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Seniors from three of the county’s four high schools participated in an etiquette brunch sponsored by Southeast AlabamaWorks at the Southside Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

A total of 67 students attended the event with 18 from Florala High School, 30 from Pleasant Home School, and 19 from Red Level School.

“Southeast AlabamaWorks did a three-part etiquette lesson with all of the seniors to cover professional, dinner, and social etiquette,” Covington County Schools Career Coach Kelsi Scruggs said. “They came in with all the necessary supplies including knives, forks, and Play-Doh to help the students prepare for the brunch. Several business and industry professionals came and talked with the students to let them practice the skills they learned at today’s brunch.”

Catered by Jean McClellan, the brunch meal consisted of a sausage breakfast casserole, grits, biscuits with butter and jam, fruit, tea, and water.

Scruggs added that the brunch is beneficial and provides students with the proper skills they will need after high school.

“Some of these students are scared to talk with adults. Most don’t know how to do proper professional etiquette such as shaking hands or how to eat properly. A lot of us don’t practice that on a daily basis. The brunch is a way to help prepare them for the real world and also make connections with our local business and industry partners in attendance,” she said.

The brunch was only one of many opportunities Covington County Schools offers its students.

“I’m excited to provide these students with new opportunities. I want my kids to be the best kids and be prepared for what life throws at them after high school. We try to provide all types of opportunities whether that’s taking paths toward career exploration or preparing for life after high school like this etiquette brunch. We also offer our students with tours to various college campuses and industries in our area,” Scruggs said.

Florala High School senior Gracie McNeill plans to attend LBW Community College and then transfer to Troy University for a degree in Social Work.

“I was excited about the brunch for the food but also happy to see all the opportunities waiting for us after high school. This brunch really helped prepare us for when we graduate and learn to do things on our own such as business meetings and interviews. It’s a preparation for our future,” McNeill said.

Pleasant Home School senior Robert Shelton plans to attend LBW Community College’s MacArthur campus for a degree in Welding.

“I didn’t expect the brunch to be this big, but I enjoyed being here with everyone. I learned how to make good conversation with people since that’s one thing I struggle with,” Shelton said.

Red Level School senior Kayden Lord plans to attend the University of Alabama for a degree in Pre-Medicine and eventually become a dermatologist.

“We have learned a lot in our etiquette class. Some of the things I have learned are sending a proper email and using utensils the correct way at the dinner table. The brunch today allowed me to gain an understanding of proper etiquette while learning to communicate with people in general,” Lord said.

Seniors at Straughn High School will complete etiquette classes during the spring semester. They will be guests for a brunch on April 2, 2025, with more details released at a later date.

Business and industry leaders attending were Cam Ballard, Babbie Baptist Church; Jed Blackwell, CCS Board/South Alabama Regional Airport; Taylor Cross, CCB Community Bank, Jennifer Curry, CCB Community Bank; Beth Dean, CCS Music Department; Johnny Dean, PowerSouth; Shannon Driver, CCS Superintendent; Maggie Holmes, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce; Hayden Junger, Southern Independent Bank; Haley Kilcrease, Crenshaw County Career Coach; Mellisa King, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce; Lauren Maynor, Andalusia City Schools Career Coach; Kelly McCollough, CCS Special Education Coordinator; Justin Mooney, Mediacom; Misty Mooney, CCS Career Coach; Gayle Robbins, City of Florala Mayor; Jeanni Sanders, LBW Community College; Katherine Silva, Covington Electric; Patty Singleton- Seay, Covington Electric; Chris Thomasson, CCS Federal Programs Coordinator; Blake Turman, Covington County Sheriff; Kim Turman, Covington Realty; and Ashley Tyson, LBW Community College.

For more information about CCS career opportunities email kelsi.scruggs@cov.k12.al.us or misty.mooney@cov.k12.al.us.