News in Education

NEWS IN EDUCATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Janet McCain or Dr. Eric Mackey Phone: (334) 262-0014 or 1-877-269-0014

SSA Awards $11,000 in Scholarships to Students and Administrators for 2011

Montgomery, AL., May 2, 2011 –The School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) is proud to announce the high school graduating seniors who are recipients of $7,000 in SSA student scholarships and the teachers and administrators who are recipients of $4,000 in SSA administrator scholarships for 2011.

The recipients of SSA’s student scholarships all intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education. The student scholarship winners include SSA’s District two recipient: Keisha Warren from Marion High School in the Perry County School System, who plans to attend the University of West Alabama; SSA’s District three recipient: Breanna Jordan from Charles Henderson High School in the Troy City School System, who will attend Troy University; SSA’s District four recipient: Jakobi Tobias Turner from Bullock County High School, who plans to attend Auburn University Montgomery; SSA’s District five recipient: Hannah Elaine Wood from Vestavia Hills High School, who plans to attend the University of Montevallo; SSA’s District six recipient: Brooklynn Victoria Pruitt from Pell City High School, who plans to attend Auburn University; SSA’s District eight recipient: Marissa Hooven from Athens High School, who plans to attend Lee University; and SSA’s District nine recipient: Lauren Franklin from Hazel Green High School in Madison County School System, who plans to attend the University of North Alabama.

SSA’s four administrator scholarship recipients are all pursuing higher degrees in school administration. These teachers, counselors, or practicing administrators will be seeking their higher degrees at the M.S./M.A., AA/Ed.S., or Ed.D/Ph.D. levels. The four recipients selected to receive scholarships include Jennifer Gray, a Supervisor of Elementary Curriculum and Federal Programs for the Lauderdale County School System, who is pursuing a doctoral degree at Samford University; Dana Griggs, a Career Technical Education Director and Curriculum Coordinator for Ozark City Schools plans to obtain a Ph.D in School Administration from the Auburn University; Lynda Ingram, a teacher at Sipsey Valley High School in Tuscaloosa County School System, is currently working on a graduate degree in Educational Administration at the University of Alabama; and Brandy Russell, a First Grade Teacher at Weaver Elementary School in Calhoun County, plans to pursue a graduate degree in Educational Administration. These SSA Administrative Scholarship recipients will be formally presented with their scholarship checks by their respective Superintendent during an upcoming school event or Board meeting. “ The major purpose of SSA is to promote high quality public education in every community throughout the state. These scholarships reinforce that mission by helping these high-achieving students become teachers and helping our leaders go back to graduate school, too. We are proud of these recipients and their commitment to quality in our schools. It takes investment to make good things happen, and this is an investment we are proud to make,” said Dr. Eric Mackey, SSA Executive Director. SSA’s Administrator Scholarship applications were scored by SSA’s Awards and Scholarships Committee which is chaired by Dr. Jeff Langham, Elmore County School Superintendent. This is the third year SSA’s Student Scholarship recipients have been named by the Superintendents who are district finalists of the SSA/Classworks Superintendent of the Year Award. Those Superintendents for 2011 include Dr. Wayne Vickers, Saraland City School Superintendent, who will award his student scholarship next year when he has his first senior class of the new school system; Mr. John Heard, III, Perry County School Superintendent; Dr. Linda Felton-Smith, Troy City School Superintendent (Retired); Mr. Keith Stewart, Bullock County School Superintendent; Dr. Jamie Blair, Vestavia Hills City School Superintendent, who was also named Alabama’s Superintendent of the Year; Dr. Bobby Hathcock, Pell City School Superintendent; Dr. Orman Bridges, Athens City School Superintendent; and Dr. Terry Davis, Madison County School Superintendent. These superintendents also had the honor of presenting the student scholarship check to the recipient in his or her school system.

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