The Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency-Wynfrey Hotel was the setting for the Presentation Ceremony of the 2016 Hoover Belles. An elegant flower garden provided a lovely scene for the 35 young ladies who will serve as ambassadors for the city of Hoover.
These high school sophomores will join the girls selected a year ago and will each perform a minimum of 30 hours of community service for local civic and charitable organizations. Members serve two-year terms for their junior and senior years of high school.
They must be Hoover residents of good character, have an outgoing personality, be enrolled in school and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. This new class of Belles represents the schools of Hoover High, Spain Park, Briarwood, John Carroll and Westminster.
The 33rd annual ceremony was presented by the Hoover Belle Committee, chaired by Kay Witt. Cathy Head served as chair of the 2016 Belle Presentation. Others serving on this committee are Cathy Connor, Jennifer Cotney, Vickie Gord Griffith, Kim Milling, Denise Shepherd and Becky Walker. Also enjoying the event were many family members and friends of the honorees.
Officer Nick Braden of the Hoover Police Department assisted each new Hoover Belle onto the garden gazebo, which was designed by Susan Huff and Beth Jordan. The young ladies received bouquets of spring flowers from their fathers or close family members as they were introduced by Mistress of Ceremony Haley Bagwell Scallions, a 2006 Hoover Belle and a two-time second runner up in the Miss Alabama pageant.
They were then escorted to the dance floor where they danced to the music of The Sonny Harris Group and celebrated at a reception held in the Ballroom.
The 2016 Hoover Belles are:
Amelia Anne Abernathy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Darrin Henry Abernathy; Anna Marie Auchmuty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Meadows Auchmuty; Grayson Camille Bartlett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Charles Bartlett; Grace Catherine Bauder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Conrad Bauder; Jordan Sierra Beam, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Byron Beam; Gwyneth Olivia Bishop, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gregory Bishop; Anna Katherine Douglass, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Louis Douglass; Connelley Rose Erwin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Hiter Erwin III; Mia Cameron Gage, daughter of Ms. Barbara Michelle Gage and Mr. Jarrod Randolph Gage; Anna Henderson Gilstrap, daughter of Dr. Allyson Sanders Gilstrap and Dr. Jody Edward Gilstrap; Grace Ann Heglas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Joseph Heglas; Emma Rose Hill, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Robert Hill; Lauren Elizabeth Hoaglund, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Daniel Hoaglund; Ashley Daniel Hopping, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Allen Hopping; Senna Kathryn House, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benny Kendrall House, Jr.; Ava Rose Indovina, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Scott Indovina; Katherine Justina Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Daryl McDaniel; Sarah Morgan Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Todd Johnson; Kathryn Ayers King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lumpkin King; Piper Elizabeth Latham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jason Tilton Latham; Rachel Aileen Lebo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Troy Lebo; Sydney Madison Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Angel Lee; Macy Catherine McClinton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Sean McClinton; Lillie Mattison McDonald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Fred McDonald; Elizabeth Barton Robinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hopkins Robinson, Jr.; Slaton Abigail Renee Schneider, daughter of Ms. Renee Yeilding Schneider and Mr. David John Schneider; Olivia Kristin Slocum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Heath Slocum; Jennifer Helen Spell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Lamar Spell; Kathryn Michele Stubblefield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Leon Stubblefield; Ashley Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jared Michael Thomas; Madison Rey Todd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Edward Todd, Jr.; Leah Katherine Varnell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Joseph Varnell; Ashlynne Rae Wallis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Michael Garcia; Grace Mae-Elizabeth Waters, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lynn McCombs; Katherine Caroline Winchester, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Martin Winchester.