2016 Progress

Progress 2016

A GLIMPSE AT THE FUTURE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Contact Russellville City Hall at 256-332-6060

304 Jackson Ave. N Russellville, AL Russellville City Councilmen Jamie Harris, Lanny Hubbard, Gary Cummings, William Nale, David Palmer, and Mayor David Grissom

A Great Place to Live, Work & Raise a family.

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PROGRESS 2016

Progress 2016 A Glimpse at the Future

Table of Contents

There are two sides to the idea of progress.

One aspect of progress is comparing where we are now to where we’ve been. It involves looking back at our past and celebrating the growth we’ve achieved to this point.

It says, “Look how far we have come” – and this is a valuable mentality to embrace. We should commemorate the positive change that has taken place over the course of our history and feel a deep sense of satisfaction for what we have accomplished.

However, if progress stops there, then we miss out on a great deal, because the other side of progress is looking forward to where we go from here.

Where we go from here, of course, is largely slipping out of our hands. “Where do we go from here?” is a question whose answer lies with the next generation.

“Franklin County Times” has spent the past few months getting know, in just a small way, the best and brightest Franklin County has to offer – the shining stars of Franklin County youth. And let us reassure you, dear readers – they have the future firmly in hand.

Among them are future artists, athletes, ministers and medical professionals. They are dreamers, goal-setters, planners. They are difference-makers. They will impact the world for the better – of this we have no doubt.

We want to introduce you to these high-achievers and share their stories. We think you will be impressed at their ambitions and their vision for the future they want to help create. These young people – from across Franklin County – have inspiring tales of involvement and aspiration.

If we want Franklin County to continue to progress, it’s up to these teenagers to make it happen. They already know that – and we feel confident nothing will stand in their way.

Alison James Managing Editor

P.O. Box 1088 14131 Hwy 43 Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-1881 fax: 256-332-1883 www.franklincountytimes.com PROGRESS 2016

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Emma Henderson Daniel Lindsay Elizabeth Benford Gabe Lawler Holly Hardin Reed Holt Niles Butts Max Moussad Luke Stanford Lauren Brewer Annslee Bottoms Cristian Ruiz Ashleigh Morgan Lane Yancey JJ McCormick Stephanie Monterroso Taylor Cash Ben Williams Katie Burns Olivia Knight Maggie Fowler Katie Dempsey

General Manager Nicole Pell Managing Editor Alison James Sales Peggy Hyde & Sommer Morris Circulation Tommy Morris

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OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST Emma Henderson puts priority on nature

A

t Tharptown High School, Emma Henderson is an academic achiever. But where she really loves to be is outdoors.

“I love living in the country,” Henderson said.

“You can go outside and do whatever you want, and nobody really cares.” Hunting, fishing and hiking are some of her favorite outdoor activities.

A tenth grader who is active in Junior Civitan, SADD, Spanish Club, Student Council and the robotics team, Henderson roams her family’s 15 acres in Mount Hope. She began attending THS in middle school. “Everybody is really nice, and I’ve made really good friends,” she said. “I feel I’ve succeeded far more here than I would have if I had gone to Hatton.”

With plans to attend Auburn University following high school, Henderson is considering a career as a geologist – like her mother – with the possibility of working as a land surveyor. Of course, she’s also interested in horticulture and forestry; the main thing is “always getting to go outside and do research.”

Of course, Henderson has plenty to keep her occupied outdoors. Her family plans to harvest their garden to sell at a Russellville’s farmers market during the season. They grow pumpkins, tomatoes, herbs, peppers and squash. Henderson also helps her grandfather, who grows corn, sunflowers, tomatoes, squash, melons, cucumbers and bell peppers, in addition to berry bushes and an apple orchard. Helping with the harvest gives Henderson the opportunity to get a first taste of the fruits and vegetables, tangible proof that “hard work really does pay off,” and also gives her the chance to think about and appreciate how “it started with one little seed.”

One life goal would be to make a field journal throughout her career and one day have it published to inspire people, to “do something important in my life – to make sure what I did counts for something.”

“The future generations – I want to make sure they know they can do more than what everybody thinks they can do,” Henderson said. “Being from Tharptown, everybody says, ‘Oh, you’re from a small school, you can’t do anything.’ I want to say, ‘Yeah, you can. It doesn’t matter where you come from; as long as you have the heart to do it, you can do it.’”

And Henderson’s heart lies with nature, which has a value and importance she wants everyone to understand. She also wants people to understand that appreciating that value doesn’t make someone a hippie, tree hugger, or any other label.

“I just want people to know it matters. I want them to see what I see when I look at nature,” Henderson said. “Everything has a story. That rock could have been there when the dinosaurs were there; or maybe that leaf was there for a thousand years. Yeah, it’s just a piece of rock, but anything else is ‘just’ what it is – unless you make it something.”

Henderson’s parents are Jonathan and Misty Henderson.

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PROGRESS 2016

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PROGRESS 2016

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EYES ON THE FUTURE Daniel Lindsay hopes to use optometry career in medical missions

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senior at Red Bay High School, Daniel Lindsay is headed to UAB to major in biomedical sciences for his undergraduate work before pursuing an optometry degree.

“I’ve always had glasses and contacts,” Lindsay said. “And whenever I took anatomy, the eye was really interesting. My favorite dissection we did was the eyeball. I actually had the opportunity to lead the dissection.”

He added, “The eye is something we haven’t completely discovered. We know how it works, but we don’t know why exactly.”

Lindsay grew up in Nashville, Tenn., and moved to Red Bay in seventh grade. Throughout high school, he has been involved in student government, Spanish Club, FFA, Beta Club, SADD, the robotics team and HOSA. He helped to start Junior SADD, as well. Other interests include music – he plays guitar and ukelele.

“I like to stay involved – I stay super busy with

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everything I do,” he said.

With a high ACT score, Lindsay managed to score a full tuition scholarship at UAB, which he chose because it boasts the No. 2 optometry school in the nation.

“I’m excited to start a new chapter, but it’s sad to see this one end,” he said.

Following college, Lindsay said he hopes to one day open his own practice.

