FROM STAFF REPORTS

Every spring each Wal-Mart store and Sam’s Club in the country present scholarships to deserving high school graduates.

Through a program that the Wal-Mart Foundation has provided to annually help with college expenses for associates, as well as the general community, a total of nearly $8 million nationwide is awarded.

The scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic record, test scores, community involvement and work experience.

This year, the Shelby County students who each received the Sam Walton Community Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship, were as follows:

Brian Simpson, Oak Mountain High School; Adrienne Alaniz, Chelsea High School; Dylan Martin, Shelby County High School; Zoya Zinger, Spain Park High School; Justin Posey, Montevallo High School; Danielle Drew, Hope Christian High School; Sarah Sharman, Elizabeth Grimes and Brittney Lovoy, Pelham High School; Audryana Kelley, Vincent Middle High School.