SCHOOLS

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

SCHOOLS Down Syndrome Alabama Awards Scholarships to 5 Young Adults With Down Syndrome

Jake Pratt, center, who also has Down syndrome and completed the postsecondary education program at ClemsonLIFE, handed out the scholarship awards to from left, Jackson Ray, Lindsay Davis, Grace Davis, Chandler Herrero. Not pictured, Hannah Baker.

Down Syndrome Alabama awarded five young adults with scholarships May 5 to go toward their post-secondary education.

Among the recipients, Jackson Ray of Vinemont, Lindsay Davis of Mountain Brook and Grace Davis of Vestavia Hills are enrolled in the Eagles Program at Auburn University. Chandler Herrero of Birmingham is enrolled in CrossingPoints at the University of Alabama, and Hannah Baker of Trussville is enrolled in Mississippi State’s Access Program.

Each applicant submitted applications, letters of recommendation, personal essays and photos in addition to being interviewed by a four-member scholarship committee.

Jake Pratt, of Vestavia Hills, who also has Down syndrome and completed the post-secondary education program at ClemsonLIFE, handed out the awards.

According to a press release from Down Syndrome Alabama, Pratt’s wish is to help other young adults with Down syndrome go to post-secondary education programs with scholarships.

UPS granted Down Syndrome Alabama $25,000 in honor of Pratt, who just recently celebrated his 1-year work anniversary with UPS. During the awards ceremony, Justin Heckel, with UPS public affairs and community relations, announced a second $25,000 grant to Down Syndrome Alabama to continue the Jake Pratt Scholarship Fund.

“Down Syndrome Alabama is extremely excited to partner with UPS to give these outstanding young adults scholarships to help offset some of the costs of these programs,” Down Syndrome Alabama’s executive director, Kelly Peoples, said. “These programs, which prepare young men and women with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living, are a blessing, and we are grateful to have them so close. UPS is delivering what matters. We hope more companies follow their lead and give young adults with disabilities the opportunity to show off their abilities.”

In partnership with The UPS Foundation and Down Syndrome Alabama, the Jake Pratt Scholarship fund was established in 2021. The scholarships are awarded exclusively to students with Down Syndrome seeking a collegiate experience at an accredited program for students who desire to enhance their life through employment, independent living and life skills.

Vestavia Students Compete in Robotics World Championship

After competing in regional competitions held at area schools and qualifying for the state robotics competition in February, robotics teams at Vestavia Hills High School and Louis Pizitz Middle School advanced to the VEX Robotics World Championship.

During the 3-day competition held in Dallas, students of both schools had the chance to work with robotics teams from around the globe.

Haley Lushington, a science teacher at Louis Pizitz Middle School, traveled to Dallas with the team.

“The students had a great week at the competition,” Lushington said. “They competed with and against over 3,000 teams from over 50 countries. Our students were given time to speak with other teams, learn about their culture and share with them about the culture in Vestavia Hills.”

Lushington further explained that the Louis Pizitz teams were one of the youngest teams competing this year, with no eighth grade students participating.

VHHS robotics coach Pam Hickman detailed the intensity of the competition, stating robot inspection was extensive.

“The first day we went through inspection to make sure their robot qualified to compete,” Hickman said. “They had to meet certain dimensions and couldn’t be any larger than 18x18 inches, and each robot had to use VEX-certified parts.”

After inspection, students spent time networking with other teams.

During the competition, students heard from executives with Google, VEX Technologies and the REC Foundation.

While there were no awards won, each robotics coach was proud of her teams’ perseverance.

“The students finished in the top 50 teams in their division,” Lushington said. “They did a great job and came home with lots of ideas for things to do differently next season.”

“I am incredibly proud of this team,” Hickman said. “They persevered through the pandemic and stayed focused. These students reached their ultimate goal of competing in the Worlds Robotics Championship.”

Courtesy —Ally Morrison

Skowronski is raising awareness about the needs of displaced Ukrainians through media interviews and special events at the Altamont School.

Altamont Students Draw Attention to Ukraine Refugee Crisis

The Altamont School is giving its students insight into the war in Ukraine and seeking ways for the community to show solidarity with those the war has displaced.

Alexander Skowronski, a ninth grade student at The Altamont School, sparked communitywide engagement with the crisis after his family’s Fortuna Clinical Foundation launched an initiative to aid refugees from Ukraine.

According to a press release from the school, the foundation is soliciting aid for the regional hospital in the Ukrainian town of Ivano-Frankivsk and the refugee center in Yazlovets as well as partnering with the Polish Universal Reading Foundation to buy Ukrainian language children’s books for distribution to refugees.

Skowronski said his family were deeply moved by the humanitarian crisis after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last year. That developed quickly, and the family regretted that they were not able to find a way to immediately provide help to Afghans.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, they didn’t want to miss another opportunity to help, especially in a region of deep personal importance to their family. The Polish family has ties to Ivano-Frankivsk, where current dangers echo a troubled past.

