Making A Difference Award recipients (from left): Renard Davis, McIntosh (1A); John Smith, Hatton (2A); Frances Shipp, Weaver (3A); Richard Robertson, Andalusia (4A); Janet Latham, Athens (5A); and Peter Braasch, Vestavia Hills (6A) (Photo special to AHSAA)). 

10 Schools Receive Lemak Award Grants

Coaches Awards Banquet Closes Out 16th All-Star Sports Week

     Ten high schools were recipients of the 2012 Dr. Lawrence Lemak Award grants Friday night at the annual Championship Coaches Banquet at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Convention Center. Each school received $2,500 from the total of $25,000 distributed by the Lemak Group.

     The banquet, the closing event of the 16^th annual All-Star Sports Week, honored the 90 high school head coaches who led their schools to AHSAA state championships in the 2011-12 school year. The Sports Week is an event of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and hosted by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA).
     In addition, six individuals were selected as recipients of the AHSAA’s “Making A Difference” Award. Honored were: Class 1A: Renard Davis, McIntosh; Class 2A: John Smith, Hatton; Class 3A: Frances Shipp, Weaver; Class 4A: Richardson Robertson, Andalusia; Class 5A: Janet Latham, Athens; Class 6A: Peter Braasch, Vestavia Hills.

     The Lemak Award has been provided a total of $130,000 in need-based grants to AHSAA schools since 2008. The schools were selected from more than 50 applications by a special committee. The award is named in honor of AHSAA Medical Advisory Board member Dr. Lawrence Lemak.

     The 2012 recipients include: Addison, A.L. Johnson, Brantley, Central Coosa, Chilton County, Enterprise, Fruitdale, Hatton, Notasulga and Slocomb high schools.

The guest speaker was Dr. Tommy Bice, Superintendent of the Alabama State Department of Education.
     AHSADCA Director Alvin Briggs also announced the 10 recipients of the AHSADCA Coaches’ Children Scholarships to seniors who are children of high school coaches. The 2012 recipients included Catherine Shipp, Davidson; Courtney Nicole Douglas, Red Level; Kimberly Kay Hines, Benjamin Russell; Robert Bagwell, Spain Park; Trevor Scott Ford, Piedmont; Victoria Noel Williamson, Talladega; Ashlyn Renee Lane, Sylacauga; Grace Newton, Lauderdale County; Ethan Pharr, Vina; and Hallie Miller Hartselle.
     Stacy Luker of Sweet Water (football), John Esslinger of Scottsboro (boys cross country) and John Smith of Hatton (softball) were honored as 2011 NFHS Section III Coach of the Year Award winners.

     Twelve state coaches chosen by the AHSADCA as 2011 NFHS state coaches of the year were also honored. The list included: Marvin Chou, Randolph (boys swimming & diving); Shawn Weltzin, Thompson (wrestling); Mark Mincher, Huntsville (baseball); Rick Cleveland, UMS-Wright (boys tennis); Jesse Gamez, Fort Payne (boys golf); Pam Wilkins, Addison (volleyball); Charles Tiller, American Christian (girls cross country); Tim Miller, Bob Jones (girls basketball); Greg Echols, Mountain Brook (girls track & field); Denise Tinney, Montgomery Academy (girls tennis); and Barclay Kercher, Spanish Fort (girls soccer).

     Larry Morris of Scottsboro was honored as state athletic director of the year and Jim Hunter of Calhoun High School as AHSADCA past president.

Sportsmanship Luncheon
     Earlier Friday, schools recognized at the fifth annual Sportsmanship Luncheon with no fines or ejections for the 2011-12 school year were:
Class 1A
Addison; Athens Bible; Brilliant; Covenant Christian; Florala; Akron; Fayetteville; Gaston; Hackleburg; R. A. Hubbard; Marion County; McKenzie; Meek; Paint Rock Valley; Saint Bernard; Skyline; South Lamar; Spring Garden; Tharptown; Wadley; Waterloo; Whitesburg Christian; Woodville.

Class 2A

American Christian; Asbury; Calhoun; Cherokee; Colbert Heights; Cottage Hill Christian; Millry; Elba; LaFayette; Lexington; New Brockton; Pleasant Valley; Red Bay; Reeltown; Wicksburg.

Class 3A
Abbeville; Alabama School of Math & Science; Aliceville; Bayside Academy; Beulah; Brindlee Mountain; Central, Coosa; Clarke County; Clay County; Clements; Daleville; Danville; Geraldine; Greensboro; Hamilton; Handley; Indian Springs; Loveless Acad. Magnet; Montevallo; New Hope; Northside; Opp; J.B. Pennington; Plainview; Sipsey Valley; Slocomb; Sylvania; Vinemont; Walter Wellborn.

Class 4A
Beauregard; DAR; Escambia County; Good Hope; Haleyville; Munford; North Jackson; Pope John Paul II Catholic; Saint James; Thomasville; UMS-Wright; West Limestone; Wilson.

Class 5A
Boaz; Paul Bryant; Chilton County; Etowah; John Carroll Catholic; Parker; Rehobeth; Wenonah; West Point.

Class 6A
Baker; Carver-Montgomery; Daphne; Gardendale; Jeff Davis; Lee-Montgomery; Tuscaloosa County; Vestavia Hills.

     Eight of the schools, one from each AHSAA district, received al.com $1.000 grants: Bayside Academy (District 1); Opp (District 2); Akron (District 3); Central Coosa (District 4); Parker (District 5); Spring Garden (District 6); Hackleburg (District 7); and Clements (District 8).