senior at Brewbaker Technology Magnet High, and J. Amir Robinson is a senior at Booker T. Washington Magnet High. Hailey and Amir are among 14 semifinalists in Alabama and are the only ones in the River Region. They are among 620 semifinalists nationwide from a pool of about 5,000 candidates.

The U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, will announce the final selection of 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars in mid-May.

Saint James 8th grader Keira Thompson won 2nd place at the ACES art show (Artistic Competition for Exceptional Students). The show was held from February 21-March 18. This event was held at the Montgomery Cultural Arts Center (formerly the Armory Arts Learning Center).

Any students who attend school, live, or take art lessons in Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore counties can compete in this art show. Keira’s teacher is Mrs. Bethany Davis who teaches middle school art classes at Saint James.

Big things are happening with the new Carver High Speech and Debate team. Its coach, Mrs. Rockette-Rogers, has been named the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Mockingbird District’s New Coach of the Year, and the team has received an invitation to Nationals in Louisville, Ky.

Mrs. Rockette-Rogers started the program from scratch and has a dedicated group of hard-working students. The Carver team attended its very first tournament in December. Since then, it has become a member of the NSDA, has been competing in online tournaments across the country, and competed in its first Mockingbird District Tournament and Alabama State Tournament.

The LAMP High Speech and Debate Team had a great state tournament at Samford University. The team came away with an overall third-place finish and Coach Jordan Berry was recognized as the Lois A. Askew Coach of the Year. The team also had two state champions, Kileigh Dickinson and Rhea Rastogi.

Kileigh was named the state champion in the Congressional Debate category after finishing first overall. Rhea placed as the 2nd Overall Speaker in Junior Varsity Lincoln Douglas but was able to finish as state champion for the second year in a row.

Also in the Congressional Debate category, Yash Param and Andrew Gay were State Finalists in Novice Senate, finishing fourth and third respectively. LAMP finished third overall in Congress Team Sweepstakes.

In the Speech category, State Finalists included Sydney An (6th overall in Impromptu) and Ruel Lee (6th overall in Original Oratory), with Anmol Guard finishing as State Runner-Up in Original Oratory.

In the Debate category, there were several State Finalists. In Novice Public Forum, the team of Prachi Patel and Sydney An made it to the quarterfinals, and the team of Nikhil Pochana and Kileigh Dickinson advanced to the semifinals. In Novice Lincoln Douglas, Anish Boyella advanced to the semifinals. In Big Questions, Andrew Gay finished as the 2nd Overall Speaker and made it to the quarterfinals. Isaac Uhm finished as the 1st Overall Speaker and advanced to the semifinals.

Now that school has almost come to an end, many assessments will be conducted, and should measure a full range of students’ individual abilities which includes social, emotional, and academic achievement. Various effective assessments will include portfolios, presentations, benchmarking, and final tests.

The staff at T.E.A. Academy, Inc., has stayed on top of the education game by implementing IXL-software and Khan Academy into their daily curriculum, and is being utilized for some assessment tools; which has also assisted the students with continuing to be excited about learning. In an effort to build on Social and Emotional Learning, students engage in debates from topics they have researched. Without a doubt-when students work together as teams they learn to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts; while elevating one another.

T.E.A. Academy, Inc., realizes that to teach-means to teach the whole child. . . therefore, cooperative learning, character development, and Biblical Teachings supports the social and emotional development of students, and prepares them for success in the workplace and in life. T.E.A. Academy, Inc. is committed to nurture, challenge, empower and inspire our students to grow to their fullest extent; while preparing them for the next grade level and beyond. We conduct on-going (Formative Assessments throughout teaching a lesson, and finalizing with a Summative Assessment. Both Assessments are needed in order for the student to have a positive outcome.

Montgomery Academy seventh grade students recently participated in the YMCA Junior Youth Legislature at the Capitol Auditorium. While there, they created their own bills and participated in parliamentary procedure against other schools. This experience allowed them to practice writing, researching, and debate skills while also learning about their state government. While there, a number of Montgomery Academy students were recognized for their work, including Morgan Springer and Lillian Cameron (both Outstanding Statesmen, and Chaplain & Clerk, respectively), and Rhianna Carstarphen (Most Outstanding Statesman).

Montgomery Christian School students will benefit greatly from a new law signed by Governor Ivey this past week. Senate Bill SB261 will allow donors in Alabama to give 100% of their state tax liability to Scholarships for Kids and other scholarship granting organizations. This also increases the capped giving amount to $100,000 per taxpayer. With this change, we encourage you to redirect your tax liability soon as we hope the $30 million cap will be reached sooner in 2022. This redirection works as an Alabama state tax credit.

This exciting change could be beneficial to so many more students in the Montgomery area. Providing scholarships for students who otherwise could not afford school choice is an amazing opportunity given through Scholarship for Kids and other agencies. MCS currently has more than half of its students on Scholarship for Kids, and because of this Scholarship Granting Organization, many of our fifth graders will leave MCS and be able to continue with Scholarship for Kids at another successful institution. Contact Montgomery Christian School at 334-386-1749 for more information on how you could help more students in the area receive a high quality education.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School senior Will Noell was selected as the Bryant Jordan 3A Region 3 Scholar-Athlete scholarship recipient. This award is given to a student athlete who plays an important role in the interscholastic athletic program of the school, as well as maintaining the highest standards of academic performance.

