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Alabama Public Television 2007 Young Heroes
 Wesley Gowers
Cherokee, Alabama
Wesley is a senior at Cherokee High School. An outstanding scholar and trumpet-player, he is involved with numerous clubs and activities, including several honor bands.
Wesley’s younger sister was born with cerebral palsy. His mother suffered a stroke in recent years and was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. She is paralyzed and unable to speak. Facing such difficult circumstances, Wesley carries a level of responsibility that few adults could shoulder. A typical day begins at 3:30 a.m. Wesley rises for his newspaper route. Job finished, he returns home to prepare for school. This includes caring for his mother’s needs and helping his sister to dress and catch her transportation. The end of the day finds Wesley helping his father to maintain the household chores.
Through all of this, Wesley maintains exemplary grades, performs volunteer work for his community and maintains a positive attitude toward life. Upon graduation, he hopes to study pre-med at Auburn University and to participate in the Auburn University Marching Band.
 Peyton Harris
Russellville, Alabama
Peyton is a senior at Lawrence County High School and is the front-runner for valedictorian of his class. An officer of his class and many other clubs and service organizations, Peyton is described by his teachers as “a person of integrity” and “a walking compliment to his school.” He is respected by all as a leader, a scholar and an athlete. Peyton’s many achievements are magnified in consideration of the unique physical challenges that he has overcome since birth. Peyton was born with one fully-developed hand and one fully-developed leg. He has never let anything inhibit his physical prowess, however. Peyton excels on his school’s golf team and serves as the kicker for Lawrence County’s football team.
 Holly Miller
Hazel Green, Alabama
Holly is a senior at Hazel Green High School and a member of one of the most successful bands in its history. Holly maintains high grades, participates in numerous extracurricular school and church activities and holds down a part-time job. After the divorce of her parents, Holly and her three brothers remained in the custody of her father. As the only female in the household, her younger brothers look to her for the nurturing and advice that a mother would give. More tragedy struck when Holly’s mother received a brain injury that resulted in multiple strokes and brain surgery. Her mother is now blind, deaf and quadriplegic.
 Joanna Smith
Vernon, Alabama
JoAnna is a senior at Lamar County High School. One of her nominating teachers wrote, “JoAnna is one of the most conscientious and hardest working student I have ever had.” She keeps her grades up, maintains a good attitude, never complains, and serves as an officer in numerous clubs and honorary societies. At the same time, JoAnna carries an heroic amount of responsibility. JoAnna’s mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when JoAnna was in junior high school. In 2004, her mother regressed drastically. JoAnna bathed her, fed her and sometimes just lay beside her as she slept. When JoAnna was a sophomore, her mother succumbed to a fatal heart attack. One month prior to the death of her mother, JoAnna’s father learned that both of his kidneys were shutting down due to diabetes. Still in mourning, JoAnna became her father’s caregiver, driving him to the doctor, seeing to his nightly dialysis treatments, cooking, cleaning, paying the bills, holding down a job and attending school. JoAnna’s father passed away shortly before the 2007 Young Heroes were announced.
 Joshua Stevenson
Florence, Alabama
Joshua Stevenson is a graduating senior at Florence High School. Estranged from his father while still a teen, Joshua who found himself virtually homeless while still a teen, at times actually living under a bridge. By sharing his situation with his teachers and counselors, Joshua was able to access programs that now provide him with housing as he finishes his high school studies. With all of these concerns, Joshua maintains his grades and holds a part-time job. He serves as a youth counselor and assistant at the Boys and Girls Clubs. His volunteer work for the community is extensive, ranging from the care of unwanted animals to fundraising for cancer research. Upon graduation, his goal is to attend college to become a dentist.
 Andrea Taylor
Alexander City, Alabama
Andrea is a graduating senior at Benjamin Russell High School. She maintains a high GPA and participates in numerous clubs and honorary organizations. Andrea’s immediate family includes her mother and her twin sister Sandrea. Sandrea was born with special needs, and their mother is disabled. Over the years, her mother went through many hospitalizations. With only friends checking in on them, Andrea made sure that she and her sister were in school daily and that the household was maintained during her mother’s absences. The only member of her family able to work, Andrea has developed a disciplined work ethic. She purchased an automobile for her family and works in a leadership position at her after-school job. As noted by one of her teachers, “She settles for nothing less than performing her best, humbly.” In her community, Andrea volunteers with many organizations and, in all of these activities, she includes her sister Sandrea. Andrea makes it her responsibility to see that Sandrea’s academic assignments are complete and her social needs are met.
 Kimberly Phares
Marissa Feigelson Community Service Award
One Alabama student is honored each year with the Marissa Feigelson Community Service Award, named for one of the first Alabama Young Heroes who succumbed to leukemia in February of 2001. In the past, this award has been presented to one of the Young Heroes. This year, however, the judges felt that the award should go to one of the students recognized as “Honorable Mention.”
The 2007 Marissa Feigelson Community Service Award was presented to Kimberly Phares, a senior at Vestavia Hills High School. In addition to maintaining a high GPA, Kimberly’s teachers wrote that she is a born analyst and problem-solver, as well as an excellent writer who has won awards for her short stories and poems. A creative artist, Kimberly also sculpts, sketches, sings, plays the piano and writes music.
Kimberly’s extracurricular service to the community is amazing. Kimberly worked tirelessly during her sophomore year to organize a chapter of Habitat for Humanity at her school. She found a sponsor and made contact with the Habitat organization. The result was that Vestavia Hills High School became the first school in the nation to fund and build a Habitat home in its charter year. Under Kimberly’s leadership, more than $50,000 was raised to build the home.
Honorable Mention
The following six students were saluted with the title of “Honorable Mention” in the judging of the 2007 Young Heroes:
Mallerie Badgett (Oxford High School)
Andrew Freeman (Curry High School)
Ivy Garrison (Grissom High School)
Vester Marable (Booker T. Washington High School)
John Montgomery (Pell City High School)
Kimberly Phares (Vestavia Hills High School)
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