FOLEY — Ten Foley High School seniors were honored Thursday night during the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s 54th annnual Academic Banquet, held at First Baptist Church of Foley.

During the banquet, Foley High School Principal Russ Moore explained that honorees were recognized for meeting academic excellence in AP classes, as challenged by the chamber’s Excellence in Education program.

Those students meeting the challenge were Lacey Bretz, Salutatorian Emily Costa, Winona Daniels, Marla Ebert, Caylyn Harden, Nicole Hausladen, Sam McDuffie, Kayla Neely, Teddie Taylor and Valedictorian Seth Tibbs.

In addition, Moore recognized 2012 Foley High School Teacher of the Year Richard McCracken. Upon receiving his award, McCracken said that society tends to speak negatively of today’s younger generation. “

But when you see kids like this,” he said, pointing to the evening’s honored seniors, “you know we’re in good hands.”

Each honored student had his or her own words to speak, sharing influences and school memories. According to Bretz, who plans to pursue a doctorate in nursing, a favorite memory came from the impact of a psychology class project.

“You really don’t know what people are going through until you talk with them,” she said.

Costa, who plans to attend Auburn and possibly pursue education, named her sister Maggie as her most influencial person in her life.

“She sets the bar pretty high for me as a sister,” she said.

Daniels, who plans to study veterinary medicine at Auburn University, cited her tenure as student president to be memorable.

“It made me step up and be responsibile,” she said.

Ebert, who plans to attend Auburn and study entrepreneurship and family business, named her grandfather as her biggest influence.

“I hope to be half the human being he was someday,” she said. “He was the perfect leader.”

Harden, who plans to study secondary education at the University of Alabama, named her time as school mascot Leo the Lion as one of her most memorable.

“I made a lot of friends that way,” she said.

Hausladen, who plans to pursue a dental career by first studying biology at the University of Montevallo, pointed to accidentally leaving leftover cheese dip in her locker over Christmas break as her most outstanding memory. She explained that leaving the lid ajar upon opening after returning to school created an uproar.

“I thought it was going to be OK until I started to walk away and everyone in the hall started gagging,” she said to a laughing audience. “Then the janitor came and had to push it out to the parking lot.”

McDuffie, who plans to study software engineering at Auburn, named creative writing class as his most memorable experience.

“I took it twice because it was so amazing to so people from all walks of life being so creative.,” he said.

Neely, who plans to pursue the arts at Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., said she learned an important life lesson while in school.

“Never give up on your goals, no matter how bad the odds may seem,” she said.

Taylor, who plans to double major in journalism and English at Alabama, named two lessons she learned while at school.

“Math is not my forte,” she said, “and I shouldn’t have spent so long in pre-med because it didn’t work out.”

Tibbs, who plans to earn an MBA in engineering and business on a two-year program at Alabama, named his parents as his biggest influences.

“Mom taught me to be stubborn,” he said. “Dad taught me to keep going if things don’t go your way.”  

Moore’s words to the seniors echoed that sentiment. “Always chase your dreams,” Moore said.