Coaches and teachers at McKenzie School have long recognized Kayla Shufford as a student who excels in both the classroom and athletics.

The rest of the state recently caught on.

Shufford, a senior at McKenzie, has been selected as a regional winner for the Bryant-Jordan Student-Achievement Award.

A total of 48 seniors, eight each in each of the six Alabama High School Athletic Association’s current six classifications, were selected as Student-Achievement Award winners. Forty-eight more were chosen as Scholar-Athlete Award winners.

“It’s exciting,” Shufford said. “I’m really happy about it.”

Shufford has been a two-sport star for McKenzie as a member of its basketball and softball teams.

And while she’s experienced success both on the court and diamond, her future goals have more to do with books than athletics.

“I want to get all A’s,” she said.

Shufford, who will graduate in May, plans to attend either Troy University or Jacksonville State University and study accounting.

Miles Brown, McKenzie School assistant principal and athletics director, said Shufford’s accomplishment is something the school and Town of McKenzie can take pride in.

“She’s a fantastic kid, and a great representative of our school and our town,” he said. “It’s great to have a kid from McKenzie win this award. I’m tickled that Kayla is getting this honor, not only for her future as she moves on to college, but for our school. I think it says a lot about our school and the kids we have here that we have a student being recognized with this award.”

Each student selected was nominated by their respective high schools. A committee of school principals chose the area winners and a committee of school administrators in each region then selected the regional winners. The overall and class winners will be selected by a statewide committee comprised of school administrators and state business leaders.
All 96 will be recognized at the 2014 Bryant-Jordan Banquet April 14 at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel Ballroom.
Each regional winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Class winners will receive an additional $3,000 scholarship.
The overall Larry D.Striplin, Jr. Scholar-Athlete Award and the overall Ken and Betty Joy Blankenship Achievement Award state winners will receive an additional $3,000 each.
Regional winners are also eligible to receive several other scholarships that will be awarded by 14 Alabama four-year colleges and 14 Alabama community colleges participating in program.