By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
Seven Autauga County seniors won the YMCA-FCA’s Annual Christian Leadership Awards on Tuesday with the overall program awards going to two Prattville High School (PHS) students.
The YMCA-FCA’s major awards are the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award and the T.O. McDowell Christian Leadership Awards.
“These awards are selected annually by a committee of volunteers who honor young athletes for Christian leadership,” said Committee Chairman Mike Lamar. “These students are nominated by their coaches and administrators for setting a Christian example in their athletic development.”
PHS Senior Will McQuiston Wins Scholarship and Top Award
The top award is the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award. PHS’s defensive lineman Will McQuiston won that award and a $1,000 scholarship. Mcquiston has one of highest ACT scores at his school and a 4.7 grade point average (GPA).
McQuiston plans to attend Harvard University and major in either chemical engineering or computer science. “This is an honor,” he said. “It’s a very exciting concept — to be rewarded for all your work throughout high school.”
Lamar said the Willis Bradford Award is based on Christian leadership, integrity, serving, teamwork, and excellence. “This student exhibits all of these in his daily walk,” Lamar said.
Madeline Lewis is T.O. McDowell Leadership Award Winner
PHS senior Madeline Lewis won the 2020 T.O. McDowell Leadership Award. Lewis was captain of the majorettes for the PHS Marching Band and served in Junior Civitan. She was a tennis team member and is an involved member of Prattville’s First United Methodist Church. She played integral roles in Youth Leadership Autauga County and the YMCA Leaders Club.
“Madeline’s involvement in the Leaders Club has also led her to do a countless number of hours of volunteer work in the YMCA and in our community,” Lamar said.
Students from each of the seven high schools in Prattville and Autauga County are honored with a YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership Award. These students are then placed in the pool of nominees for the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award and scholarship. Here are the winners for each school:
Keelan Bowers is East Memorial Christian Academy Winner
Keelan Bowers is a basketball player at his school and runs track. “This was Keelan’s first season at EMCA,” said Lamar. “He stepped in and became an instant leader for the team the moment he took the court.”
Bowers was selected as the MVP for 2019-20, was defensive player of the year and served as team captain. He attends United Christian Church and plans to attend college for physical therapy and play basketball overseas.
Ben Miers is Prattville Christian Academy Winner
Senior Ben Miers Won the Award for Prattville Christian Academy. He played football and served as captain for the varsity soccer team. He excelled academically and was a member of the Math and Spanish clubs as well as a member of the National Honor Society. He also led his peers this year as president of the Student Government Association. He is a member of Prattville’s First Baptist Church.
“Ben is a strong Christian with a great attitude and work ethic that will allow him to achieve great things,” Lamar said. Miers plans to attend Auburn Montgomery.
Billingsley High School Winner Is Tripp Glass
Tripp Glass is the senior award winner from Billingsley High School. Glass played many sports including basketball, football, and baseball. He served as captain of the baseball team for two years and as captain of the football team for two years.
Glass maintained a 4.2 GPA while actively involved with the Beta, Math and Science clubs. He is an active member of Indian Grave Baptist Church and plans to major in engineering in college.
Spencer Goss is Winner for Marbury High School
The winner for Marbury High School worked hard to become an asset to the soccer and football teams. Spencer Goss served as captain of the soccer team for two years. He maintained a 4.09 GPA while also actively involved in Beta Club, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Spanish Club.
Goss is a member of Boones Chapel Baptist Church where he is actively involved in the student ministry. He will attend UAB in the fall where he plans to major in software engineering.
Leadership Award for Autauga Academy Goes to Emma Wendland
Emma Wendland is the kicker for Autauga Academy’s football team and played soccer for several years. She had a 4.05 GPA and is a leader in her school, church, team, and family. She is actively involved in Church Street United Methodist Church.
Wendland will be attending Samford University in Birmingham in the fall where she will major in nursing.
Dontrell Wilson Wins Award for Autaugaville High School
The winner for Autaugaville High School is “an outstanding young man who is committed to doing well in the classroom as well as on the athletic stage,” Lamar said.
Dontrell Wilson is the class valedictorian and was an asset to the school’s basketball program. He is active in the student ministry at Little Elam Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson will attend Troy University in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing.
