Five students receive special awards following the 2016 Youth Legislature

BETTY CARR AWARD
The Betty Carr Award, developed by the Anniston delegation in honor of longtime adviser Betty Carr, is presented to the Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature delegate who gives fully to the program, exhibits excellent debating skills, works diligently behind the scenes and stands for his or her beliefs. It was first awarded in 1976. In 1988, when Mrs. Carr had been an advisor for 18 of the first 40 years of the program, she told the Tomorrow Today newspaper that the greatest accomplishment of Youth Legislature is the confidence it builds in young people: “They learn to speak on their feet, laugh at mistakes and realize that nobody is perfect.”

The Betty Carr Award winner for 2016 is Bennett McGehee, Davidson High School, Mobile.

BILL BARRINGER SCHOLARSHIP
Every year since 1987, the Alabama Youth Legislature college staff has selected the Bill Barringer Scholarship recipient. The scholarship goes to a college-bound senior with a minimum three-year involvement in the Youth Legislature program, who exhibits exemplary Christian character, extensive behind the scenes work regardless of recognition, great dedication to the program, an attitude of encouragement and enthusiasm and who has gained respect of peers and adults.

In 2016, the scholarship named for former Youth Legislature Director Bill Barringer, went to Steven Higgins, Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School, Montgomery.

SUNSHINE AWARD
In 2011, Brittany Shepard Pugh died at the age of 24 in a traffic accident that also killed her 15-month-old son, Shep. Pugh was a teacher in the Barbour County school system and a Youth Legislature alumnus. She was the 2001 Outstanding First Year Delegate. She served as the 2002 Secretary of State, was selected to attend the Youth Conference on National Affairs in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Her 2003 bill requiring mandatory kindergarten was signed into law by the youth governor at the time. She was part of the Ozark delegation to Youth Legislature.

The Sunshine Award, created to honor Pugh’s life and legacy, is awarded based on a participant’s leadership skills, community service and commitment to their faith and friendships.

The 2016 recipient is Gabbi Pohlman, a senior at The Montgomery Academy.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Servant Leadership Award was established to honor those who responded to the devastating March 1, 2007, tornado that struck Enterprise. Each year, the award is granted to one student who has served their community regardless of recognition.

Recipients receive a week at the YMCA Christian Values Conference in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina at no cost to them, including transportation from Montgomery.

The 2016 recipients are Claudia Hubbard, Saint James School, Montgomery, and Natalyia Leonard, G.W. Carver High School, Montgomery.