68 VENTURES BOWL TO HONOR 14 LOCAL STUDENTS, 9 TEACHERS AND 4 AREA SCHOOLS AT COMMUNITY AWARDS BANQUET

Mobile, Ala. (Nov. 30, 2023) – The 68 Ventures Bowl Community Awards Banquet honoring this year’s art contest winners, scholarship recipients, and grant recipients for Extra Yard for Teachers was held last night, Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at the Moe’s Original Bar B Q.

The Gus Shopoff Memorial Scholarship presented by Murray Cape, and the John Gottfried Memorial Scholarship presented by Joe Gottfried, is awarded annually to Team Focus Chapter Members based on academic merit, participation in the Team Focus mentoring program, and their leadership skills.

Gus Shopoff Memorial Scholarship Winner:

Brian Hines                Faith Academy

John Gottfried Memorial Scholarship Winner:

Travis Lofton               Daphne High School

The 68 Ventures Bowl Art Contest invites students from Mobile and Baldwin County schools to enter this annual contest for a chance to earn funding for their school’s art program. This years’ theme was “Commemorating 25 Years: The Roaring 20’s in Mobile” and the contest received over 150 entries. Finalists were selected by judges Kim Wood from the Mobile Museum of Art and Nancy Raia from the American Sport Art Museum & Archives.

Last nights’ winners received cash prizes for their schools’ art programs. As a result of this contest, The 68 Ventures Bowl has donated approximately $30,600 in the last 17 years to the art programs in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, and this year a total of $1,800 was donated. The students will receive mention in the 68 Ventures Bowl game program, as well as game tickets and gift certificates from Foosackly’s and Southern Art and Frame. Their artwork will be on display throughout Mobile and Baldwin Counties at numerous locations.

Art Contest Winners:

6^th-8^th Grade

1^st Place: Therese Mulroy, 8^th Grade, Barton Academy, Christy LeGros

2^nd Place: Magda de Haart, 8^th Grade, Barton Academy, Christy LeGros

3^rd Place: Madison McMillan, 8^th Grade, Barton Academy, Christy LeGros

Honorable Mentions: Addyson Chaney, 8^th Grade, Barton Academy, Christy LeGros

9^th-10^th Grade

1^st Place: Penny Snell, 9^th Grade, Bayside Academy, Vikki Finch

2^nd Place: Evania Smith, 9^th Grade, Saraland High School, Catherine Wood

3^rd Place: Jackson McCoy, 10^th Grade, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Felicia Olds

Honorable Mentions: Jena Sayyard, 9^th Grade, Barton Academy, Christy LeGros

11^th-12^th Grade

1^st Place: Lauren Bixler, 11^th Grade, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Felicia Olds

2^nd Place: Yufei Zhao, 11^th Grade, Saraland High School, Catherine Wood

3^rd Place: Madelynn Ridgell, 11^th Grade, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Felicia Olds

Honorable Mentions: Mia Stevens, 11^th Grade, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Felicia Olds

School’s Art Program Prize Money

Barton Academy, Christy LeGros

St. Paul’s Episcopal, Felicia Olds

Saraland High School, Catherine Wood

Bayside Academy, Vikki Finch

Each year one of the winning the pieces has been chosen to be featured as the cover art for the 68 Ventures Bowl game program.  This year’s honor went to Penny Snell from Bayside Academy.

The Extra Yard for Teachers Grant is a program in conjunction with the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation where we come together to recognize deserving teachers in our community. The 68 Ventures Bowl chose 9 teachers to receive recognition and funding for their efforts and commitment to educating our children. Each recipient received $1,000 to utilize in their classroom to improve student learning, and grow their teaching resources.

Extra Yard for Teachers Grant Winners:

Krystal Ladnier, Breitling Elementary School

Cortez Nelson, Meadowlake Elementary School

Kristal Bush, Holloway Elementary School

Mashun Johnson, Burns Middle School

Kim Wakefield, Phillips Preparatory School

Tammy Loper, Causey Middle School

Andrew Lipske, Baker High School

Angela Salamone, Mary G. Montgomery High School

Alex White, Murphy High School

The 25^th annual 68 Venture Bowl will kick off at 6:00 pm, on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.  Top teams from the Mid-American Conference and Sun Belt Conference will square off at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

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