Greenville native Annsley Wallace awarded over $2.5 million in scholarships
Published 10:33 am Monday, January 23, 2023
Senior Annsley Wallace
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Anyone who has been to The Heart of the Home Antiques in Fort Deposit already may be familiar with Annsley Wallace.
The Hooper Academy senior is hard to miss; with her helpful spirit, bright smile, and can-do attitude, attributes she implemented to earn 43 college scholarships totaling $2,591,862.
Jennifer Adams, Wallace’s mother, expressed pride in her daughter’s accomplishment. She added her and her husband have worked hard to instill solid family values into the lives of their children.
“We are so proud of her,” Adams said. “We are proud of the amount of courage she shows every day.”
Wallace, a regular on the Headmaster’s List for all As at the academy since 2019, maintains a lengthy list of achievements.
She was inducted into the National Honor Society in 2020, and in 2022, she participated in Alabama Girls State, where she was elected Mayor.
Wallace boasts the highest grade average at Hooper Academy, where her courses include English 101 dual enrollment, pre-calculus, and chemistry.
Her list of extracurricular activities includes senior class affairs, senior class yearbook editor this year, and Student Government Association secretary in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, she was elected SGA vice president.
Wallace also excels in athletics as an all-star and all-American cheerleader as well as varsity cheer captain this year. She is also a member of the Varsity Basketball team.
Her faith also plays a role in who she is. Wallace has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 2018.
Wallace not only showcases her brains and athleticism, but her grace and charisma, too.
In her sophomore year, Wallace was named a class beauty, selected as a homecoming attendant, voted ‘Most Photogenic’ and ‘Most Spiritual’ by her peers.
Wallace also matched wits with other young Alabamians in the most recent Butler County’s Distinguished Young Women program, where she received three awards: Proud Papa, Spirit and Self-Expression.
On top of this, she was this year’s recipient of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizenship award.
When she’s not balancing a jam-packed schedule of extracurriculars, Wallace also finds time for her community as well.
She logged over 76 hours of community service under her belt and volunteered as a Pee Wee basketball coach for Hooper Academy’s K-3rd grader in 2022.
Toni Kilpatrick, a college and career counselor at Hooper Academy, said Wallace would be sorely missed after graduation.
“I wish I had 100 more students just like her,” Kilpatrick said.
She added Hooper is lucky to have such an outgoing student in its midst.
“Annsley is always the first person to welcome new students with her infectious smile and positive attitude,” Kilpatrick said.
That’s why Wallace is one of Hooper’s ambassadors.
Hooper Academy Headmistress Liz Norman echoed Kilpatrick’s sentiments on Wallace.
“She is such a great representative of Hooper Academy,” Norman said. “She is an ideal student and a natural leader.”
This leadership comes from a place of true compassion and empathy for Wallace.
“I want everyone to feel better about themselves,” Wallace said.
And the way she plans on doing that is through God’s light.
Wallace said she understands certain behaviors come from a place deep down inside a person, where they may not feel as important or as loved as they should be.
“I want everyone to feel important,” Wallace said. “Don’t let what others say about you affect who you really are.”
“Do what you feel is right,” is her motto.
Wallace has an uncommon ability, her superpower, if you will.
“To nurture people,” Wallace said. “To help people who are not a part of the ‘in’ crowd.”
Once she gets to college, Wallace said she plans to study kinesiology, the study of the body and its movements.
“I want to be a physical therapist,” Wallace said.
Wallace said she remains undecided upon which college to attend right now and added she wants to be close to her family while experiencing the wider world away from school.
Wallace isn’t exactly sure yet; but she still has time – and money.
