Prattville, Autauga, & Elmore Counties Student Spotlights – April ’22

The Elmore County Technical Center HOSA chapter (future medical professionals) took a large group of competitors to the State Leadership Conference in February, and several students progressed to the International Leadership Conference competitions in Nashville in June.  The team of Kayleigh, Morgan, Chase, Taylor and Kennedy placed second in the Public Service Announcement category, and Shemai’ya placed third in the Research Poster competition and earned a $500 scholarship.

One of our favorite days at Prattville Junior High is Pi Day, which is celebrated in a big fashion on the 8th-grade hallway.  Students were able to taste test lots of types of “pie” and were able to give random facts about the need for pi and how it affects our everyday lives. Math really is important….and can be lots of fun!

Taylor Gloystein, a senior at Prattville High School, has been named a National Merit Finalist. Gloystein is the goalie for the Prattville High School Lady Lions Soccer Team and a six-year letterman. She has played soccer for 12 years. She is also very active at school – president of Science Olympiad, president of the Junior Civitans and a member of the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Students.

Gloystein is a very strong student and scored a 1560 on the SAT with a perfect score on the math section. She also made a 35 on the ACT. She is looking at schools like Baylor, Clemson and Auburn. She spent time this summer at a Biomedical Engineering Camp at Clemson where she sutured pig hearts.

Gloystein plans to major in Biomedical Engineering and minor in mathematics. She wants to be a trauma surgeon.

Prattville Christian Academy senior Caroline Schumpert was recently honored with the regional scholarship for The Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Achievement Award, selected for her outstanding perseverance in the face of adversity. After discovering she was deaf following her international adoption from China, Schumpert began the long road of tackling the challenges presented by therapy and schooling as she learned how to hear, read and communicate with bilateral cochlear implants.

Julia Griffin, a sophomore at Prattville High School, wss a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders March 26-27. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country interested in these careers, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

Griffin’s nomination was signed by Dr. Mario Capecchi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and the Science Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, to represent Prattville High School based on her academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.

During the two-day Congress, Griffin joined students from across the country and heard Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science Winners talk about leading medical research; was given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school; witnessed stories told by patients who are living medical miracles; was inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies; and learned about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.

Prattville Christian Academy’s competitive cheer team recently competed at the Universal Cheerleaders Association’s National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida. As a new competition team, the Panthers achieved their goal of advancing to the semi-final round, placing second with zero deductions, but ultimately fell short of the finals by 0.7 of a point.

Three Billingsley School teachers are recipients of Central Alabama Electric Cooperative’s Bright Ideas Grant for 2022. Abby Loudermilk received a grant to help purchase supplies that will allow students to work on academic and vocational skills, helping them prepare for the transition from high school to employment. The funds awarded to Logan Strock will be used for the development of a poultry program at the school. Tammy Tindol received funds that will be used to construct a sensory garden for its educational and therapeutic benefits.

The expansion of the Autauga County Technology Center (ACTC) will be a big asset because it will offer students more opportunities for dual enrollment in preparation for high-tech careers, Autauga County School Superintendent Timothy Tidmore said at the groundbreaking for the center.

A large crowd of city, county, community and ACTC officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the 18,290-square-foot expansion and the community open house that followed. There was also a Career Day for students at the center.

Career Day featured a variety of exhibitors, made up of local industries and businesses. These organizations highlighted company information and shared relevant skill sets for their career paths to the students.

Tidmore said the ACTC expansion will go hand-in-hand with more opportunities for dual enrollment at the new Central Alabama Community College located at 1320 Old Ridge Road in Prattville. The site was previously East Memorial Christian Academy.

The Prattville Chamber hosted the groundbreaking in celebration of the expansion project for the ACTC, located at 1301 Upper Kingston Road in Prattville.  This expansion project will create four new shops to be used for the ACTC’s fire science, engineering, welding and automotive programs. It is expected to be completed in about a year.

Thirteen Career Tech Programs are now offered including agriconstruction, automotive, business management, cosmetology, education and training, electrical, engineering, family and consumer sciences, finance, fire science, health science, information technology, and welding.

(photo and material for article courtesy of Elmore Autauga News)

The Parents of Prattville Junior High treated the staff to a Taco Twosday on 2-22-22.  We are grateful for the scores of parents who sponsored a lunch for our teachers and who support us on a consistent basis. Partnerships matter, and our parents are the best.

This year, Pine Level Elementary was fortunate enough to purchase art kits for all of our K-5 students. Teachers lead the students one day a month through an art activity tapping into the creative part of their brains. The students love this day with an opportunity to express themselves through the arts.

The Prattville Junior High golf team is in full swing.  These Lady Cats have represented our school so well and have learned a skill that will be a lifelong hobby!

Members of Glynwood Baptist Church stopped by Prattville Intermediate School for a little community service. Great job, guys!

