Local students win scholarships at the 27th annual Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete Awards | Events

Nathan Riley Spence of Albertville High School and Justin Levins of Prattville High School were the overall winners at the 27th annual Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete Awards Banquet held Monday night at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel.  Ninety-six regional honorees were recognized and awarded approximately $800,000 in scholarships.

Spence was the recipient of the Larry D. Striplin Jr. Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award while Levins received the Ken and Betty Joy Blankenship Student Achievement Athlete of the Year Award.

The program recognized 48 regional scholar-athlete winners selected for their excellence in athletics and academics and 48 achievement winners chosen for their ability to overcome major obstacles during their high school careers.

It is named in honor of the late coaches Paul "Bear" Bryant of Alabama and Ralph "Shug" Jordan of Auburn.

The night was also highlighted by a special tribute to Bryant-Jordan founders Striplin and Herman L. "Bubba" Scott by retired Bryant-Jordan Director Ken Blankenship. Both devoted much of their adult life to the success and lasting legacy of the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Scholarship Program.

Spence has compiled a 4.31 weighted grade-point average, ranks first in his graduating class of 243 and scored a 35 on the ACT. He was a member of the Aggies football team for three years as a wide receiver and kicker, played basketball four years and soccer for three years. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he was named team captain for the football and soccer teams. The National Merit semifinalist plans to attend Auburn University.

Levins played football one season at Prattville and wrestled for four years despite having both legs and part of his right hand amputated when he was just seven months old due to complications resulting from pneumonia. He earned the Academic Award for football in 2009 and was named most inspirational wrestler in 2009 and 2010. He was 19-9 as a junior and 36-14 as a senior with 28 pins. He plans to attend either the University of Alabama or South Alabama.

Spence and Levins were each awarded scholarship totaling $8,500. Each regional winner received $2,500 and each class winner an additional $3,000. The state winners also received an additional $3,000.

"I don't think our teachers and coaches get enough credit for what they do for us," a humbled Spence said as he accepted the overall Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. "I can't thank them enough." Levins credited his coaches as well for inspiring him. His coaches said it was Levins who was the inspiration, however.

Other class winners in the Student Achievement division included:

• Alex Fourie, Shades Mountain Christian (1A)
• Heather Nichole Fondren, Oakman (2A)
• Tyler Holliday, Hamilton (3A)
• Jim Furlow, Oak Grove (4A)
• Rose Marceaux, Faith Academy (5A).

Other class winners in the Scholar-Athlete division were:

• Brooke Frazier, Brilliant (1A)
• Neil Granberry, Cottonwood (2A)
• Christopher Tinker, Glencoe (3A)
• Andrew NeSmith, Oneonta (4A)
• Nathan Riley Spence, Albertville (5A)
• Daniel Seay, Hewitt-Trussville

Several special scholarships were also presented to some of the regional winners.

SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Herman L. "Bubba" Scott Coaching Scholarship:

• Zak Walsh, North Sand Mountain

Alabama "A" Club Educational & Charitable Foundation Scholarship:
 

• (Achievement) Taylor Cox, Thompson
• (Scholar) Sarah Hilliard, Phil Campbell

Auburn Football Lettermen Club Scholarship:

• (Achievement) Madison Grace Pontius, McAdory
• (Scholar) Kyle Paul, Hewitt-Trussville

REGIONAL WINNERS

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD REGIONAL WINNERS

Class 1A

• Region 1: Taylor Box, Fruitdale
• Region 2: William Glenn Stephens, Sweet Water
• Region 3: Marqueska Kanae Deramus, Verbena
• Region 4: Alex Fourie, Shades Mountain Christian
• Region 5: Amber Nicole Williams, Jacksonville Christian
• Region 6: Hannah, Denson, Meek
• Region 7: Jessica Renee Smith, Spring Garden
• Region 8: Charles J. Kelley, Jr., Shoals Christian

Class 2A

• Region 1: Reid Stauter, Cottage Hill Christian
• Region 2: Nichole Moulton, Houston Academy
• Region 3: Raheem Devonta Berry, Highland Home
• Region 4: James Dubuisson, Thorsby
• Region 5: Courtney Leigh Holston, Vincent
• Region 6: Heather Nicole Fondren, Oakman
• Region 7: Zak Walsh, North Sand Mountain
• Region 8: Briana Nicole Goodloe, Cherokee

