SCHOOLS

SCHOOLS The College Experience

College Choice Helps Needy Students Prepare for Campus Life

By Emily Williams-RoBERtshaW

A shopping spree is the stuff of dreams, something only for lucky people who win a contest or participate on a game show.

On Feb. 28, a shopping spree was a dream come true for 34 of the College Choice Foundation’s participants at Dorm Decor Birmingham, an interior decor store focused on stocking designer products for dorm rooms.

The Homewood-based foundation was established by Homewood parents who saw a need to provide lowincome students with a road map to navigate the college application process.

“They opened their arms and their doors to make our girls feel like princesses,” said College Choice Foundation Executive Director Josephine Lowery. “(Dorm Decor) wanted them to have the same shopping experience as someone in a more affluent family. So, they didn’t even want them wearing name tags. They wanted these girls to feel like they just walked up the street to come shop.”

According to Lowery, the store spent countless hours preparing its showroom for the event. Staff removed current designs from the floor to display all of the items up for grabs.

“It was magical to see the smiles on these girls when they finished designing their own bed,” she said.

For Lowery, the experience hearkens back to her own schooling. She remembers that feeling of defeat when she arrived at her dorm room.

“I bought (my bedding) myself and was so proud of it,” she said. “It was reversible and practical. Then my roommate pulled out her beautiful quilt that was all kinds of colors.”

Lowery finds many things in common with the students the foundation serves. She, too, grew up in a lowincome household with a single mother, depending on food stamps and school lunches.

She was able to obtain a full ride to college with financial aid thanks to her guidance counselor, but times have changed. High school guidance counselors are strained serving hundreds of children.

“On a good day they don’t have a lot of time to help kids navigate the college process to the level that we can offer,” Lowery said. “I have so much respect and admiration for guidance counselors because they have way too much on their plate.”

The pandemic has thrown in even more obstacles, with students and counselors having to meet virtually.

“Our kids are even having meetings to get teacher recommendations from people and their guidance counselor forms,” she said. “You can’t just walk into their office.”

Need Increases

Lowery said the need for the foundation also has grown significantly over the past year.

Two years ago, the foundation had a huge increase in applications when one of its participants got into Yale University and it took on an unprecedented 21 students.

“The COVID-19 hit, and we had over 100 applicants last year,” Lowery said. “Some of the applications were delayed (by) the pandemic. But, in the end, we took on 54 kids.”

Over time, the services the foundation provides have expanded, as well. They don’t simply help a student get into college, they help them get there and get through. If a student needs help paying for a flight home for major life event, the foundation is there.

A growing need has been to ease the participants’ transitions from their home life to their new normal living on their own.

“When you are a black student going to a predominantly white school up North, there are so many challenges you are already overcoming,” she said. “So, we try to relieve as many barriers as we can.”

The partnership with Dorm Decor has been a huge step in the right direction, according to Lowery.

Foundation staff had previously collected dorm items and bedding for students, but never in such a glamorous fashion.

“Dorm Decor is one of the most amazing organizations,” said foundation student Zoe Kagwima. “Allowing us to do a shopping spree for dorm essentials was one of the nicest, easiest and coolest things that someone has ever done for me.”

Kagwima is a senior at Homewood High School and will be attending college at the University of Alabama.

In the future, Lowery envisions establishing an ongoing collection of dorm room donations to recreate a similar experience for future participants.

“For many of these girls, they have shared a bedroom or shared a bed and never had their own pretty, beautiful bedding like this,” she said. “It also made them realize that this is real. This is really happening. I am going to college.”

OTM Schools Announce National Merit Finalists

Over the past month, about 15,000 students throughout the country have been receiving word of their status as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

More than 1.5 million juniors in approximately 21,000 high schools participated in this year’s competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT. The finalists will be considered for National Merit Scholarships.

The goal of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation is to recognize the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence. Selection of finalists is based on their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards.

The Altamont School

Hannah Ashraf, Lilla Carroll, Robert Pritchard, Tyler Walley and Maaz Zuberi.

