Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition Presents 2021 Luminary Awards

By Gerri Miller

EAN Staff Writer

The Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition presented its 2021 Annual Character Luminary Awards Friday afternoon in a reception at the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber and the Coalition partner each year to present the awards to people and businesses that show good character. Last year, the Luminary Awards Ceremony was not held due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Prattville received the designation of a Community of Character in the state in October 2006. Prattville is one of three such communities in Alabama which recognizes people and businesses that show good character. This resolution committed the city to promote character education and development.

The two organizations presented seven awards with two students receiving $3,500 scholarships. Prattville High School senior Margaret Lewis and Troy University post-secondary student Shelby Bevan won this year’s scholarships.

Lewis is the recipient of the Excellence in Character Scholarship in the graduating senior category.  She works as a Lifeguard and Lead Swim Instructor for the Prattville YMCA.  She works in the YMCA Leaders’ Club and was recently awarded the T.O. McDowell award for her leadership efforts.

Lewis is also an active member of First United Methodist Church and serves as a leader in her youth group. She will be attending Auburn University in the fall to pursue a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies. 

“She is a young lady who has many accolades and achievements,” said David Creamer of the Prattville YMCA. “Today we are pleased to recognize her for the influence she has on others and her overall good character.”

Creamer said on Lewis’s application she was asked to describe what good character meant to her and she said it comes down to three factors: How you treat others, how you treat yourself, and how you serve Jesus.

“I have witnessed the effect of her good character on others and how she serves our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Creamer continued. “She will be an ambassador of good character for our organization and will be a model of the traits we stand for. The Character Coalition is honored to present Margaret Lewis with the 2021 Excellence in Character scholarship.”

Lewis said it is nice to be recognized for her character. “I try to represent my parents every day in a way that will make them proud – this is so huge,” she said.

Cristi Paulk of River Bank and Trust introduced Bevan. Bevan said she was both excited and honored to receive the prestigious award. “I always want to be recognized for my character,” she said.

Bevan graduated from TU with a degree in sports management.  She said she plans to continue her education and next will be pursuing a master’s degree in communications.

Nelda Sorrells of Baptist Hospital introduced the winner of the Student of Character, Carter Stockman. Not only is Stockman a National Merit Scholar Finalist, he also made more than 300 face shields for front line workers in Prattville Baptist Hospital as well as in Montgomery hospitals.

The face shields were desperately needed at the time because it was the beginning of the pandemic and the hospitals faced a shortage.

At school, Carter is a Student Government Association member, competes on the robotics team and is involved in the Technology Students Association. Although he has not yet picked a college, he has narrowed the field to Auburn University or the University of Alabama. He plans to major in mechanical engineering.

David Lewis, general director of the Prattville Area YMCA, presented the Character Luminary Award for the Citizen of Character to Don Edgeworth.

“The recipient of this award goes to an individual who has had a profound impact on the Autauga County Heritage Association over the past few years. Much of the growth and success can be attributed to his leadership and his organizational abilities for getting things done,” Lewis said. “His accounting skills and his willing spirit have put many facets of the organization back on track. The new restroom facility at Buena Vista, which had been a dream for many years, is now a reality. With the addition of the outside restroom building the appeal of Buena Vista as an event location is greatly enhanced.”

Lewis said that during the past year’s COVID shutdowns, Edgeworth has sought ways to keep the Autauga County Heritage Association an active organization. “The Museum has been closed, but he has devised many ways to keep the organization in touch. He has explored available ways to find funding in lieu of the suspension of all fundraisers. The Autauga County Heritage Association is where it is today due to his determination and leadership,” Lewis said.

Edgeworth is an active member of Prattville First United Methodist Church where he has taught Sunday School for many years. “Numerous people have benefitted from his acts of caring and kindness. When he sees a need, he reaches out financially or with an action to help with the specific needs,” Lewis said.

Laura Atchison with Autauga County Schools presented the Educator of Character Award to Ellis Messick of Prattville Primary School.

“This years’ recipient of the Educator of Character shows all of the character traits we at the Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition promote,” said Atchison. She said she is most proficient in Respect, Flexibility, and Gratefulness.

“She is respectful not only to her colleagues, but to her students as well. When an issue arises, she meets the student on their level, and always has a calm demeanor. She is very encouraging to her students, pushing them to do their best in a respectful and complimentary way,” Atchison continued.

Atchison said Messick has been described as “beyond flexible” by her fellow faculty members. “She is always willing to do a last-minute task or lend a hand when asked, and always has a smile on her face,” Atchison said. “She is grateful in all aspects of her job. She leads a team of teachers at her school and she lets them know how grateful she is that they are on her team every time they meet.”

Joe Mathis is on the Coalition Board of Directors and announced that the Prattville YMCA has been selected as the Organization of Character. “This past year brought challenges and opportunities for every business, organization, and individual across the world, Mathis said. Mathis said the Prattville YMCA met those challenges by continuing to serve the community throughout the pandemic.

“They never shut down operations in 2020. The Y provided emergency childcare for front line workers, grocery shopping and delivery for first responders, wellness checks on senior adults and partnered with Autauga County and Elmore County’s Board of Education to provide 26 weeks of food delivery into neighborhoods to ensure that all children that needed food, received food.”

Mathis said this past year has required a lot of creativity on the part of the YMCA to ensure that the Y could find a way to be there for the community while operating within State and Federal orders.

“The pandemic brought not only a health crisis, but a mental health crisis into our communities,” Mathis said. “Many adults, teens, and children felt the effects of the isolation that accompanied our country shutting down. The YMCA knew that it was important to operate in all ways possible while providing a safe environment to its members. The Prattville YMCA was behind the scenes everyday offering assistance to the community during an extremely challenging and difficult year.”

Bill Youngblood of BWS Technologies introduced this year’s Business of Character, MRaine Industries. He said the 2021 Business of Character is being recognized for commitment to the character traits of obedience, resilience, and endurance, including:

• Obedience by following God’s direction on their mission to revitalize and rebuild.
• Resilience, specifically from entering a very competitive business vertical and continuing to maintain their commitment to their mission.
• Endurance during the global pandemic by continuing to serve the community.

“As part of their commitment to revitalization, mission, and service to community, they continue to invest time and resources, and provide and support activities to enhance the lives of others,” Youngblood said.

 “This commitment began as a promise. The 2021 Business of Character CEO who grew up in Autaugaville made a promise… ‘I promise to never forget where I come from and I will return to help rebuild.’ And years later… he fulfilled that promise by building a state-of-the-art water bottling plant in his hometown of Autaugaville, Alabama,” Youngblood continued.

 “On behalf of the Prattville- Autauga Character Coalition I am honored to present the 2021 Business of Character Luminary Award to MRaine Industries, the home of the official bottled water for the State of Alabama… Eleven86… Real Artesian Water,” Youngblood said.

See more photos below.