By Donna Goodwin, Counselor

Russellville High School will be having the annual seniors’ Honors Night on May 6 at 7  p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Representatives from many universities and community colleges such as the University of Alabama, Samford University, Northwest-Shoals Community College, the University of North Alabama, Murray State, Cumberland University, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville will be presenting scholarships to graduating seniors.

Several seniors will be receiving academic, athletic, performing arts and foundation scholarships.

Three juniors were selected by the faculty to represent Russellville High School at the Alabama American Legion Boys’ and Girls’ State this summer.  Bret Malone, Jackson Witt and Hannah Aycock will be recognized at the honors night.

Fifty-three seniors will be recognized for Academic Excellence.

These students have a 90.0 or above for their four years at Russellville High School.  Nine seniors will be awarded the Presidential Fitness Academic Awards.  These are national awards that are presented to high school seniors who have an overall A average throughout high school in their academic classes and who scored in the top 85 percentile of all students who took the ACT test nationwide during this past year. The minimum composite ACT score to qualify this year is 26.  The certificates are signed by President Obama.

“There’s A Way” will be awarding 20 scholarships this year. Many seniors interviewed with Judge John Jolly last fall hoping to be the recipient of one of these scholarships.  The students receive $1,000 payable in two equal installments of $500 for the fall and spring academic semesters. This is in addition to any other scholarships, grants or awards for which the candidate may be eligible. The foundation will also recognize a teacher of the year.

The community of Russellville has always maintained a rich tradition for supporting the city school system. Local organizations and individuals provide additional scholarships for seniors graduating from Russellville High School.

The list includes such organizations as the Cattlemen’s Association, the Civitan Club, the Cultura Garden Club, Kiwanis Club , the Reedtown Roundup and the Rotary Club.  Many scholarships are given in honor of many special Russellville citizens like the Ralph C. Bishop Sr. Community Service Scholarship, the Bob Grissom Masonic Scholarship, the Billy Bowling/First Metro Scholarship, the Sylvia McCarver Memorial, the Cecil Greenhill Memorial, June Mayfield Hester Class of ’64, Chucky Mullins Memorial, Dr. R.M. Courington/Tim Bowling Memorial, Curt Cody Thorne Memorial Football, Mary Baron Memorial, Walston and Jewel Hester Memorial, the Kelsey Wright Courageous Spirit, the B.E. Lee Memorial, Neil Taylor Sr. Honorary, Gary Kimbrough Band Memorial, Jessica Mills Memorial Band, the Tina Green McNatt Memorial, the James Gary Reed Memorial, the Jane Shamblin Essay Scholarship, the Dr. Wayne T. Ray Scholarship and  the David Sibley Memorial to name a few.

The senior class of 2009 earned over $1.3 million with the community scholarships alone exceeding $70,000 of that amount. We are very appreciative of our community for the support they provide our graduates.

That investment in our graduates will one day pay off for the city of Russellville.