Academic banquet to honor 140+ students

By Donnie A. Lucas

Over 140 students will be recognized for academic achievement during the Albany Junior/Senior High School Academic Banquet on Monday, May 15 in the main gym starting at 7:00 p.m.

The annual event is sponsored by Albany ISD, the Feed Store and the AJSHS Academic Booster Club, with the Feed Store’s executive director Tisha Wilkins taking the lead to organize the event.

About 350 students and parents are expected to attend, with almost 60 students being recognized in at least two areas, and 20 in three or more.

Ticket sales ended Tuesday for the event, with honored students provided with a free ticket.

The banquet will honor student achievement in a number of academic areas. Included will be one-act play, UIL academics, ILPC newspaper awards, honor graduates, high ACT and SAT scores, Ag Leadership winners, FCCLA, band awards, and all students who have maintained a 90 or above average in core classes.

The meal of barbecue brisket and chicken, along with three sides and cookies, is being catered Joe Allen’s Barbecue of Abilene.

“We are expecting another big crowd this year,” Wilkins said. “We feel that it is so important to honor all these students who have worked hard academically, along with participating in co-curricular contests and activities that are tied to academics.”