Pike County seniors earn scholarships

Thirty-three was the magic number for Bobby Sharp.

That was the Charles Henderson High School senior’s ACT score that earned him a $1,000 P.R.A.I.S.E. scholarship from the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and Troy Bank & Trust.

Sharp was recognized at the annual Program Recognizing Achievement in Secondary Education awards ceremony held Wednesday at the Troy Country Club.

“The money is going to help a lot,” Sharp. “School will be expensive with buying books and everything else.”

Sharp has been accepted to Auburn University where he plans to study physics. And while he is excited about the opportunity to experience new things, Sharp isn’t quite ready to let go of his high school life.

“I am not ready for it at all,” Sharp said. “I am trying to make it go by as slowly as possible.”

Sharp’s ACT score was the highest in the county, but he wasn’t the only Pike County senior to earn scholastic funding for ACT achievement.

Parker McCann from Goshen High School, Justin Johnson from Pike County High School, and Katie Barbaree from Pike Liberal Arts School all received $300 scholarships to the schools of their choice for having the highest ACT score in their respective schools.

Outstanding Academy students also received recognition. Katherine Little received the Agricultural Academy Award and Tyliyah Hooks earned the Business and Finance Academy Award. Little and Hooks will each get $200 for school.

In addition to honoring students, the annual awards banquet also recognized a teacher nominated by the winning students.

Kevin Watson from CHHS, Kathy Schofield from GHS, Heather Minton from PCHS, Jeremy Mathews from PLAS, Brittney Gilmer from GHS and Sharon Denison from PCHS all received applause from the crowd at the awards banquet for their caring and innovative teaching methods.

After reading what students submitted about each teacher, Education Committee Ann Ammonds shared, “As a teacher, it really helps you understand the teaching profession and where these kids are coming from.”

The money given to each student is raised through a series of “Let’s Eat!” events put on by the Chamber, Education Committee and Troy Bank & Trust. Restaurants donate a portion of sales on given days to the P.R.A.I.S.E. scholarship fund.

“We are very appreciative of the restaurants that participate, as well as the customers who support the program because that is how we fund these scholarships and support these students,” said Dianna Lee with Troy Bank & Trust.