Hatton High School’s Jazzmine Mason and Glencoe High School’s Katie Giles were selected the overall state winners at the 38th annual Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete Awards Banquet held at the Sheraton Ballroom in Birmingham on Monday night.

A total of 104 high school regional senior honorees were recognized and awarded more than $410,000 in scholarships with more than $500,000 also available through the Bryant-Jordan program annually.

The scholarship program, named in honor of the late coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant of the University of Alabama and Ralph “Shug” Jordan of Auburn University, recognized 52 regional scholar-athlete winners selected for their excellence in athletics and academics and 52 achievement winners chosen for their ability to overcome major obstacles during their high school careers.

Eight students in each category were selected as regional winners in Classes 1A through 6A. Four regional winners in each category were selected from school nominations in Class 7A. Each of the 104 regional winners received a $3,000 scholarship. The 14 Class winners received an additional $3,500; and for each overall state winner, the stipend received was $4,000.

In addition, several other individuals, schools and organizations have also joined the Bryant-Jordan Program to present additional scholarships. From the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program’s inception through last year, 3,220 senior student-athletes have received approximately $12 million in financial awards.

This year, a new scholarship was added – the W. Edgar Welden Service Award – a $2,500 grant presented to one recipient in each of the divisions. The award is named in honor of Welden, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Bryant-Jordan Board and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Board.

Giles, the Class 3A state cross country champion last fall, received the 2023 Larry D. Striplin Jr. Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award as the overall scholar-athlete of the year. The cross country and track and field standout will be graduating with a 4.46 weighted grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and is a National Merit Finalist on track to be her graduating class’ valedictorian or salutatorian and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT college entrance exam. She is also enrolled in dual enrollment taking college courses in addition to her Advanced Placement classes.

“I think of the word grit,” said Sherry Firestone, one of Giles’ teachers at Glencoe. “There is something inherent in certain people, and Katie has that. People are born with it. You can’t teach it. The kid has that quality that doesn’t come along often.”

The Glencoe senior displayed her determination in other ways throughout her high school career. She battled a series of injuries, including a nagging hip injury during her junior season that slowed her progress. Even when she couldn’t clock elite times, she paced younger teammates in an effort to help them log personal bests. She also works a part-time job as a local soccer official, attended Girls State, served as president of the school’s Junior Civitan Club, and volunteered her time in numerous community service projects. She also played soccer and basketball before giving up both to focus on her running career.

Giles thanked her principal and teachers for their impact in her lives. “I thank them so much for their kind words. They have always pushed me to be the best I can be.”

She plans to attend the University of South Alabama and will compete on the Jaguars’ cross country and track teams. Giles plans to study biomedical sciences with the goal of attending medical school. She hopes to eventually specialize in orthopedics or sports medicine.

Hatton’s Mason was selected the 2023 Ken and Betty Joy Blankenship Student Achievement Athlete of the Year Award recipient. This award honors senior student-athletes who have overcome personal adversity to excel.

The Hatton senior has been a cheerleader and softball and basketball player during her high school career. She overcame tremendous adversity to develop into one of her school’s leaders in athletics and in the classroom. Her father died when she was 3 years old. She lived in an unstable home environment for much of her childhood. Her mother, brother and she moved in with her grandmother, which provided some stability, but things continued to spiral in her life. Her brother committed suicide in 2012, her grandmother died in 2013, and a few months later, her mother died of injuries sustained in a car accident.

She decided to move to Town Creek from Moulton to live with a half-sister – a decision that changed the path of her life.

Through sports at Hatton, she finally began to feel she belonged. The team setting provided the family atmosphere she had longed for. She also learned her new role – as a leader. Mason was never the “star athlete” but she was a “star leader.” She was named softball team captain, cheer team captain, Softball Role Player of the Year, Basketball Most Outstanding Athlete and earned the basketball team’s Hustle Award. She was also selected the School Impact Player of the Year.

A role model for others, she will graduate with solid B-plus grade point average.

“I am so thankful,” said Mason. “I want to be a teacher so I can work with children.”

Both state recipients received a total $10,500 in scholarship funds Monday night.

The other class and special scholarship recipients honored Monday night:

2023 Bryant-Jordan Winners

Ken and Betty Joy Blankenship Student Achievement Winner

OVERALL: Jazzmine Mason, Hatton High School

CLASS WINNERS

1A – Nadia Moore, Loachapoka High School

2A – Jazzmine Mason, Hatton High School

3A – Blake Cleveland, Plainview High School

4A – Caleb Ray, T.R. Miller High School

5A – Jayden Spearman, Charles Henderson High School

6A – Troy Young, Athens High School

7A – Robert Suter, Enterprise High School

Larry Striplin Jr.  Blankenship Scholar-Athlete Winners

OVERALL: Katie Giles, Glencoe High School

CLASS WINNERS

1A – Reece Hall, Kinston High School

2A – Carson Hall, Ranburne High School

3A – Katie Giles, Glencoe High School

4A – Brooklyn Ehlers, Corner High School

5A – Annie Wingate, Eufaula High School

6A – Jack Heap, Cullman High School

7A – Maxwell Hardin, Auburn High School