By Staff
Kim West
Red Bay High senior Jessica Johnston has been selected as the Franklin County Times Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Johnston, 18, played basketball, golf and softball for the Lady Tigers and was an all-county performer as the starting point guard for No. 5 Red Bay, which won the county championship and Class 2A, Area 16 title and advanced to the Northwest Regional.
Johnston, a 4.0 student, was voted class president and "Most Intellectual" by her fellow seniors and was an active member of Beta Club, Science Club, Spanish Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America and Future Farmers of America.
She is a recipient of the There's A Way scholarship and will attend the University of North Alabama to study secondary education and math. Johnston is the daughter of Ben Johnston and Sheila Johnston of Red Bay.
Twenty-four student-athletes were selected for the Scholar-Athlete of the Week award during the 2007-08 school year. Every junior high school and high school in Franklin County had three award winners selected throughout the year by the school's guidance counselor, principal and athletic director.
This year's winners from the county schools also included Bridget Thompson, Deborah Billingham and Taylor Hester of Belgreen; Trevor Hodge, Kendra Baker and Breanna Berry of East Franklin; Ashden Mayfield, Tate Canida and Alissa Smith of Phil Campbell; Pablo Makepeace and Kellie Sella of Red Bay; Trevor Hallmark, Lauren Scott and Braeden Sellers of Tharptown; and Blake Thorn, Heather Holland and Ryan Manasco of Vina.
Honorees from the city schools included Rachel Mitchell, Logan Ezzell and Shelby Brownell of Russellville Middle School; and Anne-Marie Hall, Cory Trapp and Laurie Rickard of Russellville High School.