Reviewed by: Wesley Chandler
8 Birmingham area seniors awarded scholarships from the Kiwanis Club
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Eight high school seniors received scholarships from the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham as part of the group’s annual Youth of the Year awards ceremony.
The Kiwanis are a network of volunteer clubs founded in 1915, and their mission is to serve children, improve communities and foster leadership through service projects. The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham is the world’s largest Kiwanis club with more than 500 business and non-profit leaders.
Since 1970, Birmingham’s Kiwanis Club has awarded more than $270,000 to students as part of the program. The Kiwanis specifically recognize students who exemplify:
- Scholarship
- Citizenship
- Service
- Leadership
The award winners for 2026 are as follows:
- Elijah Burns, Hoover High School — Overall Kiwanis Youth of the Year Scholar
- Emory Nichols, Mortimer Jordan High School — Legacy Scholarship
- Jeb Blair, Mountain Brook High School
- Danielle George, Alabama School of Fine Arts
- MarcTellous Hall, Ramsay IB High School
- Kamden Moore, Evangel Christian School
- Lucy Player, Homewood High School
- Eli Thompson, Briarwood Christian School
Burns, Nichols and Thompson each plan on attending the University of Alabama in the fall. Moore and Player are headed to Auburn University. Blair will attend the University of Virginia, George will move on to UAB and Hall will become a student at Christian Brothers University.
“This year’s scholars are an inspiring group of young leaders who have already made a meaningful impact. Their character and commitment give us confidence in the future of our community. We are proud to invest in them now and look forward to the day when many return to Birmingham to contribute, serve and lead.”
Kiwanis Executive Director Honora Gathings
After the award presentation, Miss Alabama USA 2025 Kennedy Whisenant shared her “remarkable and uplifting story of resilience, faith and the power of perseverance.”
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