Finalists have been named for the Sewell Memorial Award and John Sewell Memorial Scholarship. The annual banquet will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fieldhouse at 17 Springs in Millbrook.

Senior honorees from Tallassee include Avery Brantley, Jack Butler, Nubia Espinoza and Nathan Mason. Ninth grade certificate winners from THS are Zion Alleyne, Barker Davis, Carlynn Easterling and Hamp Love.

The keynote speaker for this year’s award banquet will be 17-year-old shark attack survivor and adaptive athlete, Lulu Gribbin. Gribbin’s survivor story began on June 7, 2024, when diving for sand dollars with friends on Florida’s gulf coast, she was attacked by a bull shark, severing her left hand and part of her right leg.

The Mountain Brook High School junior’s tenacity has not only fueled her own recovery but has been the catalyst for advocacy measures including the passage of legislation providing for a shark sighting & attack alert system. Gribbin is also the founder of the Lulu Strong Foundation, a 501c(3) non-profit born out of a desire to improve access to advanced prosthetics and therapeutic solutions for all amputees.

This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the Joe Sewell Memorial Award, established in 2005 to recognize outstanding high school senior athletes in Elmore County who have consistently represented the highest ideals of Christian leadership. Scholarships totaling $19,000 will be awarded.

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 $3,500 John Sewell Scholarship. Senior male and female category winners are also selected for academics, athletics, leadership, and church, community, and character, with each category winner receiving a $1,500 scholarship. Outstanding ninth grade certificate winners will also be recognized at the banquet.

The Joe Sewell Memorial Award is the only program of its kind in the River Region to present 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.

A limited number of advance banquet tickets are available for sale to the public at Eventbrite.com. Tickets will not be available at the door. For more information regarding the award and scholarship program, visit http://joesewellaward.com.

Senior Nominees (Tallassee)

Avery Brantley
Baseball, Cross Country, Wrestling

First Methodist Church Tallassee ⁃ Youth Group Member ⁃ VBS Recreation Leader ⁃ Thanksgiving & Christmas Food Distribution volunteer ⁃ Wrestling state qualifier ⁃ Wrestling State Champion ⁃ Regional dual champion ⁃ Duals State Champion ⁃ Champion of Beast of the Beach ⁃ First Team All-County ⁃ Reputation On The Line Player of the Week ⁃ Wrestling Team Captain ⁃ Baseball Team Captain ⁃ National Honor Society Historian ⁃ FCA ⁃ Auburn University Montgomery ⁃ Kinesiology ⁃ Grandson of Jerri Brantley

Jack Butler
Baseball

First Methodist Church Tallassee ⁃ VBS ⁃ Worship Service Technical Team Member ⁃ Lay Reader & Musician during Worship service ⁃ Youth missions and mission trip volunteer ⁃ WTLS Radio Show Host ⁃ Baseball Student Athlete of the Game ⁃ Prep Baseball Alabama Player Spotlight ⁃ Player of the Game ⁃ AHSAA Radio Network Baseball Athlete of the Week ⁃ JV Highest Batting Average Award ⁃ Tallassee High School Men’s Choir ⁃ Auburn University Montgomery ⁃ Healthcare Management ⁃ Son of Michael and Leigh Anne Butler

Nubia Espinoza
Volleyball

St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church ⁃ Volunteer for Church ministry ⁃ Packaged food bags weekly for children ⁃ Multiple year attendee for “One Bread, One Cup” in Indianapolis, IN ⁃ Alabama Seal of Biliteracy Award ⁃ Beta Club ⁃ Divas Show Choir ⁃ Fellowship of Christian Athletes ⁃ Key Club ⁃ Leo Club ⁃ National Honor Society ⁃ Voltage Show Choir Section Leader ⁃ Troy University ⁃ Trojan Leadership Scholarship ⁃ Nursing ⁃ 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate Winner ⁃ Daughter of Adan and Modesta Espinoza

Nathan Mason
Cross Country, Fishing, Golf

First Baptist Church Tallassee ⁃ Youth Praise Team AV Technician ⁃ Carpenters for Christ & Manna Ministry ⁃ Chamber Ambassador ⁃ Recreation League Soccer Coach ⁃ State Bass Fishing Qualifier ⁃ Bass Nation State Classic Qualifier ⁃ Student Council President ⁃ Junior Class Vice-President ⁃ National Honor Society President ⁃ Key Club President ⁃ Leo Club Treasurer ⁃ FFA Construction Team Captain ⁃ Boys State ⁃ Certification for equipment operation ⁃ Auburn University ⁃ Spirit of Auburn Scholarship ⁃ Aerospace Engineering ⁃ 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate Winner ⁃ Son of Brad and Deborah Mason

9th Grade Recipients (Tallassee)

Zion Alleyne
Barker Davis
Carlynn Easterling
Hamp Love