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MCPSS is pleased to announce the district-level Learning Leading Award winners for the 2024-25 school year: DeCari Carter of Forest Hill, Amberly Hardy of Dodge Elementary School, Caitlyn Zeine of Phillips Preparatory School, and Morghan Cooley of Davidson High School.

These students will be honored at MCPSS’s Learning Leading Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 18, at 6 p.m. at the Murphy High School Auditorium. The media is invited to attend.

Each of our 90 schools selected a Learning Leading student representative. These students all have a few things in common: They are kind, they go out of their way to help others, they are unique and talented, and they have the utmost character and integrity to represent their schools with honor. After receiving information on all the school representatives, a committee led by the Office of Communication reviewed information about all the extraordinary students, and selected the best of the best to be the district-level award winners.

DeCari Carter, a fifth-grader at Forest Hill Elementary, takes learning and leading seriously! He is a campus Peer Helper and was a leader in planning and implementing the school’s World Kindness Day activity, which gained recognition at the National Peer Helper Conference. DeCari enjoys a leadership role in the school’s annual food drive and was a voice for the cereal and peanut butter and jelly drive to benefit Feeding the Gulf Coast. DeCari encourages younger students with puppets and fun skits on Forest Hill’s YouTube channel. In addition, he is an artist who shares his gifts with his teachers and classmates by bringing them his own artistic creations. His art is displayed in classrooms throughout the school, and is teachers say he is a true joy at school because he uses his creative skills to bring happiness to others.

Amberly Hardy, a fourth-grader at Dodge Elementary School, is known as a positive leader who always demonstrates respect for everyone and is always eager to help others. According to her principal, Amberly’s teachers have seen improvement in student behavior because of her positive example. She is known for exemplary attendance, a strong work ethic, and for setting and achieving goals. Each morning, she sets up the Eagles Cast broadcast and makes a daily intercom announcement to remind everyone to tune in. She is also a Student Ambassador, representing her school when guests arrive. Outside of school, Amberly plays softball and gymnastics and is known as a kind and supportive teammate, lifting the spirits of those around her with her positive attitude. Amberly demonstrates the importance of serving others in her community by participating in numerous projects, including the Stuff the Bus toy drive, a pop top drive for Ronald McDonald House, a food drive for Kingswood United Methodist Church, and projects with Emmanuel AME Church. Amberly always steps up to help and lead others in reaching their fullest potential.

Caitlyn Zeine, an eighth-grader at Phillips Preparatory School, has become an inspiring leader during her middle school career, impressing her teachers and classmates with her work ethic, kindness, and perseverance. She is a well-rounded student who serves on the Student Council, is vice-president of the Spanish Honor Society, and placed on the Silver Honor Band. She consistently strives to achieve her goals and does an excellent job of balancing academics with extracurricular activities. She has led campaigns on behalf of Feeding the Gulf Coast and the bead program at Augusta Evans Special School. She also facilitates the school’s bracelet sale for the Pulsera Project, which benefits artisans in Nicaragua and Guatemala. Her recent work on a documentary about the Gulf oil spill for the South Alabama History Day competition inspired her to organize a clean-up event with ÌÒ×ÓÊÓƵ Bay Keeper at Dog River. Caitlyn fosters a positive and collaborative environment, is always willing to assist others and contributes to group success.

Morghan Cooley, a senior at Davidson High School, is the Commanding Officer for the Warrior Battalion Navy JROTC, responsible for leading 170 cadets as they implement strategic unit goals and initiatives. She is President of the Black Student Union, Student Government Senior Class Vice President, and a Red Ribbon Leader. Morghan’s superb time management skills allow her to balance her many extracurricular activities with her rigorous academic schedule as a dual enrollment student. Outside of the classroom, Morghan enjoys volunteer work as a camp counselor with Camp Smile, where she plans effective and safe activities for preteens and teens with special needs. She has also recruited numerous classmates to serve as counselors at Camp Smile’s residential summer camp.  According to Cdr. Rick Hamblet, Davidson’s Senior Naval Science Instructor, Morghan is a positive role model and servant leader who truly values the meaningful impact that a charitable hand can have on those less fortunate.