Pelham City Schools held its May "Panther Pride" recognition during the regular board meeting, honoring students and staff who earned local, county and statewide awards across academics, arts, career and technical education and athletics.

The ceremonies featured Student and Educator of the Year honorees from the Shelby County Chamber awards, statewide winners in visual arts and literary competitions, career and technical team accomplishments and athletic statewide placings. Officials noted Pelham High School seniors were awarded more than $15,000,000 in scholarships and that graduates had accepted college placements in all 50 states, military enlistments and workforce offers in skilled trades.

Among individual recognitions, Trey Clark (Pelham Park Middle School), Savannah Fisher (Pelham Ridge Elementary), Katie Travis (Pelham High School) and Jackson Vaughn (Pelham Oaks Elementary School) were listed as school representatives at the Shelby County Chambers Student and Educator of the Year Awards, with Savannah Fisher named Shelby County Chambers Elementary Educator of the Year. Camden Martin (Pelham High School) was highlighted as the Shelby County Chambers Academic Standout Student of the Year and as recipient of Pelham High School's Pelham Way Award. Other winners included statewide visual-art champions Kansas Klein (Pelham High School) and Luca Rice (Pelham Oaks Elementary), and multiple winners in the Visual Arts Achievement Program and Alabama literary and culinary competitions.

Career and technical program results included the Pelham High culinary team earning first at the Alabama ProStart Invitational and finishing 24th at nationals in Baltimore. Technology Student Association competitors qualified for nationals, and SkillsUSA's video news production team placed at state competitions.

Athletics recognitions included Pelham’s first-ever esports state champion, Xavier Merchant (Madden NFL 25), multiple All-State track and field honorees, and a middle-school wrestler who placed at the AHSAA varsity tournament.

District leaders told the board the recognitions represent a small sample of student and staff achievement across Pelham schools and emphasized the district’s commitment to offering broad opportunities for students to excel in academics, arts, career pathways and athletics.

The board invited families, teachers and coaches to join recipients for photos and encouraged the public to attend graduation events for the Class of 2025.