Four Pike County seniors and four teachers were honored Wednesday during a banquet held in their honor.

The 2012 P.R.A.I.S.E (Program Recognizing Achievement in Secondary Education) Scholarship Banquet was sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and Troy Bank & Trust.

“This P.R.A.I.S.E banquet is the highlight of our year,” said Ann Ammons, the committee chair.

P.R.A.I.S.E honors the student with the highest ACT score from each school with a $300 scholarship and the student with the highest ACT score in the county with a $2,000 scholarship.

Each student was also given the chance to recognize a favorite teacher.

From Charles Henderson High School, the winner was Nathan Bouldin and his favorite teacher was Pamela Merkel; Russell Cody Brooks took the top ACT score honor for Pike County High School and honored teacher Sharon Dennison at the banquet; Pike Liberal Arts’ Zach Pearce had the superior score for his school and brought along teacher Jenny Meadows to be recognized; and Benjamin Wilson Pittman from Goshen High School was honored for his ACT score with his teacher Kathy LaNell Schofield by his side.

The winner of the $2,000 scholarship with an ACT score of 33 was Nathan Bouldin from CHHS.

“Today was nice,” Bouldin said. “This scholarship is going to be helpful for food and books.”

Bouldin said he plans to attend the University of Alabama Birmingham to double major in Biology and an undecided degree. He hopes to practice dentistry.

“If a career is your destination then education is the path to get there,” Bouldin said.

The money for the scholarships given through P.R.A.I.S.E. is donated through a program called Let’s Eat. Area restaurants pledge to donate 10 percent of their profits one day a month to the scholarship fund in return for free advertising from local radio and television programs and the newspaper.

“We know the people of Pike County like two things,” said Dianna Lee with Troy Bank & Trust. “They like to help a good cause, and they like to eat.”