BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and its Young Professionals handed out $14,000 in college scholarships to students representing Baldwin County High and Faulkner State Community College.

The Young Professionals scholarship recipients are Todd Lamb, Christopher Steward and Riley McCullough, $1,500 each; London Naseman, Dustin Harrelson, Hunter Smith, Kaitlyn Farley and Ashli Weide, $1,000 each.

Weide is a sophomore at Faulkner State Community College majoring in nursing. She is a member of SGA where she serves as a senator, a member of Powwow Leadership and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Weide was also Miss Faulkner 2015.

Farley will be attending Troy University this fall to major in nursing. She is a peer helper at BCHS, a member of the varsity soccer team and serves as a Junior Ambassador for the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

Smith will be attending Marion Military Institute this fall in preparation to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Hunter is president of the National Honor Society, a stand out athlete on the football and soccer teams at BCHS, recently earned his Eagle Scout rank and serves as a Junior Ambassador for the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

Harrelson will be attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham this fall to major in biology. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Student Council, Peer Helpers and Model United Nations, among others. Harrelson plays an active leadership role in his youth group at Victory Assembly of God in Bay Minette.

Naseman will be attending Mississippi State in the fall majoring in biochemistry/pre-dental. She is a varsity cheerleader and Diamond Darling at BCHS. She is historian of National Honor Society and vice president of Mu Alpha Theta. She was crowned Homecoming Queen and Miss North Baldwin.

McCullough will be attending Troy University this fall to major in biomedical sciences. He is a member of National Honor Society, Peer Helpers and Student Council at BCHS. He is currently completing his second year as a Junior Ambassador for the North Baldwin Chamber.

Steward will be attending Auburn University this fall majoring in mechanical engineering. He is a presidential advisor for the National Honor Society, peer helper and after school tutor. He ran cross country and played soccer at BCHS and is currently serving as a Junior Ambassador for the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

Lamb will be attending Faulkner State Community College this fall majoring in forestry and wildlife sciences. He is senior class president and vice president of National Honor Society.  He is currently completing his second year as a Junior Ambassador for the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

NBCC also presented scholarships to its graduating Junior Ambassadors. Those earning scholarships were Christopher Steward and Riley McCullough, $1,000 each; Todd Lamb, $750; Ashley Wilson, $500; Hunter Smith, Kaitlyn Farley and Caitlyn Phillips, $250 each.

Todd Lamb also received a $500 from the Young Professionals based on his talent show performance at BCHS.

Faulkner State Community College presented full scholarships, valued at $12,000, to three Junior Ambassadors who will be attending the school this fall. They included Todd Lamb, Ashley Wilson and Caitlyn Phillips.

The Chamber also introduced its new slate of Junior Ambassadors from Baldwin County High School. They are Tiffany Johnson, Lance Smith, Matthew Covington, Morgan Bryars, Cortney Presley, Kelli Heiskell, Maggie Diehl, Emily Stewart, Bethany Hadley and Leanne Phillips.

Ashley Jones Davis, NBCEE executive director, said the Junior Ambassador program offers participants a window into the world of community service, local government and numerous other opportunities.

“Throughout the JA program these students learned about the Chamber of Commerce, city and county government, the importance of community service and so much more,” Davis said. “The Junior Ambassador Program has helped create a bridge between students and our community…. Our goal for the program is to offer an additional learning opportunity for students outside of the classroom, exposing them to real life examples, and to further prepare them for life after graduating from high school.

During their time on the Junior Ambassador board the students earn points by attending meetings, volunteering for local non-profits and putting in mandatory hours at community events. Senior members also have the opportunity to apply for scholarships from the chamber at the conclusion of the school year.

Davis said the current group has far exceeded her goals.

“The 2016 Class of Junior Ambassadors is a highly motivated group of students, we have thoroughly enjoyed having them in the program. They exceeded all requirements and raised the bar for future Ambassadors. Seven of the eight students will be moving on to college and all of them have bright futures ahead. We were lucky to have them in our community and I hope that they learned as much from me as I learned from them.”

Leanne Phillips will be back for another year and will be joined by the nine new Junior Ambassadors.

“Our upcoming class has large shoes to fill, but I have no doubt that they are the best and brightest among their peers and will get the job done,” Davis said. “I’m looking forward to having them all in the program.”