Each spring, high school counselors throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties nominate their most accomplished seniors for a regional academic honor recognizing students who combine strong grades with leadership, service, and extracurricular achievement. The class of 2014 produced a wide-ranging group of honorees pursuing fields from biomedical engineering to environmental science, pharmacy, and education.
Scholars With Big Plans
Hadley Montgomery, valedictorian at Murphy High School, earned scholarships to the University of the South at Sewanee and said she hoped to focus her studies on environmental sustainability. Elizabeth Denton, an award-winning artist from Baker High School, said she wanted to blend her interests in the environment and visual art into a future career that could make a tangible impact.
Katherine Rhodes, valedictorian at Chickasaw High School, planned to attend Auburn University before pursuing missionary work, and spent the summer working as a camp counselor and photographer at a local church camp. Fran Harris, valedictorian at UMS-Wright Preparatory School, aimed to become a neurosurgeon and researcher, building on experience she had already gained as a research fellow at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.
Athletes and Volunteers Among the Honorees
Several members of the team balanced their academic success with competitive athletics, including standout basketball, baseball, swimming, and cross-country athletes from schools such as Alma Bryant, St. Luke’s Episcopal, McGill-Toolen Catholic, Davidson, Robertsdale, LeFlore Magnet, Bayside Academy, and Blount High. Trista Phelps, valedictorian at Robertsdale High School, earned a swimming scholarship to the Florida Institute of Technology.
Community service was a hallmark of many honorees’ applications. Breonna July, salutatorian at Vigor High School, served as a youth ambassador for several community organizations focused on teen pregnancy prevention and substance abuse education. Christopher Jordan, valedictorian at Saraland High School, described his volunteer work as an extension of his faith, saying he felt called to serve others.
Teachers Who Made a Difference
Many of the students credited specific teachers and mentors with shaping their success. Hannah Newsom, an International Baccalaureate valedictorian at Fairhope High School, praised a chemistry teacher who worked closely with her and helped fuel award-winning performances in the subject; she planned to study chemistry at Tulane University. Students from Davidson High School’s IB program likewise pointed to instructors who worked after hours to help them prepare for exams.
Looking back, the 2014 team reflects a broader tradition in south Alabama school districts of publicly recognizing top graduating seniors, a practice that continues to highlight the depth of talent coming out of Mobile and Baldwin county classrooms each year.