Charles Henderson student Colin Jones left the Troy Country Club Wednesday with a $1,000 scholarship for holding the highest 2017 ACT score in Pike County.

Jones was just one of the local students awarded Wednesday at the 2017 P.R.A.I.S.E. (Program Recognizing Achievement in Secondary Education) Banquet held by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.

Taylor “Nikki” Hughes of Goshen High School, Cameron Vance of Pike County High School and Gibson Byars of Pike Liberal Arts School were each awarded $500 scholarships for placing the highest ACT scores at their respective schools.

In addition to the P.R.A.I.S.E. Scholarship awards for the highest ACT scores, the committee also awarded two scholarships in honor of former longtime committee members Hank Jones and Betty Wagoner.

The Betty Wagoner Community Scholarship went to Goshen student Richard Price and the Hank Jones Civic Scholarship went to Goshen student Evan Rose. Both scholarships are $500.

Chamber President Kathy Sauer explained the importance of good students to a community like Pike County.

“I tell students ’You are our best recruiters’,” Sauer said. “People looking to bring their families look at the school system because their kids will be going into that school system.”

Sauer then honored local teachers with a proclamation declaring this week teacher appreciation week in Pike County.

Winners of the P.R.A.I.S.E. scholarships for highest ACT score also recognized their favorite teachers Wednesday. Jones honored CHHS history teacher Kevin Watson, who he said challenged him and made him love history.

Hughes recognized Goshen teacher Renee Cortner as her favorite for challenging her and helping her in the field of English.

Vance picked Pike County math teacher Mike Green as his favorite, saying his difficult math class taught him responsibility and perseverance.

Byars said PLAS teacher Alissa Jordan, his teacher in chemistry and robotics classes, is his favorite for treating students as equals.