Lindsay also has an interest in mission work.

He has previously been part of mission trips to Cuba and Tokyo; this summer will find him in Kazakhstan. He said he hopes to use his talents to serve God in this way.

“I don’t know if I will ever be a full-time missionary, necessarily, but I do think I will do a lot of back-and-forth, possibly medical mission trips where I can use my optometry degree and help out,” he said. Japan particularly enlightened him, with a large percentage of people who did not share his beliefs. “That had a big impact on

me – just seeing the spiritual darkness,” he said.

“I grew up in church. My dad is a pastor … My grandparents were missionaries to Mexico for four years.”

Ultimately, Lindsay said, he wants to make a difference in people’s lives, raise a family in a way that pleases God and live a reasonably comfortable life.

“I don’t want hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around; I’ve never had a desire to be famous in any way; but I would like to be comfortable and allow my kids to be comfortable more so than myself and help my parents out, if they need it,” he said.

Lindsay said he prides himself on being friends with anyone and being willing to offer a listening ear to whoever might need it.

“A lot of people just need someone to talk to,” Lindsay said.

He is the son of Steve and Charri Lindsay. He has three sisters and one brother.

PROGRESS 2016

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DENTAL

DREAMS PCHS’ Elizabeth Benford wants to brighten people’s smiles

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enior Elizabeth Benford is involved in an extensive slate of activities at Phil Campbell High School, from varsity cheer and varsity basketball to FCCLA and FBLA, among other clubs, and Student Council – the latter of which, she said, keeps her the busiest.

“Our main focus is getting more student involvement in whatever we do,” she said. “All students should feel equal and not be left out and participate in at least one thing. As Student Council, we need to make different opportunities for students to be able to feel like they are included.”

She loves being with her fellow athletes in basketball and cheer, but although being a team player is important, Benford isn’t all about blending in with the crowd.

“Leadership plays a big role in my life,” Benford said. It was likely the focus on leadership that pegged her to represent Phil Campbell at Girls State last year.

“That was a really big highlight in my life,” Benford said.

“I decided I wanted to run for something. I didn’t know what at first.”

Benford looked to a family friend in politics to help her decide, and she eventually opted to run for Secretary of State – a goal she managed to achieve.

She’s even thought about going into politics at the local or state level, although she’d like to focus on her career first – in the dental profession.

“When I was involved in Junior Leadership, we were able to job shadow, and I chose to job shadow a dentist,” Benford said. “It really gave me more interest in wanting to do it.”

Benford plans to get her undergraduate degree in biology or business before continuing dental school, and she is looking into Northwest-Shoals Community College and the University of North Alabama, or possibly Itawamba Community College, where she could continue to cheer.

As she looks toward the future, Benford has a clear idea of what success means to her: “setting goals and achieving them to the best of your ability, no matter what anyone else thinks,” she said. For her, that means graduating college and being accepted into dental school so she can one day practice family or pediatric dentistry, “so people can smile and aren’t ashamed to smile.”

Benford is the daughter of Kelvin and Karrie Benford, and she has three siblings.

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PROGRESS 2016

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SPIRIT Gabe Lawler shines on and off the field

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riends. Family. Sports. These are the things that drive Gabe Lawler.

In the twelfth grade at Tharptown High School, Lawler is a member of the basketball and baseball teams. He transferred to Tharptown from Russellville after ninth grade.

“I got here, and it felt like home. It’s smaller, and you know everybody,” Lawler said. “You can make friends with anybody, really.”

Like most of his senior class, he plans to attend NorthwestShoals Community College. It’s where a lot of his friends who graduated in 2015 enrolled, as well. Lawler said he wants to major in, and pursue a career in, wastewater management, in which he became interested after job shadowing a cousin in the fall.

“He’s an operator. He works the machines that filter everything out of the water. You have to take samples of the water, test it and make sure it’s getting enough oxygen and everything is flowing through right,” Lawler said. “You’re outside a lot … It just seemed like something I would be into.”

In addition to athletics, Lawler has been involved in FCA, Spanish Club and Student Council during high school. One trait he prides himself on is being social and friendly to everyone.

“I developed that as I got older; I used to be shy,” he said.

“I felt that was something that would help me through life – to be able to go up and talk to anybody and not be afraid of them.

“It seems like there are a bunch of people who don’t like each other but work together, and they get into arguments all the time,” Lawler said. “Being sociable can help you not be in arguments all the time and help you get along with your boss. That’s a good thing to have.”

Lawler hopes to get a job in this area to stay in a small town.

“I’m not a big city person. When you’re in a big city, you have select people you know, and that’s all. They are the only people you ever communicate with,” he said. “Here, I know everybody. This is where all my friends are. It’s home.”

It’s also where nearly all of his family lives – he’s particularly close with his cousins.

“They’ve been a big part of my life,” Lawler said. “It’s fun having us all there, especially around the holidays.”

Lawler’s parents are Tonya and Shane Lawler. He has two younger brothers.

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PROGRESS 2016

Isbell United Methodist Church Rev. Michael Cole Sunday Service 10am & 5pm Wednesday 6pm 10650 Hwy 43 • Russellville, AL

F God so loved the world, that he gave his For only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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FAITH

FOR THE FUTURE Holly Hardin relies on God to guide her career goals

H

olly Hardin is “just trying to make it, like everybody else – trying to make something of myself.”

Most would agree she is well on her way.

Hardin, a senior at Red Bay High School, could be the poster child for student involvement. She has played basketball all through middle and high school and was on last year’s state championship-winning team. She also competed with the robotics team this year. She’s a member of SADD, Beta Club and LEO Club, through which she has amassed numerous community service hours. She has been a cheerleader and run track.

She’s also the HOSA president and even began to run for a state office, although she had to drop out because of basketball tournament conflicts. “I had worked so hard. I said my speech like 14 million times,” Hardin said.

It’s this last area of involvement that speaks to her career goals. Hardin is considering an undergraduate degree in either chemistry pre-med or chemical engineering pre-med before continuing on to be a pediatrician. Schools she’s contemplating are Northeast Community College in Booneville, Miss., Ole Miss or Auburn University, where she’s interested in getting involved in student government and a sorority.

