Kim West

By Staff
Scholar-Athlete of the Week
Kim West
PHIL CAMPBELL – Being a teacher runs in the family for Alissa Smith.
Smith, a senior at Phil Campbell High School, has already decided to study elementary education at the University of North Alabama in Florence.
"My mom, dad, grandma, aunt and uncle are all teachers, and my brother and sister are also going to be teachers," said Smith, who ranks fourth in her class with a 95.0 average. "I'd like to teach kindergarten or first grade."
She has already taken a semester of college classes by participating in dual enrollment the past two years.
"I've taken basic classes like English, psychology and biology," said Smith, whose favorite subject is English. "For the English course, we had to write a bunch of essay papers."
Smith does more than hit the books – she also runs the 3200 relay in track, plays shooting guard on the basketball team and participates in several clubs. She serves as the National Honor Society president and SADD treasurer and belongs to FCCLA, FFA, FBLA, 4-H, P-Club, Student Advisory Board and Media Club and was a nominee for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award, which recognizes students for their leadership, academics and athletics.
"I decided to come to Phil Campbell (from East Franklin Junior High) because I love playing basketball – my favorite memory was our last game this season against Mars Hill because we were down by 20 points at halftime and we came back and almost beat them in the second half," said Smith, who who named Hannah McDougal as her funniest teammate. "And I like how everyone is really close here."
Away from school, she enjoys going to Gulf Shores with her family each summer, spending time with friends and her dog, watching "American Idol" and scrapbooking.
Smith said she has never flown on a plane before but will have that opportunity thanks to the senior class trip to California later this month.
"The trip to L.A. in two weeks is probably what I'm looking forward most this year," she said. "I've never been on a plane or been to California before."
Smith is the daughter of Vickie King and Alan Smith and has an older brother, Jared, 22, and an older sister, Alana, 20, who both attend the University of Alabama.