By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
The Atmore Rotary Club honored 190 students for academic excellence Thursday evening, May 8, as the Academic All-Star recognition program celebrated its 40th year.
The program was begun in 1985 to recognize students who obtained academic achievement in high school by maintaining all A’s and B’s. This year, the Rotary Club presented more than $30,000 in scholarships. Each Four-Year Academic All-Star received a scholarship for $1,000. The seniors who were an Academic All-Star for three years received $700; two-year seniors received $600; and one-year seniors received $500.
Eleven seniors were honored for excellence during all four high school years. Recognized as Four-Year Academic All-Stars, they are
Ashley Parra Cerritos – Escambia County High School
Ashton Connor Covan – Northview High School
Colton Ray Criswell – Northview High School
Chloe Dawson – Escambia County High School
Maddie Mae Driskell – Northview High School
Ally Bama Richardson – Northview High School
Ana Chesley Robinson – Escambia Academy
Lilly Grace Smallwood – Northview High School
Lauren Ashley Stinson – Northview High School
Jayden Kenneth White – Northview High School
Brian James Yoder – Northview High School
In addition, Rotarian Brian Piechocki presented three Merit Scholarships.
The Little John Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) was presented in memory of John Mayson Harvey, affectionately known as “Little John.” The scholarship was awarded to Madison Freeman, Escambia Academy.
The William and Mary Grissett Rotary Club Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) was presented to Ana Chesley Robinson, Escambia Academy.
The Randolph B. Luttrell, Sr. Rotary Club Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) was presented to Colton Criswell, Northview High School.
The speaker for this year’s program was Dr. Millie Murphree, Escambia Extension Director, Escambia County Extension Office. In her position, she serves on several boards including Smart Growth, Tree Beautification, and the Escambia Career Readiness Center.
Following is an excerpt from her speech:
“Tonight, we celebrate something deeper than grades and more than test scores. We celebrate the discipline, the effort, the late nights, and the belief in something bigger than the moment.
“To the students in this room – you did this. You made the choice, again and again, to show up, to work hard, to push yourself beyond what was easy. You persevered through challenges, distractions, setbacks – and sometimes even self-doubt. Let’s take a moment to really acknowledge what that means. In a world that offers countless distractions, you’ve chosen to focus. In times when quitting might’ve been easier, you’ve persisted. That resilience – that spark – is what sets you apart. And, I want you to carry it with you wherever life takes you.
“Let’s also take a moment to recognize the families and educators behind these students. Your encouragement, your patience, your sacrifices – it all matters. Academic success is rarely a solo journey. Thank you for walking beside these young people and for lifting them up.
“Thank you for the early mornings and the late nights. Thank you for packing lunches, checking homework, waiting in pickup lines, attending parent-teacher conferences, and believing in your children – even on the days when they didn’t quite believe in themselves.
“Your child’s success is not an accident. It is a reflection of the home you’ve built, the values you’ve instilled, and the love you’ve given. For every student present tonight, there is someone who provided structure, stability, and support.”
Rotarian Cindy Lee coordinates the Academic All-Star program.