Class 3A

• Region 1: Evan Moorer, Washington County
• Region 2: Haley McKinney, Slocomb
• Region 3: Lorenza Cooper, Marbury
• Region 4: Luke Endress, Clay County
• Region 5: Dalton Carroll, Walter Wellborn
• Region 6: Tyler Holliday, Hamilton
• Region 7: Brett Tinsley, Plainview
• Region 8: Aarron Johnson, West Morgan

Class 4A

• Region 1: Stacie Young, Escambia County
• Region 2: Hunter Albritton, Andalusia
• Region 3: Kierra Billingsley, Dadeville
• Region 4: Jim Furlow, Oak Grove
• Region 5: Richard Barton, Cherokee County
• Region 6: Michael Ryan Hopper, Douglas
• Region 7: Cierra ‘CiCi' Jenkins, Good Hope
• Region 8: Rajene Shante Swopes, Deshler

Class 5A

• Region 1: Rose Marceaux, Faith Academy
• Region 2: Jessica  Clyburn, Tallassee
• Region 3: David Tyler Harwell, Demopolis
• Region 4: Madison Grace Pontius, McAdory
• Region 5: Jarette Dwight Maye, Center Point
• Region 6: Nicholas Woodley, Walker
• Region 7: Kelsey Ikard, Scottsboro
• Region 8: Heather Mychell Larane Cole, Russellville

Class 6A
 

• Region 1: Will Cotton, Theodore
• Region 2: Anna Raley, Fairhope
• Region 3: Hunter Smith, Dothan
• Region 4: Justin Scott Levins, Prattville
• Region 5: Taylor Cox, Thompson
• Region 6: Jake Hoffman, Spain Park
• Region 7: Brian Walker, Grissom
• Region 8: Julian Cole, Florence

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE REGIONAL WINNERS

Class 1A

• Region 1: Joshua O'Neal, Pleasant Home
• Region 2: Clint Kilcrease, Brantley
• Region 3: Cameron Morrow, Maplesville
• Region 4: Sam Foster, Holy Spirit Catholic
• Region 5: Tate Thomas, Donoho
• Region 6: Brooke Frazier, Brilliant
• Region 7: Meagan Carlene Higdon, Valley Head
• Region 8: Grant Gill, Decatur Heritage Christian

Class 2A

• Region 1: Caitlin Mock, Samson
• Region 2: Neil Granberry, Cottonwood
• Region 3: Benjamin Tindle, Southern Choctaw
• Region 4: Preston Wallace, Billingsley
• Region 5: Yorisha Bryant, Altamont
• Region 6: Sarah Hilliard, Phil Campbell
• Region 7: Whitney Roberson, Ohatchee
• Region 8: Lily Deng, Westminster Christian

Class 3A

• Region 1: Charlotte Gill, Bayside Academy
• Region 2: Jackson Luke Fendley, Trinity Presbyterian
• Region 3:  Zack Hall, Handley
• Region 4: Anna Henderson, Northside
• Region 5: Christopher Tinker, Glencoe
• Region 6: Kelsey Marie Holdbrooks, Winfield
• Region 7: Alan Ray Clayton II, Sylvania
• Region 8: Clayton Ezell, Lauderdale County

Class 4A

• Region 1: Ben Morseth, Jackson
• Region 2: Austin Meadows, Saint James
• Region 3: Joshua Spence, Beauregard
• Region 4: Meghan Ryan, Calera
• Region 5: John Herndon, Jacksonville
• Region 6: Andrew NeSmith, Oneonta
• Region 7: Taku Koiwai, DAR
• Region 8: Daniel McNeese, Ardmore

Class 5A

• Region 1: Daniel W. Rose, Spanish Fort
• Region 2: Jim Johnson, Eufaula
• Region 3: Ivan Truss, Chilton County
• Region 4: Kyle Paul, Briarwood Christian
• Region 5: Krystal D.Rivers, Ramsay
• Region 6: Nathan Riley Spence, Albertville
• Region 7: Wesley F. Taylor, Arab
• Region 8: Emily Eddy, Athens

Class 6A

• Region 1: Catherine Zivanov, Mary Montgomery
• Region 2: Allison Bourdon, McGill-Toolen Catholic
• Region 3: Levi Austin Tate, Enterprise
• Region 4: Elizabeth Alley, Auburn
• Region 5: Victoria Hill, Oak Mountain
• Region 6: Forrest Gamble, Vestavia Hills
• Region 7: Daniel  Seay, Hewitt-Trussville
• Region 8: Lindsey Wintzinger, Huntsville

Source: AHSAA