Tonight, high school students and teachers will be honored at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce PRAISE Banquet.

PRAISE is an acronym for Program Recognizing Achievements in Secondary Education, and the banquet promises to be a distinguished event.

Seniors from each of the area high schools-Charles Henderson High School, Pike Liberal Arts School, Goshen High School and Pike County High School-will be recognized for having the highest ACT in their class.

One student will be awarded a plaque and a $1,000 scholarship for having the highest ACT score in the county.

Jenniffer Barner, who is organizing this year's banquet, said students deserve to be honored for their hard work.

"We need to recognize them for their accomplishments as a student and encourage them to carry that through to college," Barner said.

The nominees this year are Shannon Langston of Pike County High School, Casey Campbell of Pike Liberal Arts School, Mary Ellen Bassett of Charles Henderson High School and Kerry Partridge Jr. from Goshen High School.

Each of these students will be recognized on Tuesday for scoring a 23 or higher on their ACT.

As part of the banquet, the students will in turn recognize their favorite teacher and the impact the teacher made on them.

Langston will recognize Mary Jo Price, Campbell will recognize Quintilla Kervin, Bassett will recognize Pamela Merkel and Partridge will recognize Janet Campbell.

Seniors aren't the only outstanding students who will be recognized, however.

Two juniors with the highest ACT scores in their classes will also be recognized for their academic achievements and as potential PRAISE nominees for next year.

Junior hosts are Savannah Hughes and Melody Rodgers from Pike County High School; Van Tran and Kristen Freeman from Pike Liberal Arts School; Michael Steelman and William Fuller from Charles Henderson High School; and Timothy Chad Sanders and Russell clay Register from Goshen High School.

Barner also said two scholarships will be awarded to students who are studying health care-related occupations.

Tonya Johnson of Charles Henderson High School and Rachel Rascoe of Troy State University will each receive a $1,000 scholarship and plaque.