Story By Hunter Jones

On Thursday, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6073, American Legion Post 30 and Scottsboro City Schools held an event to celebrate students who are choosing to enlist upon graduation. Though it is the first event of its kind, many show up to celebrate the five featured students entering their respective branches. William Guzman-Garcia enlisted to the Marines, while Kaetlyn Hiett enlisted in the Army and Leyland Latham, Will Marousky and Maria Pascual enlisted into the Alabama National Guard.

Many of the local veterans, local leaders and classmates join, including the Scottsboro soccer team, who worked this event in between their team meal and practice to support their teammate, Guzman-Garcia.

“One thing I love about Scottsboro is the community and how they always show up to support,” Scottsboro City Schools Career Coach Melinda Summers said. 

Once all the students completed their signings, Jackson County Commission Chairman Bill Nance spoke, congratulating the students on their bravery and welcoming them into the military family.

“It’s great to see parents, friends, family and the soccer team here to celebrate what we are witnessing today. Thank you for your support and for what you have done to be part of shaping these young people for the service they are about to undertake. Thank you to Scottsboro High School. The principals, teachers and staff for the years of mentoring and supporting these young people as they have gone through high school to reach where they are today,” Nance said. 

Summers states that part of her role is to get seniors involved in one of the ‘three E’s: Enrollment, Employment or Enlistment. While students are free to switch their ‘E’ at any time, Summers will use this sorting system to assist the students for their upcoming path. For the enlistment, that involves emailing the students whenever a military recruiter is scheduled to visit the school. For this event, she reached out to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6073, thinking of the similar event for athletics, with students having events for their signings. Upon sharing her vision, Gayla Sue Mendez partnered with Summers to get this event going, with Summers crediting the local veterans for putting this event together.

“They’ve been the hands and feet of all of this,” Summers said.

Summers would like to involve the other county schools in future signing days, a collaboration between systems to celebrate every student in Jackson County answering the call to service. Though for this year, she wanted to keep it in Scottsboro City Schools to see the event play out first and see how it went.

“It was amazing. A lot of faculty and staff came (to support the students),” Summers said.