Shelby County students, educators recognized by chamber
Published 2:54 pm Wednesday, April 27, 2016
![The Greater Shelby Chamber recognized 10 students as nominees for Career Ready Student of the Year at an April 27 luncheon. Also recognized were nominees for College Ready Student of the Year, Secondary Educator of the Year and Elementary Educator of the Year. (Reporter photo/Neal Wagner)](https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/04/GSCCC-Career-Ready-students.jpg)
The Greater Shelby Chamber recognized 10 students as nominees for Career Ready Student of the Year at an April 27 luncheon. Also recognized were nominees for College Ready Student of the Year, Secondary Educator of the Year and Elementary Educator of the Year. (Reporter photo/Neal Wagner)
By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer
PELHAM— Dozens of students and educators from the Shelby County area were recognized April 27 at the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Student and Educator of the Year luncheon.
Each school in Shelby County was invited to submit a college and career ready Student of the Year to represent their school. All nominees were evaluated on the following criteria: GPA, extra-curricular activities and awards, a written essay on their proposed occupation or course of study and a letter of recommendation.
![The chamber recognized 11 students as nominees for the College Ready Student of the Year. Payton Strickland was named the overall winner.](https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/04/College-Ready-students-300x170.jpg)
The chamber recognized 11 students as nominees for the College Ready Student of the Year. Payton Strickland was named the overall winner.
In the Career Ready Students category, Emily Hill of Calera High School was selected as the overall Student of the Year, and Peyton Strickland, of Pelham High School, was named the College Ready Student of the Year.
Hill and Strickland received an award of $1,000, which was meant to go toward higher education, according to chamber president and CEO Kirk Mancer.
Mancer said he enjoyed having the opportunity to review all the student applications and conducting interviews with all the students.
“A lot of people are worried about our future, but I just want to say this: Our future is very, very bright if every student throughout Shelby County, in our municipalities, are like you,” Mancer said of the student nominees. “You are wonderful individuals, and we are lucky to have you in Shelby County.”
![Among the 18 nominees for Elementary Educator of the Year, Michelle Dunning, of Oak Mountain Intermediate School, was recognized as the overall winner.](https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/04/Elementary-educators-300x170.jpg)
Among the 18 nominees for Elementary Educator of the Year, Michelle Dunning, of Oak Mountain Intermediate School, was recognized as the overall winner.
The Educator of the Year candidates were nominated in two categories—elementary and secondary—by their school principals. The candidates were evaluated on their philosophy of teaching, community involvement and recommendations from colleagues and school administrators.
Michelle Dunning, of Oak Mountain Intermediate School, was named Elementary Educator of the Year, and Dawn Cabrera, of Montevallo High School, was recognized as Secondary Educator of the Year.
The two educator recipients received a $750 cash award.
![The chamber recognized 22 teachers as nominees for Secondary Educator of the Year, and Dawn Cabrera, of Montevallo High School, was named the winner.](https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/04/secondary-educators2-300x170.jpg)
The chamber recognized 22 teachers as nominees for Secondary Educator of the Year, and Dawn Cabrera, of Montevallo High School, was named the winner.
“I would be remiss if I did not, on a personal note, thank each and every one of you educators for what you do every day,” Mancer said.
Each nominee received a memento from the chamber for being selected from his or her school.
The 2015-2016 nominees are listed below in alphabetical order by last name in each category:
College Ready Student of the Year Nominees:
Julia Buckner of Oak Mountain High School
Christian Fauer of Chelsea High School
Tamera Fletcher of Montevallo High School
Marjorie Head of Shelby County High School
Jordan Ingram of Helena High School
Jordan Mooney of Calera High School
Ashley Pope of Thompson School
Emma Smith of Shelby County College and Career Center
Emily Stewart of Kingwood Christian School
Peyton Strickland of Pelham High School
Davis Whitfield of Vincent High School
Career Ready Student of the Year Nominees:
Nolen Burke of Thompson High School
Christopher Davis of Shelby County College and Career Center
Jacqueline Grado of Pelham High School
Emily Hill of Calera High School
Cecil David Lawley of Montevallo High School
Collin Neitfield of Oak Mountain High School
Kris Phillips of Vincent High School
Kaylee Toles of Kingwood Christian School
Franklin Razo of Chelsea High School
Abigail Stith of Helena High School
Elementary Educator Nominees:
Martha Bentley of Elvin Hill Elementary School
Vickie Birdsong of Forest Oaks Elementary School
Marlee Clifton of Vincent Elementary School
Michelle Dunning of Oak Mountain Intermediate School
Cammie Eanes of Oak Mountain Elementary School
Kristal Lawrence of Shelby Elementary School
Melissa McMurray of Meadow View Elementary School
Amanda Miller of Helena Intermediate School
Shannon Moseley of Helena Elementary School
Allison Nylen of Wilsonville Elementary School
Diane Prince of Kingwood Christian School
Whitney Pruitt of Valley Elementary School
Joan Ray of Inverness Elementary School
Sidney Saindon of Valley Intermediate School
Katie Thompson of Mt Laurel Elementary School
Ashley Vann of Thompson Intermediate School
Christina Walsh of Creek View Elementary School
Tanya Wilson of Calera Intermediate School
Secondary Educator Nominees:
Becky Bagby of Columbiana Middle School
Nick Baumbaugh of Chelsea High School
Kathleen Brotherton of Riverchase Middle School
Dawn Cabrera of Montevallo High School
Marcy Campbell of Shelby County College and Career Center
Dustin Cleckler of Shelby County High School
Brooke Dennis of Thompson High School
Andrea Fordham of Thompson Middle School
Brooke Gifford of Vincent Middle School
Ashley Grainger of Chelsea Middle School
Lucie Harding of Kingwood Christian School
Heather Holmes of Oak Mountain Middle School
Alice LaGrone of Oak Mountain High School
Anita Lewis of Helena High School
Evelyn Moore of Montevallo Middle School
Jenifer Nabors of Calera Middle School
Elise Skellie of Thompson Sixth Grade Center
Karen Varner of Pelham High School
Tammy Wilburn of Linda Nolen Learning Center
Sharon Worthy of Helena Middle School
Michael Zauchin of Oak Mountain High School