Each year, the Troy Exchange Club presents the A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) Award to a senior who is selected from the nominees from the high schools in Pike County.

At its May meeting, this year’s nominees, Morgan Grissette, Pike County High School, and Jacquerean Marshall, Charles Henderson High School, were presented to the club membership. Mary Pettway, Goshen High School was nominated but not in attendance.

Diane Aman, A.C.E. committee chair, said the annual ward recognizes high school students who have had to overcome great physical, emotional or social obstacles and are now eligible for high school graduation.

“The selection of an award winner was a tough job and I appreciate the committee’s attention to detail and the careful consideration of each of our A.C.E. nominees,” Aman said. “Both nominees are deserving of the A.C.E. award.

“One of our nominees overcame an injury that caused total blindness and trauma to the brain. The other nominee overcame grief over the loss of a parent and is a cancer survivor. We congratulate both of our nominees. They are truly overcomers and we would be proud to have either of them represent the Troy Exchange Club. However, we could only select one.”

Troy Exchange Club’s 2016 A.C.E. Award was presented to Jacquerean Marshall, whom Aman said is a very worthy recipient of the Troy Exchange Club’s 9th Annual A.C.E. award.

Marshall said he wants to help his community and the world in so many ways,

“One of the things I’m most interested in is mentoring children and adults to do the right thing and hang out with good, not bad, to make the right decisions,” he said. “I would like the chance to talk with kids in groups or one on one about problems they have. I want them to learn from my mistakes.”

Marshall’s plans are to pursue a bachelor’s degree and help others succeed in life.

In congratulating Marshall and Grissette, Aman said, contrary to popular belief, the lives of all students aren’t easy.

“When obstacles come, the easy thing to do is drop out,” she said. “Our nominees for the 9th Annual A.C.E. award did not choose the easy way. They chose to do whatever it took to overcome the obstacles that life set before them. And, I’m extremely pleased to be able to call them overcomers. They are deserving students, who with great determination and perseverance, overcame all odds.