“I love healthcare; it fascinates me,” Hardin said. “When I was little, I had an abscess in my eye and went to my pediatrician with that several times. I wound up having to have surgery. And so with all the check-ups and everything, I just loved it. I’ve never been scared of going to the doctor.” She said she’s drawn to the challenge and to the opportunity to help people; she hopes to one day open her own clinic. “It’s a rewarding thing,” Hardin said.

Hardin is this year’s Distinguished Young Woman of Franklin County and recently competed at state. She attends Pilot Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

If her medical school aspirations don’t pan out, Hardin said she has also considered going into broadcast journalism – two challenging career paths, but “if you have a strong mindset and know your worth, you can do it,” she said.

To some, it might seem as though Hardin has things pretty well figured out for herself. But from her perspective, she’s figuring things out with God. “Trusting Him to guide my future is a big deal,” said Hardin, adding that she is thankful to her family for setting her foundation on faith. “If you pray and keep God first, it’s going to work out. Everything happens for a reason; I believe in that.” She credits God for her success so far in her life.

Although Hardin said she doesn’t know where life will take her, “I love home. I love living here.”

Hardin is the daughter of Todd and Lori Hardin. She has one sister and one brother.

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PROGRESS 2016

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PROGRESS 2016

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WINNING WAYS Reed Holt wants to be the best

“I

’m a very competitive person. I don’t like to lose.”

This is the mentality that has carried Red Bay High School senior Reed Holt through years of playing football – beginning with Little League in fourth grade, which led into varsity play. The game is his passion, and he has an eye on playing college ball.

“I like the competitiveness of it – how demanding of a sport it is,” Holt said. “It requires a lot.

You have to put a lot of time into it … I love it. It’s fun to play – especially when you’re good at it.”

In addition to football, Holt has been involved in track, which he started as a seventh grader, and the robotics team, which he participated in as a senior.

“It was a blast. I loved it because I actually got to build the robot,” he said. “When we started the competition, we didn’t really know what was going on … but for a first year team, everybody was saying we were really intimidating.”

But although robotics allowed him to have new experiences and meet new people, football is

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where his heart is – especially when it comes to his relationship with his fellow Tigers.

“I know I can call anybody on my team, and they will be there in five minutes. That’s what a brotherhood is. That’s what family is,” he said.

“We’ve been around each other forever, so we became like brothers … and now that I’m a senior, it’s just kind of hit me, ‘Hey, it’s over now for me.’

The family is still there, it’s just I’m not really a part of it anymore.”

With his eye on the prize, Holt hearkens back to his early years in football when he thinks about the importance he places on hard work and winning.

“I’ve had to fight for everything I’ve got. When I started playing football in fourth grade, I rode the bench. I didn’t know how to play football; I signed up because everyone else was,” he said. “From there, I had to work really hard to make myself better at it … I wanted to contribute as much as I could to the team. I didn’t want to be on the bench – I wanted to actually be involved in the action.”

Holt said whatever he does in the future, “I

want to be the best at it. For me, that’s the main reason I like sports. The whole competitive side to it is amazing. Everybody is trying to be better than the next person.” The important thing, Holt said, is putting in more work than the other guy to get the better results. “It’s about 90 percent work and 10 percent God,” Holt said.

That hard work is something he focused on throughout his high school football career, and it’s a discipline he can carry with him throughout his life.

“I would get to school at 7:30 in the morning, and I wouldn’t leave until 9 or 9:30 p.m. because I was getting done with practice at 6 p.m. and watching film, ice bathing so I would be good for the next day and trying to make myself better. I would work out extra, runs sprints – do whatever I had to do to get better – for me and for my team.

The better I am, the better we are as a whole. That goes for everyone. The more work you put in as a team, the better you will be.”

Holt’s parents are Sandy and Crystal Holt. He has two brothers.

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MAPPING THE FUTURE Niles Butts sets sights on career in geography

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iles Butts is a member of the National Honor Society, Physics Club, Spanish Club, Scholars Bowl and the world champion rocket team.

When the Russellville High School senior heads off to Mississippi State in the fall, he plans to major in geography.

“I’ve always liked maps,” Butts said. “And I like history, and there’s a lot of history in it, too.”

Butts’ passion for geography grew out of a childhood spent following the routes on family vacations.

“When we would go on vacation, we’d have an atlas, and I would always follow along on the map with where we were,” Butts said. “I always thought it was interesting how you could look down at a piece of paper and see exactly where you were.”

He is considering a career as a GIS analyst, using software to aid large companies or municipalities in myriad applications, like plotting gas lines or marking boundaries.

“Geography encompasses a lot more than people think about,” Butts said. “It’s really interesting.”

Currently, the RHS rocket team occupies most of Butts’ time; he specializes in launch systems. Last year was his first year on team. He said he has also considered engineering and architecture careers in the past but has decided geography is more his wheelhouse.

Aside from RCS Engineering, Butts said Scholars Bowl is probably his main area of involvement.

“It’s always really exciting,” Butts said. “My brothers and I have always played sports, but I was not the best, but I was still competitive, so I wanted something that was competitive for me. I’ve always liked being an academic person, and that’s competition for academic people, so it’s always been exciting for me.”

Butts is eager to begin college and is also considering a stint with the Air Force, where he could pursue his interest in being a pilot.

He is the son of Daryl and Gloria Butts, and he has two brothers.

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PROGRESS 2016

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STAR STUDENT Max Moussad rises to the top

M

ax Moussad, an eighth grader at Russellville Middle School, was born and raised in Russellville.

“I’ve always had a good life. I’ve had parents who pushed me,” he said. “I’ve got amazing friends and great teachers who are always pushing me. It’s just a great life.”

Moussad is involved in a variety of activities, ranging from the band – where he plays percussion – to scholars bowl, to the robotics club, in which he recently enjoyed participating in the BEST Robotics Competition.

“My brother did robotics since he was in sixth grade, so I grew an interest in it,” Moussad said. “It’s been a great experience. I like the environment – I have people there who are really nice, and then just the feeling of seeing that you made this thing, and seeing what it can do – it’s a feeling that nothing can top.”

