Columbiana Middle School student Patrick Decker was named the Alabama Association for Gifted Children’s Student of the Year in a ceremony at the McWane Center.

Decker, an eighth-grader, was selected for his accomplishments in the classroom, his representation of CMS at Scholars Bowl and Junior United Nations Assembly (JUNA), and his work with the Boy Scouts.

“Patrick is the best version of the middle school boy I was,” his nominating teacher Jason Mayfield said. “He is one of the few students who will always speak to me in the hall, no matter how busy he is. He has a wonderful sense of humor.”

In addition to Decker’s honor, CMS had four students recognized for Classroom Video of the Year at the middle school level. Students Emma Dudley, Kinzie McDonald, Sarah Elizabeth Shelton, and Kaili Williams combined to produce a video related to the AAGC’s conference theme “Listening to the Voices of Gifted.” The four received an $100 Visa card for their classroom.