Ashley Hoppers, a 17-year-old senior at Shelby Academy, is Shelby County Reporter Student of the Week.

She was selected for the honor by SA headmaster Dewayne Kervin.

&uot;She’s popular with students and staff,&uot; has a positive personality and brings a &uot;positive air to the atmosphere,&uot; Kervin said.

Ashley is the daughter of Joe and Lynn Hoppers of Montevallo. She has an older sister, Amanda, 20, who attend the University of Alabama, and a younger brother, Will, 15, who is a sophomore at Shelby Academy.

She is the granddaughter of Bill and Aleta Hoppers of Hoover and Katie Whitworth of Montgomery.

Ashley’s favorite subject is AP (Advance Placement) English.

&uot;I just love to write. Literature strikes me as an interesting subject. I like to learn about styles of writing and different authors,&uot; Ashley said.

Her favorite thing to read is classic literature.

He favorite teacher is Brandon Gurganus, who teaches government and economics.

&uot;He’s just real fun. He tries to make the class more interesting. He graduated from Alabama,&uot; Ashley said.

Ashley participates in varsity softball, playing second base, and varsity basketball, playing forward. She has played softball since the eighth grade.

Honors include Student Council vice president, A Honor Roll, Beta Club and S Club for all varsity sports.

Last year, she said, she won a computer science award.

Ashley loves music, plays piano and spends time with family and friends. She plans to return to Taekwondo martial arts and likes to help her father restore classic cars like 1956-57 T-Birds. And she loves University of Alabama football games.

She said her favorite superhero is her dad, who she described as

&uot;confident.&uot;

&uot;He’s just my favorite person, my role model. He’s always had faith in me,&uot; she said, adding that he is also one of her best friends.

Ashley said she plans to attend the University of Alabama to major in pre-med. She said all of her family members graduated from the University of Alabama, and the school has got what she called &uot;a great environment.&uot;

She also said when she makes it to UA as a freshman, her sister will be a senior there.

But she admitted one reason she wants to attend UA is because of the football program.

As to the future, Ashley said, &uot;I’ve always been intrigued with science, medicine and doctors.&uot;

She said her grandfather’s brother was a doctor and her grandmother’s father was a pediatrician, &uot;which is what I want to be.&uot;

Ashley said, &uot;I’ve always been able to connect with kids.&uot;

Having taught children martial arts, she said, &8220;I have a sensitive side. Kids get scared and you have to understand that and be patient.&8221;