The Board of Directors of the Joe Sewell Memorial Award and John Sewell Memorial Scholarship have released the names of its 2019 Senior Finalists.
The award was established in 2005 to recognize outstanding high school senior athletes in Elmore County who have consistently represented the highest ideals of Christian leadership. Each year, one male and one female senior from Elmore County high schools are chosen for the top honor – the Joe Sewell Memorial Award and $3,000 John Sewell Scholarship. Male and female category winners are also selected for academics, athletics, leadership, and church, community, and character, with each student receiving a $1,000 scholarship. The Joe Sewell Memorial Award is the only program of its kind in the River Region that presents scholarship money in conjunction with the awards to overall and category winners.
Additionally, the award serves to honor the legacy of Joe Sewell, a native of the Titus community who established a very successful baseball career in the Majors from 1920-1933 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. Sewell’s athletic skill was apparent as he holds two of Major League Baseball’s records including the lifetime record for fewest strikeouts in his 14-year career with only 114 in 7,132 at-bats. His outstanding character and leadership are qualities that serve as the foundation of this award. His cousin John Sewell, for whom the top scholarships are named, loved sports and spent much of his free time coaching and helping young people. Both men left a legacy in Elmore County that youth and adults alike can emulate.
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| Emma Grace Coyle | Mary Kate Lackey | Logan Pierce | Bailey Sharp |
This year’s keynote speaker will be former University of Alabama and professional football running back, Siran Stacy. Stacy was a 2nd team All-American tail back while at The University of Alabama (1989-1991) and a second round draft choice by The Philadelphia Eagles in 1992. In 1995, he was drafted into the World Football League/ NFL Europe with The Scottish Claymores and became league MVP and All-Time Leading Rusher. Nov. 19, 2007, brought about tragic life-changing circumstances that propelled Stacy into full-time ministry in June of 2008. Since that time, his service has included five years with Bill Glass Prison Ministry, which positively impacts the prison system worldwide, as well as speaking to multiple Fellowship of Christian Athlete groups, small churches and youth rallies.
This year’s 15th Annual Joe Sewell Memorial Award banquet will be held Tuesday, May 7, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Tickets are sold in advance only and will not be available at the door. Each ticket includes admission to the banquet and banquet meal, and can be purchased for $35 each while supplies last. Tickets are available at any branch of First Community Bank.