Rackley said it’s a great honor to be named to the all-state band because it takes a lot of practice and hard work, and the reward is Rand traveling to Mobile in April to play at the Alabama All-State Festival with the other all-state band members.

“It’s quite an honor for any of our students to be selected for this band,” Rackley said. “What it is is a conglomeration of the best students all over the state of Alabama. All of them come in and they audition for a spot. It’s really tough competition because everybody doesn’t make it.”

Rackley said it’s starting to become a tradition for Keith to send students to the all-state band, and it feels great to see students do what it takes to be successful.

“It’s a great honor,” Rackley said. “In fact, this is our fourth year. We’ve been traveling to Mobile and participating in the All-State Festival for four years having students participate in it. It’s kind of a tradition that we’re trying to keep going. It’s definitely a great honor for the student, as well as the school and myself. It brings great pride to me when students meet the call, do what they’re supposed to, practice and prepare properly, and get picked for events like this.”