By Lee HurleyLars Porter is stepping into the principal’s office at Mountain Brook High School with a mix of humility, energy and familiarity with the kind of community he now leads. Growing up in Vestavia, Porter describes a path to school leadership that was anything but scripted; part youth minister, part coach, part classroom teacher, part technology coordinator and … [Read more...]
Vestavia Hills graduate Olivia Carroll enters class of 2030 at the U.S. Naval Academy
Olivia Carroll, a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School, was inducted into the Naval Academy Class of 2030 on June 25, marking the beginning of six challenging weeks of basic midshipman training during Plebe Summer. Approximately 1,200 candidates are selected each year for the Academy’s “plebe” or freshman class, and each student is required to participate … [Read more...]
In the Running: Mountain Brook’s Mae Dapkus and Olivia Self are asking all the right questions.
By Andrew CottenWe had agreed to meet at 7 a.m., because it was the only hour all three of us could make the interview work. I arrived a few minutes early, but Mae Dapkus and Olivia Self were already in the parking lot, already catching up with familiar faces, already making use of a morning most people would have spent half asleep. Between AP classes, ACTs, … [Read more...]
Homewood Girl Scouts and Pathways
Girl Scout Troop #26020, made up of Homewood Middle School seventh graders, have been working with Pathways Women and Children’s Shelter to earn their Silver Awards. The troop partnered with organizations, businesses and individuals in Homewood to learn how to create and raise money for Pathways Pages, a little free library inside Pathways specifically for its … [Read more...]
The Rotary Club of Shades Valley Announces 2026 Scholarship Recipients
The Rotary Club of Shades Valley announced the recipients of its 2026 scholarship awards at a luncheon on May 4, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The scholarships recognize outstanding high school seniors for their academic achievement, leadership and commitment to service. Each of the nine students will receive a $10,000 award (for a total of $90,000 for the … [Read more...]