First Baptist Prattville First Baptist Prattville

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Tropic Falls is the tropical getaway with something for everybody—one ticket includes 23 theme park rides and the region’s biggest indoor water park! Open on select days is the all-new tropical wave pool, Big Water Bay, complete with Coastal Curl surf simulator. Hours vary— get all the details and tickets at VisitOWA.com!

The 2022-2023 school year has ended, and 852 graduates received diplomas signaling the end of their K-12 academic careers. I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments of these students!

The Elmore County High School senior class of 143 students was awarded nearly $3.2 million in scholarships. Thirteen graduates will enter military service, and 72 students are collegebound. Courtney Sides and Addi Ray were named Region 3 Bryant-Jordan winners. Joe Sewell Award recipients were Courtney Sides, Girls Overall Award, Allye Justiss, Girls Church, Community, & Character Award, and Matthew Stephenson, Boys Athletic Award. Valedictorian was Courtney Sides, and Co-Salutatorians were Dylan Wilson and Julia Thomas.

The Holtville High School senior class of 129 students earned approximately $2.97 million in scholarships. Sixteen graduates will enter military service, and 43 will pursue post- secondary education. The Joe Sewell Boy’s Leadership Award went to Colton Wheeler, and Sam Silas received the Boys Church, Community, and Character Award. Seven seniors competed in the baseball state championship. Valedictorian was Tyler Michael Langley, and Salutatorian was Heath Jacob Abrams.

Stanhope Elmore High’s senior class of 240 students was awarded $2.8 million in scholarships. Fifteen graduates will enter military service, and 163 students are college-bound. Co-Valedictorians were Taylor Boyle and Averie Vulcano, and Salutatorian was Sara Black.

The 249 students in Wetumpka High School’s senior class have earned over $9.1 million in scholarships. Twenty-one students will enter military service, and 148 students will attend college. Joe Sewell Award recipients were Gavan Baxley, Overall Boys Award, Becca Worrell, Girls Leadership Award, Kiley Sisson, Girls Academic Award, Taylor Gunn, Boys Academic Award. Logan Weighall received the Regional Bryant-Jordan Achievement Award and the W. Edgar Welden Service Scholarship. The Valedictorian was Dylan LaPorte, and the Salutatorian was Taylor Gunn.

The EDGE, Elmore County’s virtual school, graduated 91 seniors. Four graduates will enter military service, and 15 students are college-bound. Valedictorian was Madison Kisner, and Salutatorian was Cameron Lewis. Our students have taken advantage of a wide variety of course offerings, including Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, and/or Career-Technical Education courses and are well prepared to enter college or the work force. They have collectively earned scholarship offers totaling over $18 million! Congratulations to our graduates and we wish you well in your new endeavors!

The end of each school year provides an opportunity to “look behind and plan ahead.” We will reflect and fine-tune to offer our students optimal opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve their maximum potential in the upcoming school year! Every student empowered ~ every student succeeds!

Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.