More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled to Poland since the start of the war, and the Skowronski family is providing direct personal relief by using a residential property they own there to shelter a mother and two children while their husband and father serves in the Ukrainian army in the Donbas region.

The condition of such children – either living as refugees or still in a war zone is of special concern to Alexander Skowronski.

“Today, they should be worrying about the math test they have next week,” Skowronski said. “Instead, they’re worrying about their friends and family. Will anybody be injured? For those who have fled, they’re worrying about those they’ve left behind.”

As the war began, Skowronski was thinking of his own academic work and preparing a multi-year service project in conjunction with Altamont’s C. Kyser Miree Leadership Center. Center Director Beth Dille expedited his admission to the program when Skowronski proposed Ukrainian refugee relief for his project.

Dille explained that selected ninth grade students develop leadership projects through the center and commit to them for the remainder of their time in Altamont’s upper school.

“The goal is always to be very conscious of sustainability or, if it isn’t going to continue, (have) a responsible exit plan,” she said. Skowronski might continue the work when he transitions to college, Dille said, or he might pass it along to another Altamont student who shares his passion for helping refugees.

For now, Skowronski is raising awareness about the needs of displaced Ukrainians through media interviews and special events at the Altamont School. He organized an April 27 Zoom event featuring Ukrainian physician Katia Zahorodnia, psychology professor and police Lt. Col. Alexey Serdyuk, humanitarian aid workers Josh and Meg McClug, and Ukrainian teens Veronika Velichko and Nastya Kuchmiy, all of whom offered personal perspectives.

Dille said she and Skowronski will work through the summer to find other ways to connect Altamont and other Birmingham-area students to their Ukrainian counterparts. A virtual pen pals initiative will provide socialization opportunities as well as service credits for local participants. Online gaming might bring students together, too, and without language barriers.

Niko Tsivourakis, Altamont English teacher and director of the school’s Global Initiative, is developing related projects with the help of seventh grade student Ben Poczatek, whose cousin Pawel Galewicz will provide a recorded description of how his own community in Poland is serving refugees. Tsivourakis said students in grades five through seven also are working on a short story writing project to share with the refugees in that community.

The work reflects The Altamont School’s globally conscious values and culturally diverse community.

“Engaging our students in authentic ways is always our priority,” Tsivourakis said. “This is one of those wonderful opportunities in which school can extend beyond our classrooms, connect us with real people and become a catalyst for good.”

A Very Merry Month of May

Spain Park Wrestler Oliveira Earns Spot on Brazilian National Team, Receives Prestigious Award

By RuBin E. GRant

Spain Park wrestler Yasmine Oliveira had the most rewarding month of her life in May.

At the beginning of the month, she traveled to Brazil and earned a spot on the U20 (Junior) Brazilian National Wrestling team for the United World Wrestling PanAmerican Junior Championships July 8-10 in Oaxtepec, Mexico.

She signed a wrestling scholarship with King University in Bristol, Tennessee, on May 17 and the next day was named the state winner of the prestigious Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award.

On May 20, she graduated from Spain Park and the following day she competed in the State Freestyle Tournament at Huntingdon College in Montgomery and won her weight division.

Whew! “It was a very busy month for sure,” Oliveira said.

Oliveira’s greatest thrill was returning to Brazil for the first time in three years and winning gold in the Olympic Freestyle-U20 (Junior) at 69 kg on May 1 with her grandmother, Rosangela Oliveira, watching her wrestle for the first time.

“It was very nerve-racking,” Yasmine Oliveira said. “I wanted to impress her and make her proud.”

Her father, Kaliffa Oliveira, is from Brazil and accompanied Yasmine to the competition. Oliveira received a bye in her first match, then in the second match she pinned her opponent in 1:30. In the championship match she won by a technical fall (13-3) to secure the gold.

“It was pretty difficult,” Oliveira said. “It took more training and more focus. I struggled more mentally, getting my mind straight because Brazilian wrestling is different than it is in America. They use the upper body more and more arm spins. I had to make sure I had a solid base and countered the arm spins.”

Her grandmother was overcome with emotion afterward.

“Before anything else, she started crying,” Oliveira said. “She told me she was so proud of me and grateful to see me wrestle.”

Oliveira’s younger brother Kyle will represent the Brazilian National Cadet Team in the United World Wrestling Pan-American Championships June 24-26 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He will leave in early June to begin training for the championships.

Kyle Oliveira, who just finished his sophomore year at Spain Park, competed in March in the Brazilian National Cadet (U17) division and won gold in both freestyle and GrecoRoman wrestling.

