And the Evan goes too…

For the first time, Shelby County Schools recently recognized students with the highest grade point average at each high school with a top valedictorian award named in honor of Shelby County School Superintendent Evan K. Major Jr.

The name of the award came as a &8220;absolute and complete surprise&8221; to Major, in his own words, during the Super Scholars of Shelby County awards presentation held at Thompson High School last Thursday.

According to Pubic Relations Supervisor Cindy Warner, Shelby County currently recognizes all students with a GPA of 4.0 or higher as a valedictorian and those with a GPA of 3.8 to 3.99 as a salutatorian.

The new award recognizes those students with the highest GPA or his or her graduating class.

The award was named in honor of Major for 40 years of service to the Shelby County School District including his service as School Superintendent since 1998.

According to school officials, Major graduated from Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo) with a bachelor of science in physical education. In 1970 he earned his master of education degree in educational administration and later earned AA certification in educational administration from the University of Montevallo.

He was the first male physical education teacher to teach at an elementary school in Shelby County.

Over the years he served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, director of finance, director of curriculum and instruction, director of administration and superintendent. He will retire on Dec. 31, 2006.

Major said, &8220;I&8217;ve run for my last office. I&8217;m going to be retired.&8221; But with grandchildren in school, he said he would always be close to education.

He said his philosophy has been, &8220;Always do what&8217;s best for the children and help them to be academically successful.&8221;

Before learning that a special award was being named for him, Major told students, &8220;You are here tonight because you are being honored for your academic success. I praise you… Yes, grades do mater.&8221;

Major said stressed that schools must be accountable. And he said, &8220;We&8217;ve not made perfect yet.&8221; But he also said to the parents of those being recognized, &8220;The success of your student is directly proportional to your involvement in their education.&8221;

Students who received the Evan K. Major Jr. Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement were Tara Veasey, Calera High; Inessa Andreevna Stanishevskaya, Chelsea; Grady McGowan Thomas, Montevallo High; Ashley Brown and Shaw-Ming Lin (tie) from Oak Mountain; Ian Flaniken of Pelham High; Michael Eddins, Shelby County High; Meredith Harper of Thompson High School; and Brandon Johnson of Vincent High