By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
Photo credit to Jessica Barrett
The YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership Banquet was held Monday night at First United Methodist Church in Prattville. The banquet promotes the mission of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the YMCA to impact students for Jesus Christ and to provide community programs based on Christian principles. The event included Judd Davis from WSFA-TV, and former Auburn punter and national champion Steven Clark, spoke at the event.
Prattville High School Swim Coach Joe Reynolds won the Otis Reeves Outstanding Coaches Award. The award is presented to a coach that has exemplified a lifelong commitment to youth sports and impacting young people in the community. In addition to coaching the Prattville High School Swim Team, Reynolds, a father of 10 and retired Air Force Colonel, is also the Head Coach of the City of Prattville Swim Team and the Prattville YMCA Swim Team.
Stanhope Elmore senior Olivia Raife won the T.O. McDowell Christian Leadership Award. The honor is given to a young person that has displayed servant leadership through the YMCA and community activities. Raife is a Level 10 gymnast that will go to college at Southeast Missouri State.
Each Autauga County School selects up to five students for the YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership Circle, and these individuals were recognized at the banquet.
Autauga Academy winners were Bailee Lightsey, William Moseley, Evan Peak, Audrey Teaster, and Cody Tornow.
Prattville Christian Academy winners were Cooper Osborne, Carson Roberson, Avery Rogers, Madison Trailkill, and Sarah Williams.
Marbury High School winners were Callie Carter, Summer Hicks, Addyson Marman, Ava Rhodes, and Elizabeth Woodin.
Autaugaville High School winners were Kenneth Brown, Princess Hardy, Shelbie Johnson, Simya Kent, and Keidrich Phillips.
Prattville High School winners were John Tripp Berch, Hope Easley, Rylan Hart, Halle Sheppard, and Samantha Stauter.
Billingsley High School winners were Megan Chandler, Alana Jones, Landon Jones, Amber Johnson, and Eli Manning.
Finally, each Autauga County school chooses one YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership winner, and those individuals were recognized and given a plaque, with one overall winner earning the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award and a $2,000 academic scholarship. The following students were chosen from each school:
Autaugaville High School: Jamarcus Golden, 2022 football team captain, and three sport athlete. Golden is a current candidate for salutatorian at Autaugaville High School. He plans to play football at the University of South Alabama.
Autauga Academy: Tyrus Sellers, a multi-sport athlete for the Generals, played football, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf and track. Sellers plans to seek a Sports Management degree in college.
Billingsley High School: Shidaisha Harris, a basketball and volleyball player at Billingsley. After high school, Harris plans to join the Army National Guard.
Marbury High School: Dalyce Sanders, a basketball and tennis player at Marbury. Sanders scored more than 1000 points in her high school career, and she also coaches YMCA youth volleyball teams. She plans to play basketball at Huntingdon College.
Prattville Christian Academy: Hannah Jones, a basketball and volleyball player at PCA. Jones had more than 1000 points and rebounds for the Panthers basketball team that won three consecutive state championships. Jones plans to go to the University of Memphis and play volleyball and pursue a degree in biomedical engineering.
Prattville High School: Grace Downey, a basketball and soccer player for the Lions. Downey also ran track in high school and boasts an impressive 4.47 GPA.
The 2023 YMCA FCA Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award was given to Grace Downey from Prattville High School. Downey, captain of the 2023 Prattville basketball team that advanced to the Class 7A Final Four, revealed in her acceptance speech that she had surgery on her knee earlier that day, and was intent on attending the event regardless. Downey plans to attend either Auburn University or the University of Alabama Huntsville to pursue a degree in engineering and minor in either nuclear power generating systems or business engineering technology.
Congratulations to each school’s nominee and all award winners! See more award photos from Jennifer Barrett below. Thank you Jennifer!
