Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Members of Hartselle High School’s 2014 senior class received scholarship offers totaling approximately $4.5 million from more than 30 institutions of higher learning at Senior Honors Day on May 6.

The annual event was conducted in the school auditorium. Representatives of the various colleges and private scholarship foundations called the names of their scholarship honorees and had them come to center stage to accept their awards. Principal Jeff Hyche presided with assistance from guidance counselors Kenny Lopez and Dana Gladden.

Parents and other family members of the seniors were recognized as special guests. Also witnessing the presentations were members of the junior class.

Class member Aaron Davis received a thunderous applause when his appointment to the 2015 class of the U.S. Army Military Academy was announced by Col. Joseph Creekmore.

His four-year scholarship is valued at $288,000.

Another special moment was the awarding of four scholarships from the Edd Balch Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Edd’s widow Elaine and her son Ashley and his two children presented the awards.

Hearts also lit up when Cheyenne Stapleton was called to center stage to accept a certificate of recognition from IRC director LeAnne Pettey for attending a student leadership conference at Troy State University.

Principal Hyche commended class members for their pursuit of excellence and many accomplishments and challenged members of the junior class to live up to the challenge of following in their footsteps.

The program was concluded with a reception in the school cafeteria.