By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
Stanhope Elmore High School is more involved in the community now than ever before, and students and parents can point to both faculty and community members for many of the great projects that are underway.
Recently, SEHS Principal Ewell Fuller spoke at the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce stressing the importance for the school’s involvement in the community. He believes the students succuss starts when other businesses and community leaders back the institution that they are attending.
That was certainly the case after Fuller spoke at the CoC meeting. He explained that just an hour after he addressed local business owners, one came forward and offered the school a donation.
“No longer than an hour after I spoke, River Region Vision Source got into contact with us and gave us a $600 donation for our New Adventure and Cooperative Activities class. The people in this community are just unmatched with their support for one another,” Fuller said.
The donation will help to fund field trips and other expenses for the class – which allows students to progress through an experience-based program that emphasizes interpersonal relationships and individual growth. The course encourages students to develop greater self-confidence while acquiring a sense of commitment and trust in their classmates through a variety of field trips like Lanark, bowling trips and visits to the YMCA.
“It’s crucial that we support our local businesses and keep a tight knit relationship with them,” Fuller said. “When business stay involved with us, that directly affects our students in a positive way.”
Some of the “positive ways” that Fuller speaks of have recently been on display at the high school.
In late May 2021, Marty Bean, owner of Front Porch Grill in Millbrook, helped to feed the entire Stanhope Elmore High School senior class, as students did not have the opportunity to attend their final prom or plan graduation trips due to Covid-19 restrictions. At the time, even graduation ceremony plans were up in the air.
Front Porch Grill fed students pulled pork, baked beans and potato salad. Beryl Jackson, a sales manager for Coca-Cola, offered to provide coke products for the event.
It was a generous gesture, Fuller explained.
“I didn’t even have to ask him [Bean] to do something like this. He wanted to come out and do it on his own because it was a rough year for the students. That shows a lot about his character,” Fuller said. “I never have to ask anybody for anything twice. In cases like this, I didn’t even have to ask at all.”
Fuller said that many other businesses, “too many to even name,” have offered a helping hand to the high school. He also said that the support from military has been at an all-time high.
“We support and appreciate everything that local military agencies do for us. They’ve consistently come up here with extremely generous donations, and in turn, we give them a platform to recruit,” Fuller said.
Fuller said that “big news” will be coming this September involving the high school and the U.S. Coast Guard.
“We’re experiencing some really exciting times for Stanhope Elmore High School right now,” Fuller said with a smile.
