Opp High School’s Devontae Williams was honored Monday night at the Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete banquet and was honored with the Alabama “A” Club Educational and Charitable Foundation Scholar Athlete Award.

Williams was selected in February as the Region 1 Class 3A Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete, which stretched from Mobile to Geneva.

“Last night, Mon., April 11, Devontae, along with the 44 winners from all seven classifications were honored at a banquet in Birmingham,” OHS Principal Ron Snell said. “All winners were awarded a plaque and a $2,500 scholarship.”

Snell said that during the banquet several students were chosen for additional awards based on resumes and interviews.

Devontae was awarded the Alabama “A” Club Educational and Charitable Foundation Scholar Athlete Award.

That award came with a $12,000 scholarship given each year from fall 2016 through Spring 2020.

“We certainly want to congratulate Devontae and all those recognized at the Bryant-Jordan Athletic banquet Monday night,” he said.

Williams said the award was truly a blessing.

“I know that it could’ve went to any of the 104 amazing kids that were at the banquet last night,” he said. “I am just thankful that God has blessed me to be in the position that I am today to be a testament of what and where hard work, dedication and most importantly God will get you in life.

“In my younger years, I was ostracized for always wanting to be great academically, and when I wanted to give up, my parents, teachers and true friends were there to push and motivate me to want more for myself and family,” he said. “After a while, those morals and lessons became naturally instilled in myself and I just personally look to be the best individual, student and athlete God would allow me to be.”

Williams said that ultimately it’s great that he was honored at the banquet and received the prestigious award.

“But all the glory goes back to God as a testament of what having a relationship and solid foundation in him will result in because I may not even be able to walk and play the sports I love today if it weren’t for him,” he said. “In addition to that, I’d like to thank my parents Lashae and Bobby Likely for always providing that love and encouragement and always being there for me, as well as my teachers Denise Pearce, Ronnie Moseley and Brent Hill, and my friends Evan King and Brandon Williams.”