Russellville native Jacob David Sage was honored recently as one of the 2016 Student Achievement Award winners at a banquet held October 8th in Tuscumbia.
Sage, the son of Tim Sage and grandson of Milton and Barbara Sage of Russellville, is a senior at Florence High School.
The banquet is presented each year by Hype Ministry, Inc., of Florence. The event provides an opportunity to celebrate those who exemplify the spirit of community service throughout the year. Awards are presented to students in 7th through 12th grades.
Sage participates in Florence High School's “12 For Life” program, which takes place at Southwire in the Florence Industrial Park. The company employs students who package and coil electrical wire sold by Southwire. “12 For Life” also includes a classroom aspect. The program received national honors last year when it was recognized as a “Program of Distinction” by the National Districts of Distinction Organization.
The program boasts a 100 percent graduation rate of participating students with 90 students enrolled last year.
After admittedly heading in the wrong direction as a teen, Sage told the Times-Daily last year the “12 For Life” was instrumental in his turnaround.
“I was making some bad decisions and I would have dropped out of school (without it),” Sage said. “My grades have improved and I've learned responsibility,” he added.
Hype Ministry, Inc., founded in 2008, was created to help young people excel both now and in their future lives. The ministry also honors one citizen each year with the Sam Pendleton Community Service Award, named after the former Florence city councilman. This year's recipient was Dr. Jimmy Shaw, Jr., a Tuscumbia minister.
