5 Alabama Students Making The Yellowhammer State Proud

Alabama is full of bright, driven young people making a difference in and out of the classroom. That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight students excelling in academics, athletics and community service.

Check out five exceptional Alabama students making a big impact. And if you know a student who deserves a shoutout, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them for a chance to be featured as a Star Student on Patch!

Melissa Mercer (Birmingham) — Melissa Mercer, a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), was crowned the winner of the Miss UAB 2025 Scholarship Pageant. The Spanish Fort native earned the coveted title of Miss UAB, along with Miss Congeniality and Talent awards at the official preliminary to Miss Alabama and Miss America. A senior majoring in bioinformatics with minors in computer science and biology, Melissa is part of UAB’s Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program in data science and the Science and Technology Honors Program. She has earned numerous academic accolades, including the STH Student Success Award, Presidential Honors and recognition in UAB’s Undergraduate Research Expo. Read more here.

Casey Eaton (Huntsville) — University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) alumna and Ph.D. student Casey Eaton was awarded the 2024 Dr. Barry Boehm Award for Doctoral Student Research Excellence by the Systems Engineering Research Center. Casey’s research explores how engineers use technical data—such as cost, weight and performance—to evaluate and compare complex systems like NASA’s Human Landing System. By studying proposals from SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics, she showed how the choice and completeness of these measures can directly impact major design and contract decisions. Casey’s work offers valuable insight into improving how systems are assessed and selected in high-stakes engineering projects. Read more here.

Caitlyn Zeine (Mobile) — A standout eighth-grader at Phillips Preparatory School, Caitlyn Zeine has already distinguished herself as a thoughtful leader and dedicated changemaker. She balances academic excellence with active involvement as a Student Council member, vice president of the Spanish Honor Society and Silver Honor Band participant. She is also passionate about service, leading initiatives for Feeding the Gulf Coast, Augusta Evans Special School and the Pulsera Project, supporting causes both locally and abroad. These accomplishments, along with her positive and helpful attitude, contributed to her earning the 2025 Learning Leading Award in her district. Read more here.

Katie Smith (Trussville) — Hewitt-Trussville High School graduate Katie Smith has demonstrated remarkable focus and drive on her path toward a career in medicine. In 2022, she was selected as a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, where she joined top students from across the country to learn from Nobel Laureates, medical researchers and Ivy League deans. In 2024, Katie was named the Kiwanis Youth of the Year Overall Scholarship Winner for her academic achievements, civic dedication and strong character. and will attend Johns Hopkins University to study cellular and molecular biology with a minor in Spanish. Read more here.

Peter Riello (Montgomery) — Montgomery Catholic senior Peter Riello was named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, placing him among the top 15,000 students nationwide competing for prestigious scholarships totaling more than $33 million. A dedicated student and leader, Peter earned National Hispanic Recognition from the College Board in his junior year, and is a member of both the Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. Outside of his academics, Peter is also an accomplished musician. He has served as Section Leader in the Marching Band, earned multiple Solo and Ensemble Festival awards and was selected for both the District Honor Band and All-State Concert Band. Read more here.

These exceptional students are just a glimpse of the incredible talent in Alabama. The future is certainly looking bright! If you know a Star Student making an impact in your community, nominate them today to be featured on Patch!