The Atmore Rotary Club honored area students for excelling in the classroom during its Academic All-Star program Thursday evening at Escambia County High School.

More than 100 high school students received recognition during the 26th annual program with more than $18,000 in scholarships being awarded. To be named an Academic All-Star, it is required that students maintain an A or B average in each subject for each grading period of the school year, with at least one A for each grading period.

Rotary President Mark Clayton said the program ran smoothly.

“We are very happy with how well the entire program flowed,” Clayton said. “The Rotarians all worked together and produced a smooth program, and Tray Smith, our featured speaker, was interesting, timely and well received by the audience.”

Smith, a 2009 graduate of ECHS and a student at the University of Alabama who has always expressed political aspirations, first addressed those on hand with some political humor.

“I must begin tonight with one very clear announcement, and I hope that no one will be disappointed – I will not be a candidate for mayor of Atmore in 2012,” Smith said.

Smith, who was an editorial columnist for The Advance while in high school, also spoke of his experiences reporting on devastating tornado that ravaged north Alabama last week, including the college town of Tuscaloosa.

“As you probably know, the city of Tuscaloosa, where I live on the campus of The University of Alabama, was hit by a very bad tornado last Wednesday,” he said. “I drove in from Tuscaloosa this morning, after spending the last week reporting on the tornado’s aftermath for ‘The Crimson White,’ the University newspaper. The level of suffering has been tremendous; but the spirit of the people of Alabama has been strong. I know many efforts to send relief supplies and volunteers have begun in Atmore and Escambia County, so thanks to all involved. Your contributions are needed and appreciated; please keep Tuscaloosa in your thoughts and prayers.”

Smith also commended the Rotary for their efforts in awarding students that excel in the classroom and spoke highly of his hometown.

Following Smith, Rotarian Kathleen Hall presented the Academic All-Star awards. Those students recognized included:

Atmore Christian School

Travis Smith, Jacinda Stahly, Narisa Wiggins, Hannah Ziglar, Casey Freeman, Tessa de Jongh, Dallas Brown and Deidre Smith.

Escambia Academy

Abby Akins, Noah Coon, Megan Duncan, Brice McGhee, Sarah Weatherford, Caitlyn Bruley, Page Lancaster, Branden Goddard, Jordan Colbert and Nycole Thompson.

Escambia County High School

Tristen Boothe, Kevin Brown, Dakota Goins, Yamilex Gutierrez, La’Shandra Hartley, Austin Johnson, Cedric Kyles, Dy’rosia Lee, Alexis Moorer, Annah Nichols, Larry Pugh,

Matthew Quimby, Sabrina Rivers, Moeshia Salter, Megan Stabler, Mariah Hinton, Scarlet Martin, Jazmine McGinnis, Tiffany McReynolds, Bria Willis, Jazmine Adams, Quinston Ephraim, Marie Gonzalez, Amber Hubert, Keierikai James, Rainy January, Ta’Kia Johnson, Brianna Martin, Jamieka North, LaRose Powell, Taniecha Richardson, Ardelia Barnes, Ebony Bowman, Jasmine Chafin, Amanda Ferguson, Kristen Gehman, Cody Johnson, Dominique Knight, Alexus Lee, Danielle Lyles, Corleia McGinnis, Meghan Moye, Morgan Nichols, Brett Wilkins and Brooke Woolard.

Northview High School

Madison Brooke Arrington, Kasie Lee Braun, Kira Nerys Cartwright, Lana Leigh Clayton, Morgan Nicole Digmon, Anna Elizabeth Donald, Anna Elizabeth Fischer, Tamara Maria Green, Jessica Nicole Lowery, Tiffani Nichole Pritchett, Mikaela Lynn Santos, Courtney Yvonne Solari, Danielle Nichole Steadham, Courtney Alexandra Weaver, Victoria Anne Wright, Alison Danielle Bardin, Hannah Elizabeth Fiellin, Jazzlyn Shanece Franklin, Ashton Brooke Gibbs, Georgia Anna Goetter, Marcus Trey Johnson, Zachary Sean Johnson, Skyler Ashton Macks, Ashley Nicole Mooney, Maranda Danielle Moye, Sandy Michelle Rainwater, Jamila Akilah Codrington, Holly Nicole Dickson, Josie Britt Doucette, Amber Dianne Francis, Cory Robert King, Joel Nathaniel Wetzel, Elizabeth Ashley Wright, Mallory Ann Bell, Sara Lynn Conner, Ashley Elizabeth Digmon, James Tyler Garrett, Laneicia Dynette Gomez, Jocelyn Marlese Gould, Sarah Malinda Killam, Jessynia Christina McCall, Christina Nicole Sepulveda, Emily Faith Vickrey and Dustin Brooks Yuhasz.

All seniors recognized received $500 scholarships for their academic accomplishments. Eight seniors earned the title of four-year Academic All-Star and received $750 scholarships for maintaining the Academic All-Star requirements all four years of high school. Those students included Mallory Ann Bell, Dallas Whitney Brown, Ashley Elizabeth Digmon, Kristen Anne Gehman, LaNeicia DyNette Gomez, Corleia Charzet McGinnis, Sarah Malinda Killam and Morgan Elise Nichols.

ECHS senior Ky’Toria Lawson was the recipient of the Randolph B. Luttrell Sr. Rotary Club Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,000.

Scholarships for the Academic All-Stars program were raised by the Rotary Club’s Fiddlers’ Convention and program ad sales.