By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Nearly 140 Thompson High School students were all smiles as they entered the school’s lunchroom on Jan. 29 to receive special recognition for an exclusive achievement.

Each of the 138 students invited to the lunchroom were on a short list containing less than 8 percent of the school’s total enrollment, and were invited to the event after missing zero days of school during the first semester of the 2015-2016 school year.

During the event, which was held during the students’ Friday afternoon activity period, kids who recorded perfect attendance during the fall semester were treated to a table stocked with items such as candy, chips and bottled water.

For the past several years, the Thompson High School PTO has organized events to highlight and celebrate student achievements, said PTO volunteer Sybil Owens.

“It’s fun to recognize the kids for just being dedicated enough to make it to school every day,” Owens said. “Some kids don’t have a lot of support at home, so making it to school every day is a big accomplishment.”

The Jan. 29 celebration was the second event to honor students with perfect attendance, as the school also held an Iron Bowl cookout event in the fall for those with no tardees or absences during the semester.

In mid-January, the PTO also held a celebration in the THS lunchroom for students who earned all As and Bs on their fall semester report cards.

All items given to students during the celebrations were donated by the school’s PTO.

“We enjoy seeing the kids come in here with smiles on their faces,” Owens said.