Judges have interviewed the 27 Achiever Award nominees and event organizers are busily preparing for the 16th annual banquet to be held on May 2 at the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church.

Judges conducted interviews with the nominees and their parents on Thursday.

The Achiever Award recognizes top student-athletes from area schools who not only excel in the classroom and on the playing field, but are also involved in church and the community.

Student-athletes from Fort Dale Academy, Georgiana School, Greenville High School and McKenzie School will be recognized, and two students – a male and a female – will walk away with a $1,500 scholarship.

This year’s group of nominees includes Anne Matthews, Dylan Jones, Patrick Thomas, Caroline Snellgrove, Taylor Hartley, Christen McKeague, A.J. Sanford, Jonathan Robinson, Devin Bradley, Devin Bonner, Courtney Mixon, Brittany Giddens, Abria Feagin, Jazmyne Riggins, Carlo Mitchell, Theresa Scott, Katie Cox, Cade Tillery, Ben Presley, LaToria Womack, Shaniyan Atkins, Dustin Moorhead, Matthew Lewis, Justin Oikle, Dow Gardner, Davis Crocker and Nigel Gregory.

“We’re really looking forward to having the chance to recognize these outstanding young people,” said Francine Wasden, a member of the Achiever Award board of directors. “They are certainly all worthy of being named achievers.”

The keynote speaker for this year’s awards banquet will be Dr. John Ed Mathison.

Mathison served as the senior minister of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery for 36 years before retiring in June of 2008.

He is a nationally known and sought-after speaker. For several years he has served as platform speaker for the National Conference of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and platform speaker for the National Hi-Y Tri-Hi-Y Conference at Black Mountain, N.C. He is a seminar speaker at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.

Tickets for the banquet, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. can be purchased at the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday at 4 p.m.

The cost is $15.

For more information call (334) 382-3251.