“It’s really just a dream for both of us,” Yasmine Oliveira said. “Since I was a kid, even though I wasn’t born in Brazil, I wanted to represent Brazil. And that I get to share it together with my brother is just special.”

Courtesy

Spain Park wrestler Yasmine Oliveira was recruited by several schools before deciding on King University.

Highly Awarded Wrestler

During her senior year, Oliveira won the Girls State Tournament championship at 147 pounds while going unbeaten with a 21-0 record. She won 19 matches by pin, including 18 in the first period, while becoming only the second wrestler in Spain Park history to finish undefeated in a season.

Oliveira was recruited by several schools before deciding on King University.

“King University is just the best opportunity for me because I have set high goals for myself and I think this will give me the best chance to achieve them,” Oliveira said.

Oliveira plans to major in biology with an eye toward holistic medicine.

When she heads to Bristol, she will do so with the 2022 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for Alabama. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame first presented the award in 2014. It is named for Tricia Saunders, a four-time World Champion and women’s wrestling pioneer. Saunders was the first woman to be inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011.

The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior female wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service.

“I am very happy to be able to represent the state of Alabama for women’s wrestling, knowing that all the hard work I’ve put in paid off,” Oliveira said.

Near Perfect Patriots Win Middle School Baseball Title

Homewood Middle School claimed the 2022 Metro Baseball Championship in dramatic fashion as pitcher Cooper Sain threw a no hitter against Hueytown on April 13 to win the school’s first title since 2003, the fourth in school history.

The dominating Patriots finished the season with an impressive 17-1 record, including a memorable performance by pitchers Cooper Sain and Ben Roberts who combined for a no hitter against Oak Mountain and offensively the young Patriots outscored their opponents 157-27.

The team was coached by John Dorough, Devon Davis, and Justin Bowlby.

ALEXANDER

From page 32

The Mountain Brook Board of Education recognized Christopher during its meeting May 16.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for Christopher to be chosen to compete amongst so many amazing athletes at the Special Olympics USA,” Lisa Alexander said. “He has run at the local and state level and is now looking forward to competing nationally. We’re super proud of him.”

Christopher, nicknamed “Cap,” has competed in the Alabama Special Olympics, but this is a major step up in competition for him.

“This is a lot bigger competition than local and state,” Lisa Alexander said. “It’s huge.”

Christopher can hardly wait for his big moment to arrive.

“Christopher will tell you that he’s so excited about going to Orlando to run,” Lisa Alexander said. “If you ask him how fast he’s going to run he will tell you, “100 MPH,” and always laughing.

“He’s been practicing with his coach, Lauren Ritchie, and she has been amazing getting him ready. Christopher also has been supported by his community and his family for so many years and this is very special to him. He has seven medals to date and says that he’s coming back with number eight.”

Opening Ceremonies will be June 5 and can be viewed on ABC. Track events are scheduled for June 6 and 7.

“Christopher is going down by Village along with the other Special Olympic athletes.”

The USA Games consist of athletes from all over the United States and they participate in tennis, track & field, swimming, golf, soccer, surfing, powerlifting, softball, volleyball and other sports. More than 5,500 athletes and coaches will be involved and more than 125,000 spectators are expected to attend, including Christopher’s parents.

“The greatest thing about the Special Olympics is it gives people with special needs a chance to thrive and interact with other children,” Lisa Alexander said.

Chris Alexander, Christopher’s dad, said the Special Olympics are, well, special.

“I always encourage people to the attend the Special Olympics,” Chris Alexander said. “Special Olympics changes people’s lives and you can see it when these children are competing by the looks on their faces. It’s amazing what it does for them.”

Christopher’s joyful exuberance is on display whenever he runs.

“Christopher runs with a huge smile on his face always,” Lisa Alexander said. “He loves running because he is good at it and he loves to be active. He has remarkable abilities in so many areas of life, but Special Olympics provides a way for Christopher to show his love of sports to all.”

‘Special Olympics changes people’s lives and you can see it when these children are competing by the looks on their faces.’

‘Quiet Competitor’

Versatile Vines Excelled Throughout Her Vestavia Hills Track Career

By RuBin E. GRant

On the next to last weekend of May, Angelica Vines was sitting around wondering what to do next.

“I don’t know what to do with myself because I’m usually at the track,” Vines said.

A few days earlier, the Vestavia Hills senior had capped a brilliant high school track career by finishing fourth in the 2022 Alabama High School Athletic Association Heptathlon Championship at Hoover High School.

That was 10 days after Vines had performed spectacularly in the AHSAA Class 7A outdoor track and field meet at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex. She established personal records in four events, while winning one, finishing second in two others and taking third in another, helping Vestavia Hills finish as runners-up in girls track for the first time in school history.

Vines won the long jump, reaching 17 feet, 11 inches, was second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 45.43 seconds and second in the javelin with a throw of 129-8. She was third in the 100 hurdles, clocking 14.99 seconds.