When it comes to band, Moussad said one of the most rewarding parts is working through a challenging piece and struggling with it but hitting that moment where it all finally clicks. “You just run free, and it sounds great,” Moussad said.

Moussad grew up seeing his father in the medical profession, which has drawn him to consider a career in the medical field as well.

“I want to be just like him: be a doctor and help people,” Moussad said. His father recommended the dermatology field.

“I think that would be a great job to go into.”

Moussad said healthcare is just a natural inclination to him.

“Whenever my friends would hurt, I would always wonder what was wrong with them,” he said. “If they’re sick, I start asking them questions and see if I can get a small diagnosis. I just want to get in there and see what’s wrong, if I can tell what’s wrong.

I just love that.

“I want to take people from where they’re sick and feel like there’s no hope to where, a couple of weeks later, they are up again and feel the best they’ve ever felt in their life.”

Although Moussad still has several years of school left, he’s already thinking about where he might go to college and is considering UAB. He said he knows being patient through the many years of schooling to become a doctor will prove to be a challenge.

He added that he also thinks it will be important to seek mentorship from people who have seniority in the medical field who can share their knowledge.

“I need someone to do that for me, and then I can do that for someone in the future,” he said.

Moussad is proud of his grades, for which he works hard – a focus he has had ever since kindergarten.

“When I was in kindergarten, we weren’t really supposed to know much … My mom skipped ahead, and she wanted me to know my times tables and everything,” Moussad said. Currently his parents are working to prepare him for the ACT. Moussad is the son of Rizk Moutagaly and Irene Samy. He has one brother.

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PROGRESS 2016

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MINDS AND

MUSIC Luke Stanford sets sights on psychiatry and professional music careers

“I

like making people smile. I hate seeing people who are depressed or sad … Jokingly some of my friends have called me their psychologist before because I’ll talk to them about anything.

That’s what I enjoy doing.”

Through online courses in psychology and sociology, Luke Stanford discovered his career path: he plans to pursue a career in psychiatry.

A senior at Red Bay High School, Stanford plans to attend Northwest-Shoals Community College before transferring to UAB to major in psychiatry and then continuing into medical school. He said he “knew I wanted to do something where I could help people,” but he didn’t know what until he was introduced to the psychiatry field.

“My goal through life is to help people. There are so many people in this world who are hurting, and they don’t have anybody to turn to, and I believe I could help at least some of those people,” Stanford said. “If I could change one person’s life, out of billions of people in the world, that’s a great achievement.”

He wants to reach people who don’t have family and friends as support systems in their lives – the way he does. “There are people who will never have anybody like that. That’s why we have criminals in our world, and homeless people – because there is nobody to help them. I think I could be a difference in somebody’s life.”

A Birmingham native, Stanford moved to Red Bay in seventh grade. Throughout high school, he has been involved in a number of activities – SADD, HOSA, and he is currently the senior class president – but he has dedicated five full years to the FFA string band, in which he sings and plays bass guitar.

“Being on stage is one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt.

There’s no other experience like it,” Stanford said. “I want to play music until I die. Music is a gift nobody wants to give up.

For most people, after high school, sports are over, but music is lifelong.”

He has competed with the string band statewide and nationally, and last summer he got the chance to perform at the BJCC in Birmingham. “That was a great experience,” he said.

“Standing on that stage was just one of the best feelings in the world.”

Stanford also plays ukelele and plans to learn piano; he hopes to get into the jazz band at NW-SCC and continue a music career into adulthood, in some facet.

“If I could play in a band for money on the side, that would be a dream-come-true – to be a professional musician,” he

20

PROGRESS 2016

said. “I don’t know if I would want to do music full time because I know it’s very demanding, and it’s not a very stable job.”

Music might also be another way he reaches people, in addition to his career in psychiatry. “If you’re having a bad day, wouldn’t you want to hear something that makes you happy?” Stanford said.

He also said he thinks professional musicians can and should be positive role models.

Stanford is considering a focus on child psychiatry, to help confront mental disorders before they progress and get out of hand. “With the way the world is right now, there are a lot of people who need help,” he said. But the outlook is hopeful.

“Don’t give up on the world yet. Everything looks bad now, and we might not agree with the leaders we have now – you won’t agree with every leader you have – but you just have to have hope that they will make choices that will protect you, your country and your loved ones,” said Stanford. He said he thinks his generation will make a difference in the

world. “(One day) it’s going to be up to the kids born in the ‘90s and 2000s to make the decisions for the world. I believe we should be prepared now because after college we’re in the world and we’re going to have to make decisions … Hopefully we can protect America while we’re still on this earth.”

Stanford’s parents are mom Jennifer Pace, dad Chris Stanford, step-mom Mandy Stanford and step-dad Brian Pace. He has two brothers and four sisters.

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PROGRESS 2016

21

HOMETOWN GIRL Lauren Brewer holds passion for Vina

M

any if not most high school seniors are counting down the days until graduation, eagerly researching sororities and fraternities and lining up college roommates. But if it were up to Lauren Brewer, she might never leave home at all.

Brewer, a senior at Vina High School, loves the small town she lives in and especially the school.

“Leaving Vina is not what I want to do,” Brewer said. “Most people say, ‘I can‘t wait to get out of here.’ That’s not me. I want to come back to Vina. I want to come back and show spirit for the upcoming kids … I want to come back and cheer them on and be there for them.”

Brewer has some experience in rooting people on. A Vina cheerleader, she was voted Football Queen this year – a lifelong goal – and manages to juggle both playing varsity basketball in addition to cheering. But while she’s spending her time on the court, football is her true love.

“I haven’t missed a game in three years,” she said.

Brewer plans to major in nursing, beginning at NorthwestShoals Community College and then transferring to the University of North Alabama. It’s a decision she’s been set on since a third-grade writing assignment about future careers.

“I remember writing down what I wanted to be, and it was a nurse,” Brewer said. “Nothing else was ever really an option I guess. I never really looked into anything else. I knew nursing was what I wanted to do.”

