BIRMINGHAM, AL (April 29, 2025) |
AmFirst and WBRC 6 proudly announced the winners of the prestigious 2024–2025 Rising Star Scholarships, a program dedicated to recognizing outstanding high school students across Central Alabama, at an awards ceremony on Friday, April 25th.
Each week during the academic year, WBRC chooses a Rising Star, a student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership, and service. These Rising Stars are students from across Alabama currently enrolled in their senior year of high school and plan to attend a full-time college or trade school in Fall 2025. From a competitive pool of 30 remarkable Rising Stars, six students were selected to receive a $5,000 Rising Star Scholarship to support their educational journey.
The 2025 Rising Star Scholarship recipients are:
- Bentley Bean, Wellborn High School
- Kimora Dejarenette, Sylacauga High School
- Carleigh Lipscomb, Gadsden City High School
- LeeAnn Satterfield, Southside High School
- James Murphy Jr., Minor High School
- Lana Todd, Holly Pond High School
Winners were selected based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, community service, and performance during a final interview round. Each recipient reflects the values of perseverance, passion, and a commitment to bettering their community.
“We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with WBRC to highlight and support the next generation of leaders through the Rising Star program,” said Kevin Morris, President and CEO of AmFirst. “These students are a powerful reminder of the promise our future holds.”
For the second consecutive year, AmFirst awarded a $5,000 scholarship to the dependent of an AmFirst employee. This year, Ryan Kozlek of Oak Mountain High School was honored with the award. Newly renamed in 2025, the Bill and Pat Connor Scholarship honors the lasting legacy of former CEO Bill Connor and his wife, Pat, whose decades of service and commitment to education have left a profound impact on the AmFirst family and community. This scholarship continues their tradition of supporting educational opportunities for the next generation.
To learn more about the Rising Star program and this year’s scholarship winners, visit: https://www.wbrc.com/community/rising-star/.