Homewood High School

Madeline Garrity, Patrick Harris, Reed Jeffries, Samuel Jones, Caleb McLendon, Robert Merchant, Michael Moorman, Jonathan Parris, Gabriel Quijano, Ayona Roychowdhury, Dani el Wiesen, Matthew “Hugh” Williams and Jane Wilson.

Hoover High School

Cullen Blanton, Luke Clark, Peter Shen, Nathan Williams, Ria Shah, Katie Heglas, Isabella Torres and Srija Vem.

Mountain Brook

Matthew Bottcher, Caroline Carwie, Harry Evans, Annya EvansMartinez, Teddy Feig, Lilly Gilbert, Sam Graham, Ellie Hamilton, Laurel Hand, Emma Kao, Ann Carlton Keller, Emily King, Fletcher Nunnelley, Ethan Shunnarah, Theo Simonton and Catherine Taylor.

Spain Park High School

Wyatt Williams, John Watson, Samuel Harrison, Adam Ebrahim, Benjamin Deas, Usman Farooqui, John Wilson, Zane Peacock, Megan Amrine, Anna Kate Morris, Kruthika Dheeravath, Amy Yang and Advaith Vadlakonda.

Vestavia Hills High School

Katy Chen, Ricky Dong, Sarah Katherine Gray, Jason Han, Cecilia Kong, Esther Lee, Leighton Reese, Raleigh Robinson, Dylan Shi, Alex Stern and Grant Uldrich.

Mountain Brook Sixth Graders Help Caregivers Feel Special on Valentine’s Day

Caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease often report feeling isolated, and a year of COVID restrictions has left many feeling more alone than ever.

Sixth graders at Mountain Brook Elementary decided this was one small void they could fill on at least one important day. They adopted 50 caregivers through Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s service programs and prepared them gifts for Valentine’s Day.

The students decorated boxes and filled them with candy, socks and other small gifts, along with handwritten cards. The boxes were mailed for receipt just in time for the holiday.

One caregiver to her 93-year-old mother said, “You blessed my heart.”

Another said that before the package arrived, she had been in a “dark place,” but the package lifted her spirits.

Parent Christy Baynes came up with the idea for the “Let Your Love Shine” project. Her son Mason and classmate Maye Morgan Parker were the project’s student leaders and created a video announcing the program.

Baynes is a past president of the Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama board of directors and remains active in the group. She enlists her family to deliver food and staples for holidays.

“Due to COVID restrictions, our team had to create a service project (for which) the children could safely volunteer and still make a difference. The students especially enjoyed hand writing the cards to each of the caregivers,” Baynes said. “Knowing they could bring a little cheer to families that have lost so much made this project extra special.”

The Mountain Brook Elementary 6th Grade Service Project is an annual project in which students help others. Teachers of the classes involved were Lauren Merrill, Bethany Tompkins, Melissa Wright and Natalie Cox. Other parents assisting with the project were Lucy Parker, Bethy Allen, Kate Mather and Hill Weathers.

College Choice Foundation Executive Director Josephine Lowery, center, with Dorm Decor’s Carolyn Greene, left, and Martha Elliott, right.

For more information and ways to support the College Choice Foundation, visit collegechoicefoundation.org.

Students, including the group above, in all four sixth grade classes at Mountain Brook Elementary gathered donations and decorate boxes filled with candy, socks and other small gifts which were mailed to the caregivers.

Bluff Park WindoW Works

f Wood window restoration and repair f Sash replacement, rot repair f Replace broken and fogged glass f Wood insulated, putty glazed, and composite vinyl replacement sashes

From page 28

Young finished with 10 points, three rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot to earn 7A state tournament MVP honors.

Junior center Will Shaver had a field goal and free throw, and junior guard Evan Smith sank five free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

“If we need a big throw, Evan’s the one we want at the line,” Oak Mountain coach Chris Love said.

Smith had 13 points and four assists, and the 6-foot-11 Shaver had seven points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots while being tabbed for the All-Tournament team.

All 14 Guys

“It took a whole team effort,” Young said. “We all faced adversity throughout the season and we all just pulled together.”

“It’s been a different guy all year for us,” Love said. “I told the team before the game it was going to take all 14 guys.”

Enterprise (22-7) had reached the championship game with a 57-56 semifinal victory over Spain Park in double overtime on a tip-in at the buzzer.