Will has also recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a member of Troop 13 in Wetumpka. For his Eagle Scout project, Will constructed information kiosks along Wetumpka’s Swayback Bridge Trail.

Three Montgomery Catholic eighth graders, Ava Crimi, Ellis O’Connor, and Anna Russo, attended Auburn University’s InspirHER program offered to prospective Middle school students interested in Auburn University’s Engineering program. The event offered students the opportunity to learn more about engineering and to see how Auburn’s female alumni, faculty, and students are inspiring the next generation of engineers.

Students were able to learn about the 12 different areas of engineering and listen to a presentation from Dr. Kathy Thornton, a Montgomery native, Auburn University graduate, and NASA astronaut. Crimi, O’Connor, and Russo were also able to meet MCPS alumna, Isabelle Cochran (Class of 2019). Cochran is a Software Engineering major and the President of the Society of Women Engineers at Auburn University.

Photo by: Allison Russo

Easter egg hunts aren’t just for the little Wildcats at Trinity School! Mrs. Rowe and Mrs. Satcher’s advisory groups had an Easter egg hunt of their own with the second graders on the playground! Just another benefit of one campus at Trinity!

Booker T. Washington Magnet High Strings and Band students had a unique opportunity when they participated in a masterclass with Maestro Jamie Reeves.

Reeves is the Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Alabama. He has taken part in many international conducting masterclasses and competitions and has conducted orchestras all over the world.

BTW Band Instructor Curtis Hollinger and Strings Instructor Shoronda Charles organized the masterclass.

On April 13th, Montgomery’s Downtown Optimist Club, in cooperation with the Britton YMCA, sponsored Youth in City as a part of Optimist International Youth Appreciation Week. Students in grades 7-12 from all over the city gathered at Montgomery City Hall for a day to debate the city ordinances they prepared.

This year 42 Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School 7th and 8th grade students participated by writing, proposing, and defending their city ordinances. 14 of the 23 approved ordinances for debate were written by Montgomery Catholic students, and all but two of our ordinances that were debated passed into ‘law’.

Photo by: Laura Reilly

Joycelan Bailey, 3rd grade QUEST student, submitted her question to the online Mystery Science Company, and they chose her question to create their weekly video that is watched by kids all over the world. She submitted the question, Why are coral reefs so colorful? Mystery Science is an online educational resource that inspires kids to love science! Each activity video contains a central mystery, discussion questions, and hands-on activities for students. Way to go Joycelan! Keep inquiring about what you have an interest in.

Evangel Christian Academy’s elementary students enjoyed celebrating Easter. After learning about the Easter Story from the Bible, the students celebrated with an Easter party. Even though the weather did not cooperate, the classes anxiously waited as their “Big Buddies” from ECA’s Senior Class hid plastic eggs filled with surprises in the school’s gym.

Thirteen Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School students attended the 74th annual YMCA Alabama Youth Legislature Conference, where they joined high school students from various counties in Downtown Montgomery to learn about the democratic process and step into the roles of legislators.

Montgomery Catholic delegates included Julienne Pharrams, Zach Izer, Maynard Marlow, Maggie Stewart, Esa Gancayco, Aidan Blum, Anna Lathram, Bebe Neeley, Haylei Mason, Isabella Shin, Maria Schwarz, Virginia Driver, and Zion Williams.

Throughout the three day conference, delegates debated bills in First Year, House, and Senate chambers.

Out of all participating Alabama delegates, the top 20 are selected to attend the Conference on National Affairs. Montgomery Catholic seniors Zach Izer and Julienne Pharrams were both selected. Additionally, both Zach and Julienne’s bills passed through the House and Senate of the Conference and were signed into “law.”

Zach Izer was also nominated and chosen to be the recipient of the Bill Barringer Scholarship award. This $500 monetary scholarship goes to a college-bound senior with a minimum three-year involvement in the Youth Legislature program, who exhibits exemplary Christian character, extensive behind the scenes work regardless of recognition, great dedication to the program, an attitude of encouragement and enthusiasm and who has gained respect of peers and adults.

Photo Credit: Haley Hart

Talent, Education and Arts (TEA) Christian Academy has a continuous improvement program that includes Mentoring workshops. Students receive monthly mentoring from leaders in the community who motivate, inspire, and offer guidance that empower them to be their best.

B.J. McCullough shared information that was enlightening and extremely beneficial to the students’ success. He started by reciting a poem he wrote (Teach Me as I Grow) and encouraged the students to “Lead with their shield”. The shield is that goal you want to attain, so keep it in front of you at all times. Mr. McCullough further empowered the students to have a good attitude and look for ways to turn something negative into a positive.

Finally, McCullough offered these suggestions: Take full advantage of your education and read or listen to positive quotes or affirmations daily to help build character – doing these things will ultimately lead to success.

Four Trinity students, Laura Nabholz, Christopher Kong, Fredrick Brown, and James Brown, attended the 2022 Alabama All State Band Festival in Mobile. Students auditioned in January against students from across the district with the top placing students from across the state of Alabama selected for All State. Students rehearsed and performed with hundreds of students from across the state led by various well known conductors. Placing in All State is a tremendous honor and a grand achievement!

Trinity’s K3 class enjoyed a day full of yummy food, games and an Easter egg hunt!