She enjoys science and writing and has been active in high school, participating in FBLA and SGA as well as National Honor Society and the track team. She also represented Vina at Girls State last summer.

“I like Vina. I’ve gone to school here since kindergarten.

You know everybody, and you’re always going to have somebody to talk to,” Brewer said. “I don’t want to graduate. I try not to think about it.”

Brewer said one of her primary goals is making people happy.

“If anybody is ever having a problem, they can come to me and talk to me about it. I like to make people smile and feel better. I don’t ever like seeing anybody having a bad day.”

She said she wants to work as a labor and delivery nurse or in the ER or perhaps in a nursing home.

“I really want to work with either really young people or the elderly,” Brewer said.

She is the daughter of Terry and Martha Brewer. She has one brother.

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PROGRESS 2016

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PROGRESS 2016

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PROBLEMSOLVER Annslee Bottoms seeks out solutions in array of interests

A

nnslee Bottoms is an eighth grader at Tharptown High School, and currently she has a singular focus.

“I know I really want to go to college. I don’t know where, but that’s currently my end goal,” Bottoms said. “If you get a higher education, you can get a higher job, and that’s really important nowadays. If you just get your GED or just graduate high school, you’re not really going to get anywhere.”

Bottoms is counting on college to open doors – although she doesn’t know yet where she wants those doors to lead.

“I don’t know what I want to be. There are so many things to do,” Bottoms said. “There’s a lot to explore and test out before I dive into one thing.”

But whatever career she chooses, she does have one defined passion: problem-solving.

“I could be a doctor and help people and solve medical problems, or I could be a programmer and solve computer problems and technology problems,” Bottoms said. “There are FBI prob-

24

lems, which have to do with criminology and how people think.” It’s a desire to riddle out problems and give people workable solutions that drives many of Bottoms’ interests – whether it’s completing a mathematical equation, or following the clues in a fictional mystery, or choosing a future career. “Basically, you can help whoever’s problem you’re solving,” she said. “That’s something I like.”

At Tharptown, Bottoms is a straight-A student who plays basketball, volleyball and softball. She said if she had to choose, however, she’d choose studying over sports. She is also a member of the robotics team, which opened up brand new interests. As a programmer, “I got to actually make the robot move,” she said. “I got to meet people from other schools – other programmers.”

Although Bottoms said she is interested in moving far away and seeing bigger cities, she loves Tharptown. “It’s small, and it’s really nice because everyone knows you, and you know everyone,” Bottoms said. “But then again it’s still big enough where you can explore here and

there … I like the idea of a big city because I’ve never been in one, but I’ll just have to test it out.

It might get crowded, and I’ve heard you can’t really see the stars as well.”

Bottoms is also involved in the middle school Scholars Bowl, and she hopes Tharptown might add a high school team to its offerings. “It’s like a debate team, and I really like questions and solving problems,” Bottoms said.

When it comes to achieving a goal – aside from going to college – Bottoms knows what she’s looking for.

“To everybody, success is different. For some people it might be finishing a long marathon or getting to the Olympics. For others it might be finding a cure or solving a problem. For me, college is as far as I can see into the future. After college … Success would be being happy with yourself,” she said. “You can do this or that, but if you’re never happy with that, you’re not successful. Successfulness is inner peace.”

She is the daughter of Keith and Cinda Gilbert, and she has one brother.

PROGRESS 2016

ROCKET MAN Space dreams drive Cristian Ruiz

L

ong before Russellville High School eleventh grader Cristian Ruiz was a member of the 2015 World Champion rocket team, he had an admiration for outer space.

“When I was little, I would always read books about space and how rockets worked,” Ruiz said. He also watched spacecentric programs on National Geographic and the science channel, giving him plenty of opportunities to marvel at “the vastness of space and the adventure to be had in it.” “It truly is the future,” he added.

Now working toward a future in aerospace engineering, the rocket team consumes most if not all of Ruiz’ extracurricular time. He was recruited to the team by Lee Brownell the year it was established, as a middle school student, and he said it was even better than he though it would be. He loves “just being able to handle all the engines and everything being your design.”

“Whether something goes your way or doesn’t go your way, you have to make the call on different design choices and develop a skill for it,” he said.

Ruiz will pursue aerospace engineering at either the University of Alabama at Huntsville or Auburn University.

He said his career goal centers on working with a design team for NASA, United Launch Alliance or some other rocketry company to design new spacecraft and engines.

Ruiz said he would like to design a craft that would travel to and explore Europa, a moon orbiting Jupiter. “There’s said to be an ocean under the ice there. I think that’s interesting,” he said.

He is also fascinated by the manned mission to Mars and would love to travel there himself one day, if the opportunity arises.

Ruiz’ other interests include video games and sci-fi, like Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica.

He is the son of Junior and Jennie Ruiz and has one brother and one sister.

PROGRESS 2016

25

MISSION MINDED Ashleigh Morgan feels the call to serve God, serve people

R

ussellville High School senior Ashleigh Morgan always wanted to be a doctor, but those plans changed a few years ago when she felt God calling her into the ministry.

“I never would have thought I was going into missions if you had asked me a few years ago,” she said. “When I first felt called to missions, it didn’t make sense to me. But the more I stayed in the Word and followed God, I realized there is nothing else I could do and get that kind of joy.”

Morgan is a member of Calvary Baptist Church and went on her first mission trip last year to Jamaica. Following graduation, she is headed to the University of Mobile to major in intercultural studies. “I want to go into missions full time,” Morgan said. “When my church went on a mission trip to Jamaica, I really enjoyed that and found a passion for that, and I got really involved with a local mission here called Go Ministries.”

Go Ministries is a local program held every Monday in the Eastside area of Russellville. Calvary Baptist high school students have a backyard Bible study with local children and also take the opportunity to play with them and build relationships.

“It really warms your heart. I really love spending time with all the kids and serving them there. That’s where I first realized my passion for missions and God calling me into that,” Morgan said. “I just felt like that’s what God is calling me to do – go and serve Him wherever he is calling me.”

In high school, Morgan has participated and been a leader in SADD, HOSA and National Honors Society, along with Christian Students United, in which she has been most active.

