Cliff Williams / TPI Mountain Brook High School junior Lulu Gribbin was the keynote speaker at the 2026 Joe Sewell Memorial Awards banquet. Gribbin shared how faith and the kindness of others helped her survive a shark attack two years ago.

Cliff Williams / TPI Mountain Brook High School junior Lulu Gribbin was the keynote speaker at the 2026 Joe Sewell Memorial Awards banquet. Gribbin shared how faith and the kindness of others helped her survive a shark attack two years ago.

The Joe Sewell Memorial Awards banquet honors the hard work of student-athletes across Elmore County. 

The hard work is always ongoing. The students at the banquet last week were in the middle of finals. Some even took AP exams the day of the banquet. Others, such as girls’ overall winner Ashlynn Grace Turner of Wetumpka High School were trying to get home after the banquet to catch much-needed sleep before AP exams the next day. Even keynote speaker Lulu Gribbin took an AP exam at Mountain Brook High School before traveling to 17 Springs to speak to Joe Sewell nominees and ninth grade certificate winners last Monday night.

Cliff Williams / TPI Finalists for the 2026 Joe Sewell Memorial Awards listen as Lulu Gribbin speaks at the banquet last week.

Cliff Williams / TPI Finalists for the 2026 Joe Sewell Memorial Awards listen as Lulu Gribbin speaks at the banquet last week.

Cliff Williams / TPI All of the category and overall winners of the 2026 Joe Sewell Memorial Award pose for a photograph.

Cliff Williams / TPI All of the category and overall winners of the 2026 Joe Sewell Memorial Award pose for a photograph.