By Haley Mitchell Godwin

Crenshaw County Schools •College and Career, in collaboration with Pepsi of Luverne, recently organized the 2024 annual resume contest. Open to high school seniors in the Crenshaw County Public School system, the yearly contest highlights the talent and potential of local students. Eight deserving winners, two from each Crenshaw County public school, were selected and awarded a $100.00 cash prize.

According to program coordinator, College and Career coach Haley Kilcrease, the competition not only provides monetary rewards but also invaluable real-world experience, preparing students for life beyond graduation.

“It gives them real life experience for after high school,” Kilcrease said. “Having interviews and filling out job applications helps get them prepared for the real world and life after high school.”

Winners at the high school level were Brantley students Annah Parker Little and Kendal Nichols, Highland Home students Madaline Jane Crowe and Lane Duett and Luverne High School students Carson Simmons and Alayna White.

School winners advanced to compete at the county level in the PowerSouth Energy Cooperative/Southeast AlabamaWorks Resume Contest where Little won the honor, along with a $250 scholarship from PowerSouth to be awarded to the college of her choice. The county win also secured Little’s spot in the Wiregrass area competition that will be held April 9. Durint the area event, county winners from across the region will engage in panel interviews, with the ultimate victor earning a $1000.00 scholarship from PowerSouth.

“I am excited to have been chosen as my school resume winner as well as our district resume winner,” Little said. “I am thrilled to get to represent our district at the regional contest. A resume is an important piece of information for applying for scholarships, jobs and colleges, and I am thankful for Mrs. Haley Kilcrease pushing me to submit mine in the local contest.”

The area competition promises not only a platform for students to showcase their talents but also an opportunity for students to glean insights from accomplished professionals as testimonies of professional success stories will be featured. The event will culminate with a luncheon where the overall winner will be announced.

The resume competition serves a twofold purpose — to foster a deeper understanding of the importance of leadership in today’s world and to incentivize the development of both written and verbal communication skills essential for students’ future success.

“These competitions and others help the program empower students for a successful future,” Kilcrease affirmed. “We want to empower them and have them confident to be the best they can be for life after high school, whether that is to employ, enroll or enlist.”