By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor of the Alabaster Reporter
ALABASTER – Applause filled the banquet hall of the American Village as local students were honored for their outstanding character during the annual Character in Action Awards.
The Character in Action Awards recognition for Alabaster City Schools, Hoover City Schools and Pelham City Schools was held on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the American Village Ballroom in Montevallo. The award program is held in partnership between the Shelby County Juvenile Court, the American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555 and local school systems.
“It is truly an honor to stand before you tonight to celebrate something that we don’t often pause to celebrate enough: good character,” said Erin Welborn, Shelby County juvenile court judge.
Students who were selected for the award were chosen not for their grades, popularity or athletic ability but instead for demonstrating good character to their teachers and counselors.
“Character is what you do when no one else is watching,” Welborn said. “It’s kindness when it would be easier to be ambivalent. It’s compassion when judgement feels more convenient. It’s respect, especially for people who may be different than you or even disagree with you.”
Miss Jefferson County’s Teen and PHS student Maddie Rasco served as the night’s emcee and led the National Anthem. During the event, she introduced each section and described the importance of the awards.
“The Character in Action Award was created to acknowledge those students going above and beyond the norm by setting good examples for other students to follow,” she said. “In addition to the student nominees, the Character in Action program. also acknowledges parents and guardians for their efforts to instill strong morals and values in their children and congratulate them for their parental involvement, which is vital to the success of our students in their journey to adulthood.”
Students from Alabaster City Schools, Hoover City Schools and Pelham City Schools for picked by their teachers and counselors for the award for demonstrating character in the following areas: respect, self-discipline, citizenship, friendship, fairness, perseverance and courage. At the ceremony, each student was present a medal by the American Legion recognizing their demonstration of true character.
“The medal recognizes the possessor of the high quality of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship that are necessary for the preservation and protection of the fundamental institutions of our government and the advancement of society,” said Frank Lakotich with the American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555. “That's character in action, and that's why we are so proud to be part of this program and the Children's Program.
The following Alabaster City Schools students were recognized:
Nelleigh Marie Jenkins: Meadow View Elementary School
Samara Guerra-Chavez – Creek View Elementary School
Gray Hamlin – Thompson Intermediate School
Victoria Jania Garcia – Thompson Middle School
Sullivan Thomas Cole – Thompson High School