“We have speakers every Tuesday,” Morgan said. “We did See You at the Pole, and that was a really neat experience. We broke up into small groups, and we just got the opportunity to pray over the whole school.” She also participated in Franklin County Junior Leadership. “I really enjoyed that because we had a lot of really great opportunities to serve in the community, and we got to meet a lot of really cool people,” she said.

Although Morgan doesn’t know where God is calling her to do missions yet, she is interested in working with the International Mission Board. Her primary aim is to show people Jesus and follow God’s will.

“In the Bible it tells us to go and proclaim the name of Jesus to all nations,” she said. “There are a lot of unreached people groups … To be the first person they hear the name of Jesus from would be incredible.”

Morgan’s parents are Dr. Tom and Laura Morgan. She has a brother and a sister.

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PROGRESS 2016

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VETERINARY VISION Lane Yancey dreams of homegrown vet clinic in East Franklin

“N

o matter what I’m doing, I love being outside.”

The consummate outdoorsman, Lane Yancey is a senior at Phil Campbell High School who goes hunting and fishing, harvests hay and has a lawnmower business. What Yancey loves perhaps most of all are his cows, which he works with his grandfather, and which played a big part in his plans to become a veterinarian.

“I’ve always loved animals and worked on a farm,” Yancey said. “It’s neat to see a calf be born and then raise it up, and then one day it will have a

28

calf. It’s just neat to see that.”

Yancey plans to begin his higher education at Northwest-Shoals Community College before transferring to either Mississippi State or Auburn University. He said even though he’s looking at probably ten more long years in school, it will be worth it.

“No matter what you do in life, it’s all about doing something you love to do,” Yancey said, emphasizing how important it is to “take time and do something you enjoy doing and want to do for the rest of your life. It might take a while to get there, but in the long run it will pay off.”

Yancey spends all the time he can outside, whether it’s working at Liberty Hill Deer Processing – “I’m fascinated with deer hunting to start with, but I like seeing what everybody brings in, the big bucks,” – or hunting wild hogs – “We killed a 308-pounder the other night – that thing was huge.”

The important thing is the peace and quiet he finds outdoors.

“You’re by yourself,” Yancey said. “If you have a bad day at school or something’s wrong, you can go out there and not think about it. You can seclude yourself where it’s peaceful.”

At Phil Campbell High School, Yancey is

PROGRESS 2016

involved in FFA, in which he recently won a timber team competition. “I’ve taken as much ag as I possibly could,” Yancey said. “I enjoy doing more of the agri-science and welding than sitting in classroom.”

A recent job shadowing opportunity cemented his ambition to go into veterinary sciences, with an emphasis on large animals. He said he is eager for the opportunity both to help sick animals and expose himself to the chance for constant learning.

He would like to one day operate a vet clinic out of his home in Franklin County.

“My dream is to have one at my house and have everybody come to me and, on top of that, go out and do house calls,” Yancey said. He also likes talking to and learning from seasoned farmers in his area.

Returning to East Franklin is a no-brainer for Yancey.

“I love the community I live in, in East Franklin,” he said. “It’s a good, loving community. Everybody knows everybody. When something goes wrong, or somebody’s in need, somebody will help out …

Every time somebody is sick or when somebody has cancer, they’re all the time wanting to do a fundraiser. If their house burns or blows away, they’re always trying to figure out how to help them. When there’s a funeral, you don’t have to worry about eating for a week because everybody in the community brings something to eat. It’s just a good community, and it’s a tight-knit community.”

Another recent experience that made Yancey confident of his veterinary aspirations was dealing with

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a heifer he had raised that birthed a calf but then produced no milk.

“This calf got sick, and I found it, and I wrapped it up in my coat, and I put the calf and the mother in the barn. I had to bottle feed that calf for four days,” Yancey said. He cared for mother and calf meticulously morning and night until the mother started producing milk.

Yancey and his grandfather work about two dozen cows, half of which are calves they will sell in the spring, and they continuously aim to expand their pasture so they can increase their herd. Yancey said he would love to one day have a hundred head of cattle.

Yancey is the son of Roy and Tammy McCleese.

He has one younger sister.

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29

TECH GUY JJ McCormick plans career in technical production, youth ministry

W

hen JJ McCormick, a senior at Russellville High School, heads off to the University of Mobile in the fall, he’ll have a dual focus: theology and music production.

“I love to run sound and lights – I do that for local churches here,” McCormick said. “It’s just a passion of mine. I’m really a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. I love to be part of everyone enjoying stuff, but I like to be the one who makes it happen.”

A member of Branches church, McCormick runs lighting and sound for his congregation, as well as

30

on occasion for Calvary Baptist, and also does sound production for the RHS show choir. The show choir, however, isn’t the only group at RHS that relies on his tech skills.

“Our school should really hire me to be their tech guy,” McCormick said. “They have three tech guys who are over the entire system, so they’re always busy at other schools. So when it’s at our school, I’m always the one who takes care of it. Most of the teachers know me, so they’ll call and get me out to fix computer problems or problems with projectors, SMART boards and stuff like that.”

He is also the producer for Tiger Vision, which live streams Golden Tigers’ sporting events.

McCormick’s tech interests date back to middle school, and he is eager to embrace a career that will tap into those talents – one day he’d like to “be – whether it be a camera guy, a producer or a sound engineer – part of the production of a movie,” or run lights for a big-name band, or go on tour with a Christian band.

But that’s not his only passion. McCormick is also interested in youth ministry.

“I’d really like to start out as a youth pastor,”

PROGRESS 2016

he said. “I really enjoy seeing people my age, when they come to know God, actually live it. I have a big knowledge about the Bible. We have Bible studies, and I love to add my input and be able to communicate to people what God is saying … I’d like to do my best to lead people to stick to God so God will be glorified.”

It’s his love for children that motivated him in his efforts to be part of starting a local youth outreach ministry – Go Ministries, which has been held at Eastside Park for the last four years. “We take the kids from the homes and we bring them down to Eastside Park. We just play with them for a little while, and then we will do a Bible story, have a snack, and then they’ll go out and play some more, and then we take them home,” McCormick said. “It’s been

such a blessing … The kids – they love it so much.”

