By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A Thompson High School student and teacher will walk away with an extra $1,000 after attending the Alabaster Education Association’s year-end reception on May 13.

During the reception, which is being hosted by the Alabaster City Education Association and the Alabaster City Education Support Professionals, the two organizations will present $1,000 scholarships apiece to THS science teacher Ronna Sanford and THS senior Sarah Beth Holdbrooks.

The reception will mark the Alabama Education Association affiliates’ first since the Alabaster City School System formed in July 2013, said Alabaster Education Association President Ava Andrews.

“I’m looking forward to our AEA reception, the first ever as part of the Alabaster City Schools system. I believe our members deserve the recognition for their dedication to the students and the community,” Andrews wrote in an email.

The reception will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 in the THS cafeteria, and all Alabaster AEA members and Board of Education members are invited. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served and door prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the reception.

In addition to awarding the pair of scholarships, the two organizations also will recognize all AEA members who were selected as teachers and support professionals of the year, retirees who are AEA members and Alabaster Education Association representatives, Andrews said.

AEA Associate Executive Secretary Dr. Gregory T. Graves will serve as the keynote speaker.

For more information about the reception, email Andrews at ava.andrews@alabastercityschools.org or Darlene McManus at memawdarlene@bellsouth.net.