Baldwin County Education Coalition Celebrates $81,000 in 2026 Scholarship Awards
The Baldwin County Education Coalition joined Baldwin County Public Schools, community partners, families and supporters at Baldwin Preparatory Academy to celebrate the 2026 recipients of the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship and JLS International Vocational Scholarship programs.
For the first time, recipients from both scholarship programs were recognized together at one combined banquet, celebrating students preparing to become Baldwin County’s future educators as well as Career and Technical Education students taking their next steps into high-demand technical careers.
Together, the two programs awarded $81,000 through 81 scholarships in 2026.
Investing in Baldwin County’s Future Teachers
The Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship Program awarded $57,000 through 57 scholarships this year, including 17 new scholarships and 40 renewals for previous recipients continuing their education.
Originally developed by the Baldwin County Board of Education Human Resources Department, the program helps support high school seniors who plan to pursue a degree in education and become part of the next generation of Baldwin County teachers. The Baldwin County Education Coalition serves as fiscal agent for the scholarship fund.
The 2026 awards also included scholarships presented through the Joshua Eric Hall Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of former Baldwin County Public Schools employee Josh Hall. The scholarship supports current school system employees enrolled in teacher certification programs as well as children of employees pursuing degrees in education.
The Alabama Education Association (AEA) continued its support of future educators by presenting two additional scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers in education.
Several of Baldwin County’s current education leaders were on hand to celebrate the recipients, including Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Eric West, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Joe Sharp and representatives from local colleges and universities.
Recipients also heard from Baldwin County’s 2026 Teachers of the Year, Elizabeth Von Hofe of Spanish Fort Elementary School and Emily Hudson of Spanish Fort High School, who shared words of encouragement with the future educators in attendance.
Supporting Students Entering High-Demand Technical Careers
The banquet also celebrated the 2026 recipients of the JLS International Vocational Scholarship, with 24 students receiving $1,000 scholarships for a total investment of $24,000.
These scholarships support Career and Technical Education students preparing to enter the workforce and can help recipients obtain professional certifications, purchase tools and equipment needed to begin their careers, or offset tuition expenses for technical and trade schools.
The scholarship program represents a growing investment in Baldwin County students pursuing skilled careers and in the workforce that will serve local businesses and communities for years to come.
That investment reached an important milestone in 2026. In January, JLS International contributed an additional $250,000 to the JLS International Vocational Scholarship Endowment Fund, bringing its total investment in the endowment to $1 million.
The endowment helps create a sustainable source of scholarship funding for Baldwin County students pursuing vocational and technical career pathways.
Celebrating Different Paths to a Bright Future
The combined scholarship banquet brought together students, current educators, school system leaders, colleges and universities, community partners, families and friends to recognize the many different paths Baldwin County students are taking toward successful careers.
Among those attending were representatives from Baldwin County Public Schools, the Baldwin County Education Coalition, the University of South Alabama College of Education, the University of Mobile, the City of Loxley, JLS International and other community partners.
Whether preparing to lead a classroom or beginning a career in a skilled trade, each scholarship recipient represents an investment in Baldwin County’s future.
Through partnerships like the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship Fund and JLS International Vocational Scholarship, the Baldwin County Education Coalition is helping connect community resources with opportunities that support students, strengthen the local workforce and build a brighter future for Baldwin County.
To learn more about the Baldwin County Education Coalition and its work supporting students and public education across Baldwin County, visit BetterBaldwin.com.