Children range from toddlers up to high school age, from 10-30 every session, which runs weekly during warm weather.

McCormick also put his passion for God and children to work during a mission trip to Uganda last summer.

“I only stayed for seven days, but it was a humbling experience. I fell in love with the faces of these kids. They don’t have any of the material possessions we have here in America,” McCormick said. “But I asked this kid what he wanted to be when he grows up, and he told me he wanted to be a missionary. I was like, ‘Cool. Where do you want to be a missionary to?’ And he wanted to be a missionary to America because he saw there was so much hate and such a

need for Christ.”

At RHS, McCormick is president of the National Honors Society, president of FBLA and helped to found the History Honors Society at Russellville High School. He is also involved in Christian Students United and is on the career tech advisory committee for RCS. Although McCormick has diverse career goals – sound/production engineer and ministry – he said he sees them flowing together seamlessly.

“Running lights or running sound is something that enhances worships and helps usher in the presence of God,” he said.

He is the son of Jeff and Stacy McCormick and the late Amy LeClere. He has three brothers and two sisters.

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PROGRESS 2016

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SET ON SERVICE Stephanie Monterroso gives back as Junior Leader

A

junior at Russellville High School, Stephanie Monterroso has several specific but varied interests. She plays clarinet in the band; is president of Mu Theta Alpha, a mathematics honors society; and is a member of the annual staff, SADD, the History Club and the Cosmetology Club. She has also dedicated much of herself to the Franklin County Junior Leadership program.

“I like to help people in my community. I like that I’m helping them without getting something in return,” Monterroso said. Junior Leadership has given her the opportunity to work at Spirit of Hodges and Holly Day. At Burns Nursing Home she helped with a birthday party and played games with the residents. “It was kind of sad, but I felt good about helping them because I know they need it.” At Country Cottage, she helped in the kitchen with the Thanksgiving meal.

Junior Leadership is something, Monterroso said, she has really enjoyed. “I got to meet a bunch of people from different schools, and I made new friends.”

She also enjoys band, in which she has participated since middle school. She said clarinet was the only instrument she even considered playing. “I like how you can play all the high notes and all the low notes,” she said.

When Monterroso graduates high school, she said she hopes to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham and major in anesthesiology – a career she thinks will play into her penchant for precision.

“It has to be just right, and I’m a perfectionist; I’m very detail-oriented,” she said. “If you put too much anesthesia, they won’t wake up, and if you use too little, they will wake up during surgery.”

With seven to 12 years of schooling ahead of her, Monterroso said she plans to remain focused on her studies, throughout high school and into college.

“You have to start off in school focused on what you do so by the time you get to a real job, you’re not slacking off in what you do – which in a field like anesthesiology is always necessary,” Monterroso said.

She also believes it’s important to “be happy with what you do in your life.”

She is the daughter of Gustavo and Ana Monterroso, and she has one brother.

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PROGRESS 2016

ARTISTIC ASPIRATIONS Taylor Cash works toward graphic design career

L

ike several of her fellow students, Taylor Cash, an eleventh grader at Red Bay High School, was eager to join in when RBHS started a robotics team this school year. But for her, it wasn’t about mechanics, machinery or programming. Cash wanted in on the marketing and design aspects of the robotics program.

“I got to design a website, make presentations and design our T-shirts,” Cash said. “It was very fun. This was our first year, and we did really well. We got nine awards and fourth overall.”

Cash has loved to draw ever since she was 4 or 5 years old.

It’s a passion she has pursued her whole life. When she was little, “I had an entire wall covered with notebook paper, and I drew every single member of my known family and every pet I had ever had. It covered the entire wall,” she said.

More recently, “I did a drawing as an homage to one of my favorite video games, and it was every single character from the video game arranged in a way in which they all interacted,” Cash said. Using a graphic tablet and Photoshop, Cash took her idea from concept to reality, beginning with a sketch and then coloring, shading and adding lighting. “I love drawing, and drawing on the computer is basically what graphic design is,” Cash said.

Aside from art, Cash’s other main interest and area of involvement is RBHS FFA, in which she is an officer and works the sound board for the string band. “I make sure all the sound is flowing correctly and at proper volumes,” she said. “I love FFA so much. It’s just a tight-knit community.

Everywhere you go, people always compliment the FFA. The conventions you go to – there’s so much energy and unity. It’s so much fun.”

Following college, Cash – whose more immediate goal is to be RBHS’ valedictorian – said she would be interested in working in graphic design as a freelance artist or for a company – working for Google is one career aspiration. She’s also particularly interested in creating concept art. “That’s where someone – say, for a T.V. show, they want a character designed, and they tell you how they want it to look and what kind of feelings and auras it gives off. Then you, based on their descriptions, try and sketch what you think that would look like.”

From Cash’s perspective, art is absolutely crucial – though other people might not see it that way.

“Without art, people wouldn’t be able to function properly.

Art is a way people express themselves, and without a way to express yourself, you get stressed out really quickly,” Cash said. “It’s a way you can free your mind.”

“The people who truly respect arts are the ones who make art,” she said. “They understand how much effort it takes for that art to be there.”

Cash is the daughter of Greg and Rhonda Cash. She has one brother.

PROGRESS 2016

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I

n eighth grade at Phil Campbell High School, Ben Williams is a dedicated student – but he also loves playing sports.

“I like basketball and football especially,” said Williams, who plays guard in basketball and running back in football on the school teams.

He started playing basketball at age 7 and football at age 12. “I like the pace of the games,” he said. “I used to play baseball, but it was just too slow for me. I like how you have to exert yourself athletically and physically. It gives you a rush.”

Although sports are great recreation, Williams doesn’t anticipate pursuing a college athletic career. So when it comes to his education, he plans to follow in his father and uncle’s footsteps – both are engineers.

“It involves a lot of math and problem-solving, and I like problem-solving. It challenges your brain to think outside the box,” Williams said.

“My uncle works on rockets, so I think that’s

pretty interesting.” He hopes to one day enroll in the University of Alabama – also like his father.