“I had my ups and downs, but in the end I got into a rhythm,” Vines said.

Throughout her career at Vestavia Hills — she lettered for five years — Rebels track coach Brett Huber had difficulty deciding what events to have Vines compete in because he didn’t want to overwork her in any given meet.

“She’s a talented athlete and she excels in everything she does,” Huber said. “We could have put her in six events, but we didn’t want to tire her out because some of the events are so close together.”

As a freshman and sophomore, Vines’ top event was the hurdles, but during her junior and senior years she became a champion long jumper. She not only won gold in the long jump in the state outdoor meet this spring, but also in the state indoor meet in February, clearing 16 feet, 11.5 inches. “What’s special about her is she’s not boisterous, but she works hard and shows up ready to compete,” Huber said. “I describe her as a quiet competitor.” Vines concurs. “I agree with that description,” she said. “I can be more vocal, but I am usually just intense and all business.”

Vines competed in the state heptathlon for the first time. She had competed in the pentathlon in the eighth grade.

“It was kind of fun and stressful,” Vines said. “I worked really hard. Finishing fourth was better than I expected.”

Vines totaled 4,224 points. Northridge’s Rashni Walker won with 4,981 points, followed by St. Paul’s Episcopal’s Janie Ford with 4,797 points and Austin’s Makenzie Harris with 4,341 points.

Athleticism Runs in the Family

The 5-foot-8 Vines comes from an athletic family. Her dad, Tim Vines, played baseball at Auburn and now is president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Her mother, Antoinette “Toni” Vines, was a cheerleader and ran track in high school and is the founder and president of Mercy Deliverance Ministries. Her sister, Hannah Vines, competed in volleyball and track for the Rebels before graduating in

Angelica Vines capped a brilliant high school track career by finishing fourth in the 2022 Alabama High School Athletic Association Heptathlon Championship at Hoover High School. Vines is a two-sport athlete. She was a standout outside hitter on the Rebels’ volleyball team. 2019 and is now a student at Auburn. Angelica Vines is a two-sport athlete. She was a standout outside hitter on the Rebels’ volleyball team and served as a team captain during the 2021 season. She was named to the ‘She’s a talented 2021 All-OTM team and Super All-State first athlete and team after recording 367 kills, 194 digs and 35 aces. she excels in Even so, track is her first love, but she is everything she still deciding whether to compete in college. At the moment, she plans to attend the New York does.’ School of Interior Design. REBELS TRACK COACH BRETT HUBER “We have a family friend who is an interior designer, so I grew up with it and saw what was involved and decided that’s what I want to do,” Vines said. “But I also have reached out to a few schools, Ohio State, Cincinnati and Florida State, about track, so I’ll see what happens.”

TOZZI

From page 32

Soehn is the Legion’s head coach and technical director.

“Nate will be in a place where he can ply his craft and become a better player,” added Rik Tozzi, who played professionally in England.

Taking Indian Springs to Victory

Nathan Tozzi is fresh off helping Indian Springs win back-to-back state soccer championships for the first time in school history. He scored the only goal in Indian Springs’ 1-0 victory over Russellville in the AHSAA 2022 Class 4A-5A boys championship game last month as Indian Springs finished with a 21-2-5 record.

In the semifinals, he scored a goal in regulation and another in a shootout as Indian Springs knocked off Montgomery Academy 3-2 (4-3 in shootout).

“It’s crazy to think we won back-toback state championships,” Nathan Tozzi said. “At the beginning of the year, we didn’t just want to make it back to the final four but wanted to win a second straight championship, and we were able to pull it off.”

Nathan Tozzi, a midfielder, finished the season with 38 goals and 20 assists. He had 75 goals and 52 assists for his career.

“He’s a physical specimen, about 6-foot-3¼,” Rik Tozzi said. “His engine never quits every time he’s on the field and in the game. He was the hardestworking player on the team. He matured as a team leader and he was great on the ball and great off the ball. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Nathan Tozzi was one of the three Indian Springs players who were selected to the 2022 Alabama High School Soccer Coaches Super All-State first team. The others were forward Jackson Nabors and goalkeeper Sims Tosh.

Three players from Class 6A state champion Mountain Brook also were tabbed for the team, keeper Reed Harradine and midfielders Jack Heaps and Joe Armstrong. Homewood defender Landgren Fox and Briarwood midfielder Leib Matthias also were voted first-team.

Nabors (Davidson) and Tosh (Oglethorpe) are both headed to college to play soccer, but Nathan Tozzi is happy to wait another year for his collegiate opportunity. His older brother Jim Tozzi plays soccer at Sewanee.

“To finish high school and then start training with the Legion immediately is amazing,” Nathan Tozzi said. “I think training with professional players and learning from them will put me in a better position to play at a better school.”

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