By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

ALABASTER—The Shelby County Schools Education Foundation recognized the students, teachers and coordinators who made the annual Coupons for Classrooms Campaign a success with a reception at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center on April 28.

The campaign raised nearly $160,000 for the school system and teacher grants. The top 10 student sellers, top five coordinators and top five teachers through this year’s campaign were given prizes during Coupons for Classrooms Awards and Recognition reception.

“You students, you rocked this year!” Kendall Williams, Shelby County Education Foundation development and community relations director said to the students gathered at the reception. “You were the leaders in the system.”

Elvin Hill Elementary’s Lawson Starnes took first place, selling 109 coupon books. Other students recognized were Payton Meaders, Oak Mountain Intermediate; Chloe Lyles, Calera Elementary; Destiny Burns, Montevallo Elementary; Ben West, Oak Mountain Elementary; John Patrick Snyder, Calera Elementary; Aiden Lunsford, Calera Elementary; Cylie Jones, Helena Middle; Cameron Jones, Helena High; Kyleigh Nicholas, Chelsea Park; Colton Sills, Mt Laurel Elementary; Riley Creel Morris, Shelby Elementary; Emma Warren, Oak Mountain Elementary; Lydia McBride, Helena Elementary; Gisella Cazcarro, Mt Laurel Elementary.

Teachers and coordinators were recognized for their hard work throughout the campaign as well.

“We quite literally could not do it without you,” Williams said to the teachers and coordinators. “What the students do is really important, but we know there’s always work going on behind the scenes at the school as well.”

Coordinators recognized were Mindy Miller, Oak Mountain Elementary; Becky Sellers, Shelby Elementary; Kelly Snyder, Calera Elementary; Stephanie Philpott, Inverness Elementary; Beth Allen, Oak Mountain Intermediate; Mark Sanders, Helena Middle.

Teachers recognized were Melinda Kayton, Calera Elementary; Keri Harrison, Oak Mountain Intermediate; Karen Vann, Mt Laurel Elementary; Mary Beth Cline, Calera Elementary; Jennifer Northrop, Oak Mountain Elementary.

The Coupons for Classrooms Campaign not only raised more than $123,000 for the school system, it also generated nearly $36,000 to fund 41 grants for teachers across the school system.

“(The teachers’) vision and their ideas to bring some really creative projects to the schools is really inspiring,” Williams said.