He has recently gotten an inside look at engineering disciplines by competing on PCHS’ robotics and rocketry team, PC Elite. “I like it pretty well; it’s fun,” he said. “In robotics, they present you with a difficult challenge, and it’s interesting to see all the different ways people figure out to accomplish the tasks.”

A Florida native, Williams said long term he wants to stay in Phil Campbell and be part of the community.

“It’s not a big place – you know most of the people around you,” Williams said. “It’s not as hectic. It’s more calm and laidback.”

Calmness is also one reason Williams is an avid deer and squirrel hunter. “I like being in the outdoors. It’s peaceful,” he said.

He is the son of Angela and Chris Williams. He has one brother.

PROGRESS 2016

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K

atie Burns, an eighth grader at Russellville Middle School, has a claim to fame few can rival: she’s a world champion.

Burns is a member of RCS Engineering and was on last year’s team that launched a worldchampion rocket at the international competition in Paris, France. And for Burns, one reason to join RCS Engineering – recruited by Lee Brownell – was in light of her future career goal: to be an engineer with NASA. “I like building things, so I thought, ‘This could help me in the future with getting a job,’” Burns said. “I like building with LEGOs. Every time my brother would get LEGOs, I would build with them.”

Her father, who is the RCS Engineering mentor, works at United Launch Alliance, and Burns said she admires his engineering prowess. As part of RCS Engineering, she’s gotten a chance to get hands-on experience both designing and fabricating, and after high school she plans to attend Auburn University to major in mechanical or aerospace engineering.

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Space fascinates Burns, and when it comes to NASA, she said she is particularly interested in being part of the discussion and design phase of rocketry.

“They sit and talk about it for a really long time and then they’ll build it, so I think it would be cool to sit and talk about how you want to design it,” said Burns. However, her interests expand beyond the mere theoretical. She is especially captivated by the idea of the Mars mission and would even love to visit Mars herself.

“I want to travel in space – but I don’t want to stay there for a long time,” Burns said. She also wants to travel the world. “I’d just like to explore and see all the different types of cultures – just to be able to learn how other people live their lives.

If you see that, then you see the whole world in a different view.”

As far as her other involvement, Burns was part of the tennis team in seventh grade and part of the volleyball team in seventh and eighth grade.

She is the daughter of Theresa and Tracy Burns. She has one brother.

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livia Knight, a sophomore at Phil Campbell High School, is nothing if not involved. She’s a member of the National Junior Honor Society, Yearbook Staff, Junior Civitan and History Club – a full plate by anyone’s standards. She also plays softball – a lifelong interest – and has been a cheerleader since seventh grade.

“All my friends were signing up, so I signed up too. I didn’t really want to do it, but I liked it once I started,” Knight said.

Her career interests are split: when the time comes, Knight thinks she might want be either a family and consumer sciences teacher – “I just enjoy cooking and the things that go along

with that,” – or an occupational therapist, but “I change my mind all the time.”

Family is an important part of her life.

“They are always there for me,” Knight said.

“If you don’t have friends and family, no one’s going to be there for you.”

In the immediate future, Knight wants to graduate in the Top 10 of her class, and she hopes to be in the National Honor Society. “I enjoy making good grades,” she said. “I just set that standard for myself.”

She also wants to travel in the western U.S. and New York and enjoys reading nonfiction and attending Antioch Baptist Church.

She is the daughter of Rodney and Carla Knight and has one brother.

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hil Campbell High School’s Maggie Fowler is a sophomore this year, but she has her eyes on the future with goals that span from making the varsity cheer squad, ranking as Valedictorian and pursuing a career as a pre-school teacher or a doctor.

Her career options hinge on one shared component: she wants to work with children. “I love to be around kids. They’re fun. You never know what they’re going to say,” Fowler said.

At PCHS, Fowler is in the History Club, FCCLA, National Honor Society and Junior Civitan. She was selected to attend the Be Ready Camp in Huntsville during middle school. She’s also a member of the cheerleading squad. “I’ve always loved to cheer. I just love all of it.”

Her other interests include drawing and singing – the latter of which she does at church,

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Haleyville Freewill Baptist, performing oftenrequested solos. Her favorite song to sing is “Child of the King.” “God gave me the gift, and I just want to use it,” Fowler said.

Fowler strives to earn all A’s in her school work, and she one day plans to attend NorthwestShoals Community College, followed by Athens State University or the University of Alabama to complete her education to become either a teacher or a doctor.

“Children are the next generation,” Fowler said. Children just seem to flock to her, and she said it’s important to just listen to them and try to understand them. “I like to make them laugh,” she added. In her own family, she often babysits two younger cousins and a baby nephew.

Fowler is the daughter of Jeff and Heather Fowler. She has one sister.

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BEING THE BEST Competitive streak motivates Katie Dempsey

“I

always want to be the best. I guess that’s what makes me try so hard.”

Whether it’s on the basketball court or the softball field, at a Scholars Bowl match or baking something up in the kitchen, Belgreen High School eighth grader Katie Dempsey is focused on what she wants.

Dempsey also plays volleyball and runs track, in addition to playing softball and basketball. Sports consume most of her time.

“I like all of them, but softball is probably my favorite,” Dempsey said. When it comes to school, math is her favorite subject. “I think it’s the most interesting, and it comes easier to me than the rest,” Dempsey said.

Scholars Bowl provides another way for Dempsey to flex her competitive muscles.

“I just like to win,” Dempsey said. “It makes

you feel like you accomplished something.”

A few more years stand between Dempsey and her future career, but she is pretty sure she already knows what she wants to be – a pediatric surgeon or pediatrician. The primary thing, for Dempsey, is to work with children.

She’s also inspired by the story of Katie Davis, told in “Kisses From Katie” to one day go on a medical mission trip to teach and help orphaned children – perhaps to Uganda or Ethiopia.

Dempsey is also heavily involved in family and consumer sciences. She loves to bake and decorate cakes and recently learned how to crochet.

She hopes to join more clubs when she moves up to the high school in the fall.

Dempsey is the daughter of Terry and Kristi Dempsey. She has one brother and two sisters.

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