Eva Armstead and Rob Ashworth Claim Top Honors at 41st Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Banquet
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Foundation recognized Alabama’s most resilient and accomplished high school seniors Monday night. Hatton High School’s Eva Armstead and Montgomery Academy’s Rob Ashworth claimed the overall state awards at the 41st annual Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Banquet. Held at the Sheraton Ballroom in Birmingham, the event distributed more than $500,000 in college scholarships to 104 regional honorees.
The banquet highlighted incredible student-athlete achievements across the state. Armstead secured the Ken and Betty Joy Blankenship Student-Achievement Award. Ashworth captured the Larry Striplin, Jr., Scholar-Athlete Award.
Key Takeaways:
- The 41st Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Banquet awarded over $500,000 to 104 seniors.
- Hatton’s Eva Armstead won the overall Student-Achievement Award after overcoming severe family hardships to win eight state track titles.
- Montgomery Academy’s Rob Ashworth won the overall Scholar-Athlete Award, boasting a 4.9 GPA and raising over $20,000 for Alzheimer’s care.
- Organizers named Edgar Welden and Dr. Gaylon McCollough lifetime members of the foundation board.
The Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program Rewards Excellence
Named after iconic Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and Auburn football coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan, the scholarship program honors high school seniors across two primary categories. The foundation selects 52 scholar-athlete winners for their combined athletic and academic dominance. It selects another 52 achievement winners for their ability to excel in sports while overcoming significant personal obstacles.
Committees choose eight regional winners in Classes 1A through 6A and four regional winners in Class 7A. Every regional winner receives a $3,000 scholarship. Class winners secure an additional $3,500, while the overall state winners earn an extra $4,000 stipend. These 2026 state award winners represent the pinnacle of dedication in Alabama high school athletics.
Eva Armstead: Overcoming Adversity on the Track
Eva Armstead’s journey to the top of Alabama high school track and field features remarkable resilience. The Hatton High School senior sprinter found herself homeless just hours after winning three individual state titles at the 2025 AHSAA Track and Field Championships. After capturing the Class 4A 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, and long jump in Gulf Shores, she returned home to discover she had been evicted by a family member.
Armstead reached out to family friends Destiny and Jonathan Muston, who immediately welcomed her into their home. This stability allowed her to thrive.
During her childhood, Armstead endured domestic violence and severe parental substance abuse. Authorities frequently placed her and her younger sister in temporary care. She often managed household duties and cared for her sibling instead of experiencing a normal childhood.
She discovered a refuge in athletics. Armstead joined the track team at R.A. Hubbard School in the seventh grade and immediately won the Class 1A 200-meter state championship. Following school consolidation in Lawrence County, she transferred to Hatton High School. She continued her dominance on the track, accumulating eight individual state titles.
Hatton principal Amy Oliver praised Armstead’s perseverance. Oliver noted that watching Armstead overcome such severe obstacles remains one of her most rewarding experiences as an educator. Now living with the Muston family, Armstead enjoys a structured teenage life, complete with chores, curfews, and consistent support in the bleachers.
Rob Ashworth: Academic Dominance and Philanthropic Drive
Rob Ashworth sets a staggering standard for student-athlete achievements at Montgomery Academy. The overall Scholar-Athlete of the Year carries a 4.9 grade-point average and scored a 35 on his ACT. He took 16 Advanced Placement classes while serving as the president of the Student Government Association, the Heart Club, and the Mu Alpha Theta chapter. He also competes on Montgomery Academy’s state championship Mock Trial Team.
His athletic resume matches his academic output. The Alabama Sports Writers Association named him the Class 3A All-State place-kicker last fall. He helped lead the Eagles to a 10-win football season. He also contributed to back-to-back Class 3A basketball state championships and a 2025 Class 7A soccer state championship.