The Eagles (24-9) played suffocating defense throughout their title run, holding their final three opponents below 40 points. They beat Hoover 43-30 in the Northwest Regional final and Auburn 45-37 in the Class 7A semifinals before holding Enterprise to its season low of 37 points in the championship game.

“I don’t think there is any question that we won because of the defensive end of the floor,” Love said. “Coach (Donald) McMahon did a good job of preparing us defensively.

“Everybody wants the ESPN highlights, but these guys don’t mind playing ugly and understand what we need to do defensively and rebounding to win games. We never could get any continuity offense, but our defense was solid throughout the game.”

Love also said the experience of playing in the Final Four for the first time in school history in 2020 was a factor. The Eagles lost to eventual champion Lee-Montgomery 65-57 in the Class 7A semifinals

“I don’t think the moment was too big for us,” Love said. “The whole process of getting ready was similar to last year. It helped having that experience.

“I am so proud of our kids and coaches. I have a special love for this team. To see them go through a tough and gritty season and come away with a state championship is pretty awesome.”

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Junior guard Evan Smith had 13 points and four assists for the Eagles. From page 28 to earn the tournament MVP award.

“She was on the varsity when we won our last championship (in 2019),” Johnson said. “We pulled her up as an eighth grader, but she didn’t think she actually contributed. But this time, she was focused. She played like she was saying, ‘We’re not going to lose today.’”

Fellow team captain Jada Knight, a senior, added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while being named to the AllTournament team. Kristen McMillan contributed 11 points and nine rebounds.

Junior Aniya Hubbard also was named to the All-Tournament team, although she played limited minutes in the championship game because of foul trouble, scoring seven points and grabbing six boards. But she had 12 points, seven steals and 11 rebounds in Hoover’s 55-36 victory over Auburn in the semifinals.

Hubbard missed the Final Four last season because of a late-season knee injury and could only watch as Hoover lost 47-44 to Spain Park in the 2020 Class 7A championship game.

“It was really devastating when I couldn’t play last year,” Hubbard said. “I feel like I let the team down. I have such a passion for the game and I couldn’t do anything about it.

“But this year was a nice experience. I didn’t have my best game, but my teammates picked me up. We all worked extra hard, grinded every single day to get better, and that’s why we won.”

The title was the sixth for Hoover, its third in the past five years and the Lady Bucs’ seventh overall. Johnson has played on a Hoover championship team, has served as an assistant coach on another and has been head coach of the past three.

“This one was very special because of all the things we went through,” Johnson said. “At the beginning, we were not sure we were going to have a season because of COVID, and once the season started, we had to shut down for two weeks because of COVID. Then our starting center, Rachel Hager, tore her ACL in a game against Spain Park and we had a couple of sophomores get hurt, so our post position was devastated. And each coach had something personal happen.

“So, with all of that happening, to play in the last game and come out on top, it’s amazing.”

Team captain Jada Knight added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while being named to the All-Tournament team.

SPARTANS

From page 28 championship with a 56-43 victory against Spanish Fort in the title game.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment,” Davis said after a few days of reflection. “We don’t ever set out to win a state championship. We tell our players to win the day and keep doing that over and over.

“We showed huge improvement from the beginning of the season to the end. We developed great chemistry and confidence, and by the time we got to the state tournament, we were ready to be successful and win a state championship.”

The title came after the Spartans dropped down to Class 6A this season. They had finished as Class 7A runners-up in 2020. Spanish Fort was making its first state finals appearance.

Senior forward Rayven Turner scored 14 points and collected four rebounds to lead the Spartans (30-6) to their win over Spanish Fort (28-4). He was named the Class 6A state tournament MVP.

Turner was ineligible last season after transferring from Jefferson High in Portland, Oregon, so this was his only season playing for Mountain Brook.

“I’m going to remember the crowd going crazy and being around my teammates when the buzzer went off and being able to hold that blue map (championship trophy),” Turner said.

Turner, senior guard Bo Barber and sophomore center Julius Clark each sank two free throws in the final minute to seal the win. Clark finished with 12 points, Ty Davis, the coach’s son, made three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points, and Barber had seven, all coming on free throws. He also had four assists.

