The John Wades Keyes Chapter of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognizes students from area high schools each year as Good Citizens. The Good Citizen representatives from each school are seniors selected by faculty, staff and peers at each individual school based on the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. The intent of the program is to encourage and reward such qualities.

Each student receives recognition and is eligible to enter the DAR Good Citizens Scholarship contest. Scholarship entries are then eligible to win awards ranging from $300 for the state winner, $120 for the first runner-up, $60 for the second runner-up, and $30 for the third runner-up. The state winner will be honored at the state conference awards banquet in March.

This year, each Good Citizen was required to prepare an essay themed “Our American Heritage — Our Responsibility for Preserving It.”

Chairman of the John Wade Keyes Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Peggy King presented the following students as Good Citizens:

Trenton Van-Wesley Barksdale

Athens Bible School

Trenton Van-Wesley Barksdale, son of Van and Mellanie Barksdale, is the Athens Bible School Good Citizen representative.

He is president/CEO of the Trobotics team as well as a Student Council representative for the senior class and has been a member of the Drama Club, History Club, Above and Beyond, varsity golf team and Beta Club.

He has been involved in numerous spelling bees and talent competitions with the Beta Club, and science fairs where he has received a number of awards for his research. He is also involved in various leadership programs.

Barksdale has volunteered with Hospice of North Alabama at the Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville and assisted at various events including Homespun.

He attends Mt. Zion Church of Christ where he sings and gives occasional sermons.

He enjoys playing the piano, reading, drawing and spending time with friends.

Barksdale hopes to attend Florida College where he plans to study medicine before transferring to UAB for his doctorate. He would also like to minister.

Anna Leigh Fikes

Athens High School

Anna Leigh Fikes, daughter of Harlow and Susan Fikes, is the Athens High School Good Citizen representative.

She is a member Alabama Governor’s School, First National Bank Student Advisory Board, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council Association Correspondence Committee, National Honor Society, Student Council Association, Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership program, National Beta Club, Optimist Club, volleyball team and softball team. 

She serves as secretary of the Student Council Association and president of the Octagon Community Service Club.

Fikes has volunteered in the community by providing Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas presents to less fortunate families.

She attends First Methodist Church where she helped host “Rake and Run,” where youth rake yards of the elderly. She also taught Bible School and has been on a number of mission trips.

She is also a member of the Pi Beta Sigma Community Service Sorority.

She enjoys babysitting, delivering cards and serving ice cream at the nursing home, exercising, reading, playing with her dog and going to the movies with family and friends.

Fikes plans to attend the University of Alabama where she plans to pursue a broadcast journalism degree. Her dream is to work for ESPN as a sports broadcaster.

John Matthew Edwards

Ardmore High School

John Matthew Edwards, son of Matt and Michelle Edwards, is the Ardmore High School Good Citizen representative.

He was a member of the Ardmore football team for four years. He has served as a team captain and was selected the Most Improved Player in 2009. He is also a member of the Junior Civitan Organization and helps tutor other students at Ardmore High School.

Edwards is active at his church. He is a member of the church choir and has been on numerous mission trips to several different states. He has also spent his time volunteering with the elderly as well as with victims of Hurricane Katrina and the April 27 tornadoes.

He enjoys sports and spending time with family and friends.

Edwards plans to pursue a career in sports medicine.

Ryan Tyler Cole

Clements High School

Ryan Tyler Cole, son of Donna and John Cole, is the Clements High School Good Citizen representative.

He is the president of the Math Club, FFA president and senior class president.

He scored the highest ACT score at Clements High School. He helps teachers and students at Clements High School running errands and with other needs. 

He also hosts school pep rallies and serves as announcer.

Cole is active in the community as a member of T.R.A.I.L, supported by the DEKKO Foundation, and Phish. He serves as T.R.A.I.L’s vice president.

He has a passion for American history and has “unwavering thankfulness” for those who serve and defend the United States of America.

Hunter Wade Reece

East Limestone High School

Hunter Wade Reece, son of Greg and Tammy Reece, is the East Limestone High School Good Citizen representative.

He is a member of the East Limestone football and baseball teams and is vice president of the Spanish Club and Beta Club. He is also a member of the Science Club and SCA.

He has served as a Boys State representative.

After the April 27 tornadoes, Reece volunteered in the East Limestone Community helping his neighbors.

He is a member of Harvest Church of Christ.

Cole enjoys playing guitar and drawing.

Cole plans to attend a four-year college and pursue a degree in engineering.

Jacob Bradley McNatt

Elkmont High School

Jacob Bradley McNatt, son of Bradley and Melissa McNatt, is the Elkmont High School Good Citizen representative.

He is a member First Priority of America, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, Elkmont marching and concert band and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

He serves as an office aide at Elkmont High School and helps with concessions at various athletic events.

He is a member of United Methodist Church Council where he serves as a youth representative and is a member of the Elkmont United Methodist Church Choir.

He volunteers with the Alabama Rural Ministry, Angel Tree Ministry and at his local parsonage by providing manual labor to those in need.

McNatt also helped with tornado relief by clearing debris after the April 27 tornado outbreak.

He has volunteered in numerous capacities including community events such as food drives, Halloween festivals, homecoming dances, Elkmont Red Carpet Affair and the Elkmont Christmas parade.

Landon Trent Stephens

Tanner High School

Landon Trent Stephens, son of Johnny and LeeAnn Stephens, is the Tanner High School Good Citizen representative.

He is a member of the Student Council, Limestone/Morgan Youth Leadership and Career Development Program, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as the Tanner football, baseball and basketball teams.

He is a Wendy’s Heisman representative and High Hopes Tutor.

Stephens has participated in a number of community activities including helping with disaster cleanup after the April 27 tornadoes as well as the Special Olympics.

He is a member of Central Church of Christ where he participates in youth group activities.

He enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching Alabama football games and music.

Stephens plans to play either college football or baseball at a four-year college. He plans to major in sports management. He would like to own a gym and train young athletes for sports-related competitions.

Ashley Nicole Hobbs

West Limestone High School

Ashley Nicole Hobbs, daughter of Tony and Sueann Hobbs, is the West Limestone High School Good Citizen representative.

She is a member of FBLA, Spanish Club, Beta Club, Science Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, First Priority, and the West Limestone volleyball and softball teams.

Hobbs is a member of Salem Springs Baptist Church.

She is involved throughout the community volunteering as a vacation Bible school teacher, helping on mission trips and delivering meals to the elderly. She also volunteered with the Owens Elementary Kindergarten Camp, James Kennemer Golf Tournament, and Relay for Life and Youth Serve Day.

After the April 27 tornadoes, Hobbs helped deliver clothes, food and water to those affected by the storms.

Hobbs’s plans after high school are undecided, but she said she wants to choose a career that will allow her to serve others.