Nearly 60 students and their families, area teachers and principals filled the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center Thursday to celebrate and honor student achievement during Selma Mayor George Evans’ Inspirational Achievers Awards banquet.

Students hailing from third through 12th grades and representing 16 schools, both public and private, were recognized for their academics, community service and character with a certificate, medallion and bookbag of goodies. Overall winners were also awarded a Kindle Fire.

Evans, who spent more than 30 years in education, spoke on the importance of being a well-rounded citizen.

“You can be anything you want to be but preparation is key,” Evans said. “I’ve heard it’s better to be prepared with an opportunity rather than have an opportunity and not be prepared … thanks to teachers, principals, headmasters for putting this all together, who worked hard all year … if God be willing, we’ll have more of these that will get bigger and better as time goes on.”

Serving as the event’s guest speaker, Birmingham attorney and Alabama State graduate Shera C. Grant, encouraged those in attendance to live out their dreams.

“If you want to have control of your destiny, you have to take initiative … surround yourself with people that are just as ambitious as you are … you are who you are around,” Grant said addressing the crowd. “Dream big. Dream beyond the life you live … act upon the very thing you dare to do.”

Grant also spoke on the importance of having a mentor and establishing standards.

“Excelling is difficult at times (but) you’re never too young to think about a game plan,” Grant said. “It is your duty to educate yourself … it’s very important that when you’re in school you take education seriously; don’t be afraid to ask people for help, ask people to be a mentor. Look for your mentor …”

Administrators and principals throughout the city selected one boy and one girl from each grade level to represent their school. Nominees were placed in four categories — third through fifth grades, sixth through eighth grades, grades nine through 11 and 12th grade. One student from each category was then selected as the overall winner.

The 2012 Inspirational Achievers final four included: fifth grader Brittany Johnson, Payne Elementary School; seventh grader Joshua Criswell, Morgan Academy; tenth grade student Andrea Bowman, Selma High School; and Morgan Academy graduating senior Ashley Moore, who also received a $1,500 scholarship from the city.

More than 17 sponsors and five area businesses helped with and donated to the event.