Beyond the field and classroom, Ashworth launched a massive philanthropic effort. Inspired by his grandmother’s battle with dementia, he created “Kicking for a Cause” to support Respite for All, a Christian ministry helping individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
Ashworth asked the community to pledge donations for every extra point, touchback, and field goal he kicked during the 2025 football season. He organized the effort alongside Montgomery Academy coach Ethan McBride and school administrators to ensure compliance with AHSAA rules.
He initially hoped to raise $10,000. Through widespread community support and media attention, Kicking for a Cause ultimately generated more than $20,000 for the charity. Montgomery Academy campus director Katie Lavelle called Ashworth’s level of rigor and academic achievement extraordinary, noting the difficulty of scheduling his demanding senior course load.
Complete List of 2026 State Award Winners
The 41st annual Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Banquet celebrated champions across all AHSAA classifications. Here is the complete breakdown of the 2026 Class Winners.
Ken and Betty Joy Blankenship Student Achievement Class Winners
- Class 1A: Lilli Sumblin, Kinston High School
- Class 2A: Ayden Noblitt, Houston County High School
- Class 3A: Olivia Patterson, Locust Fork High School
- Class 4A: Eva Armstead, Hatton High School (Overall Winner)
- Class 5A: Lane Wilson, Beauregard High School
- Class 6A: Leland Brown-Foster, Brookwood High School
- Class 7A: Hayden Suggs, Smiths Station High School
Larry Striplin Jr. Scholar-Athlete Class Winners
- Class 1A: Reagan LeDuke, Marion County High School
- Class 2A: Jon Murray, J.U. Blacksher High School
- Class 3A: Rob Ashworth, Montgomery Academy (Overall Winner)
- Class 4A: Samantha Kokoszka, St. Michael Catholic School
- Class 5A: Elizabeth Murphy, Priceville High School
- Class 6A: Tanner Griggs, Southside High School
- Class 7A: Arnav Maskey, Bob Jones High School
2026 Bryant-Jordan Special Scholarship Recipients
The foundation also distributed several specialized awards during the banquet to recognize specific areas of service and academic focus.
Herman L. “Bubba” Scott Coaching Scholarship:
Emily Crocker, Cherokee High School
- Edgar Welden Service Award:
Nicholas Michael Frazier, Stanhope Elmore High School
Jonathan Kneer, Tuscaloosa Academy
Dr. Gaylon McCollough Medical Scholarship:
Sophie Ann Hicks, Mountain Brook High School
Alabama “A” Club Educational & Charitable Foundation Scholarships:
Elle Dickerson, Cold Springs High School (Woodie Lowe Scholar-Athlete Award)
Kathryn Alexis ‘Lexie’ Bennett, Boaz High School (Achievement Award)
Auburn Football Lettermen Club Scholarships:
Lela Tyanna Moser, Scottsboro High School
Nick Russo, St. Michael Catholic High School
United Methodist Children’s Home ‘Embrace Alabama Kids’ Scholarships:
Kate Cagle, Haleyville High School
Samuel Sullivan, Baldwin County High School
A Legacy of Alabama High School Excellence
The Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Banquet continues to shine a vital spotlight on the hard work happening inside Alabama high schools. The 2026 state award winners demonstrate that success requires intense discipline, whether studying for an AP exam or pushing through personal adversity on the track.
By distributing over $500,000 annually, the foundation ensures these exceptional young leaders have the financial backing they need to pursue higher education. Student-athletes like Eva Armstead and Rob Ashworth prove that high school sports foster resilience, community service, and academic greatness. Ensure you follow local high school athletic programs this upcoming season to witness the next generation of outstanding scholar-athletes in action.
FEATURED IMAGE: AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon (center) congratulate the Bryant-Jordan state winners at Monday night’s banquet: Eva Armstead, Hatton High School (Ken & Betty Joy Blankenship Bryant-Jordan Student Achievement recipient; and Rob Ashworth, Montgomery Academy (Larry D. Striplin Jr. Bryant-Jordan Scholar-Athlete recipient. (AHSAA PHOTO)