Eighth-graders at Eclectic Middle School explored careers in the Central Alabama region during February with their counselor and career coach. They also had a chance to learn more about manufacturing thanks to a Made in Region 5 resource box that included items made by industries in our area.

Mrs. Ellender, 3rd-5th grade counselor at Pine Level Elementary, is teaching a lesson on Friendship. The lesson focuses on the students synergizing to solve a problem in the form of a breakout room game. The students must kindly work together, problem solve, and strategize to break out and win the game. Gunner, one of Pine Level’s facility dogs, is pictured supporting the students in their efforts.

Pine Level Elementary School participated in the Marbury Fine Arts Festival February 24. Each grade level participated by completing different art projects, including an art enrichment class. Many pieces were displayed at Boones Chapel.

Meghan Best, a senior at Stanhope Elmore High School, signed a letter of intent to Emmanuel College recently to continue in her sport at college.

Best signed with Emmanuel College of Franklin Springs, Georgia, during a ceremony at the SEHS library. Once in school she will continue competing, but on the NCAA level with a scholarship. In college she wants to study business and accounting and hopes to own her own business one day.

She is the daughter of Darlene and Johnny Best. Her grandfather, David Russell, was there to help her celebrate as well as her brother Ryan Best, who also bowls and is in the eighth grade at Millbrook Middle.

Best began with the bowling team in seventh grade at MMS and said, “This is a big honor, and it empowers me to do better.”

THE SEHS Bowling Team had an excellent year, taking first place in Regionals and placing second statewide.

From left are Darlene Best, Meghan Best, Johnny Best and grandfather David Russell.

((photo and material for article courtesy of Elmore Autauga News))

Cindy Hines, principal of the Edge Virtual School in Wetumpka, said she never dreamed the Edge would grow into what it is today.

“In the beginning, the Edge was a program for kids grades 3-12 that needed virtual learning,” she explained. “We worked with the base schools to provide a service for kids to fulfill students’ individual academic needs. Today we have grown into a Cognia accredited, free public school that provides a flexible learning platform tailored to the individual needs of each student. Whether a student works, has health issues, or simply wants to get ahead, the Edge offers a unique opportunity that is on the cutting edge of today’s educational experience. Our school is ideal for students who are self-motivated, disciplined, and passionate about learning.

“Due to increased interest in virtual learning, we were happy to be able to add kindergarten-2nd grade for the current school year. We were excited to be able to add our elementary teachers and the interactive, engaging Zoom lessons they provide.

“We were also able to grow our existing staff of highly qualified secondary teachers to include highly qualified elementary teachers. Secondary teachers also hold daily Zoom sessions to provide more one-on-one support for students.”

For more information about the Edge, please visit theedgeelmoreal.schoolinsites.com or call (334) 514-3931.

Prattville Christian Academy senior Maddie Jeffery advances as PCA’s first National Merit Finalist. She was one of 15,000 high school seniors nationwide to move forward in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. She will now compete for approximately 7,500 scholarships worth more than $30 million and the title of Merit Scholar.

Two Elmore County High School seniors have utilized their skills learned in the Elmore County Technical Center’s welding program to land part-time jobs at local manufacturer MADIX where they perform welding tasks on the assembly floor.

The Elmore County Technical Center hosted its official ribbon-cutting ceremony March 15 for the new wing on campus that houses eight programs: aviation, public safety & law, medical sciences, welding, HVAC, electrical, building construction, & plumbing & pipefitting.

Payton Robertson, 2nd-grade teacher at Wetumpka Elementary, hosted a live Biography Museum February 25. In attendance were other classes from the school, parents, grandparents, siblings, counselors, WES Principal Gigi Hankins and Speech Language Pathologist Kelley Fuller.

The students dressed as a famous person in history and wrote a biography essay about that person. The students also made posters, had a speech prepared, and made astonishing costumes at home to present during the museum.

Students learned about the early life, family, hardships, importance and impact of the person they selected. They took this research to the next step by completing their live biographies. In order for this project to work, students created posters that served as a backdrop. On the posters there were pictures, facts and important information.

((photo and material for article courtesy of Elmore Autauga News))

Holtville High School has a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Richard “Richie” Burleson, Jr. has moved through the prestigious scholarship process to join the top 1% of high school seniors in the country. The scholarship process began during his junior year when he sat for the PSAT which is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Burleson is now one of 1,500 students across the country to be chosen as a National Merit Finalist. The rigorous application process includes the students’ academic record, demonstration of leadership, participation in school and community activities, employment, honors, and awards.

Burleson is also a leader at the school in band and theater. He earned a perfect score on the ACT and was also awarded the prestigious level of Eagle Scout this summer.

Burleson has narrowed his college choices to the University of Alabama and Auburn University, where he will pursue a degree in Engineering. “My planned major is mechanical engineering, but I am also interested in aerospace engineering and business administration.”