Barber, a transfer from Homewood, was named to the all-tournament team. He had 15 points, going 10 of 14 at the free throw line, and had four assists and two steals in the semifinal victory over Eufaula. Turner had 10 points and 13 rebounds in that game.

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Senior guard Bo Barber was named to the AllTournament team. The Spartan’s Colby Blackwell powers his way past a Spanish Fort defender. were one of the most under-rated teams in the state. We didn’t have any SEC-caliber players or other (NCAA) Division-I players, but we had a bunch of guys who bought in and just worked hard every day.

“I’m going to remember what a tough year it was with COVID and everything, but also one of the best basketball experiences of my life.”

Coach Davis praised the play of Turner and Barber in the Final Four.

“We had great team balance throughout the season with seven different guys leading us in scoring at different times, so that shows how unselfish our team was, but those two guys are dynamic,” coach Davis said. “Rayven was our leading scorer for the season and the guy we would go to in key situations. He never showed any panic, and that shows in his personality.

“On any successful team, whether it’s in high school, in college or in the pros, you have to have a great point guard and that’s what Bo was for us.”

The Spartans closed the season with 19 consecutive victories, with their last loss coming to Hoover on Dec. 30.

Coach Davis was pleased to win a state championship after the scrutiny he faced following McMillan.

“It means a lot to me,” he said. “I was with Bucky, but after he left for Samford, I took ownership of the program. I love Mountain Brook basketball and I wanted to be a part of it, calling the shots.

“To be able to win a state championship in my first season is great because some people said we couldn’t do it without Bucky. So, we’ve gotten that monkey off our backs.”

Sean McBride has been a soccer coach at Homewood High School since 2001, when he took over the boys varsity program.

Sean McBride earned his 300th victory as a head soccer coach at Homewood when the Patriots’ girls varsity team shut out Briarwood 5-0 on Feb. 26.

McBride has been a soccer coach at Homewood High School since 2001, when he took over the boys varsity program. He won five state championships with the boys’ team (2003, 2005, 2006, 2014 and 2018) and in 2020 took over as head coach of the girls program.

Homewood’s boys varsity coach Julian Kersh played on one of McBride’s state championship teams.

McBride was named the 2018 Spring South Region High School Coach of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches after guiding the Patriots’ boys team to a 24-0-2 record, the Class 6A state championship and a No. 5 national ranking.

The Patriots’ girls team entered this week with 7-1 record after shutting out Oak Mountain 1-0 and Chelsea 2-0 last week. Maddie Massie and Rika Kellen each scored a goal in the win over Chelsea and goalkeeper Katie Crim earned the shutout.

Homewood was scheduled to play Mountain Brook Tuesday and will play in the Cullman Tournament Friday.

The Patriots’ girls team entered this week with a 7-1 record after shutting out Oak Mountain 1-0 and Chelsea 2-0 last week. Above, Mary Siena McBridge works the ball past a Chelsea defencer.

—Rubin E. Grant

Bryant-Jordan Foundation Recognizes Seniors With Scholar-Athlete and Achievement Awards

Four Over the Mountain student-athletes have been chosen as recipients of the 2021 BryantJordan Regional Scholar-Athlete and Student Achievement Awards.

The students were among 56 seniors in the AHSAA who were selected in each category from nominations submitted by member schools. Eight students, one from each district in each of the AHSAA’s 1A through 6A classifications, and four students in Class 7A will receive $3,000 scholarships.

The overall class winner also will receive a $3,500 scholarship, and the overall state winner also will receive a $4,000 scholarship in each category.

Recipients will be honored during a banquet April 12 at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel, according to a statement from the foundation.

The Bryant-Jordan Awards program, named for legendary coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant and Ralph “Shug” Jordan, was created in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the AHSAA. It is supervised by the Bryant-Jordan Foundation’s board of directors.

The purpose of the award is to recognize students who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics.

This year’s regional recipients from Over the Mountain area schools are: Molly Reynolds, Westminster School at Oak Mountain, in 2A; Kate Baecher, John Carroll Catholic High School, in 5A; Lindsey Smith T, Mountain Brook High School, in 6A; and Emily Knerr, Hoover High School, in 7A.