Local 10-Year-Old Receives Birmingham Leadership Award

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Among the prestigious nominees for Birmingham's Academic Leader Award at the 2021 Minority Business Awards — a list that included education leaders with decades of experience — was 10-year-old Ethan Hill, the youngest nominee for the award, and now the award's youngest winner.

Ethan, a student at Phillips Academy, won the award over the likes of Miles College president Bobbie Knight and former Lawson State president Perry Ward for his volunteer efforts with the homeless community in Birmingham.

Ethan got the idea to help the homeless during his morning rides to school. Every day, he noticed a man living under a bridge. He asked his parents if there was anything they could to help the man. Once the family discussed the man and his situation, Ethan got to work, at the age of 7, doing online research on what the homeless community needed.

Ethan asked his parents if they could buy orange Home Depot buckets and supplies for the homeless. And in 2018 when he was 8 years old, Ethan bought 50 sleeping bags for the homeless in Birmingham. He has continued his efforts for more than three years, and has delivered hundreds of sleeping bags and care packages to the homeless community in that time.

Other award winners and runners-up at the Minority Business Awards this year:

Small Business Owner presented by T-Mobile:

• Sonya Faye Gardner - Owner, Tailor and Clothier, Sonya Faye's - (WINNER)
• Crystal Mullen-Johnson - Owner, Strive Counseling Services
• Jackie Wilson - Owner, Elite Hands Massage Therapy

Outstanding Young Professional:

• Dulce Rivera - General Manager, MiPueblo Markets (WINNER)
• Clarence Graham - CEO, Graham Group Real Estate
• Rachel Harmon - Inaugural Director, Birmingham Promise

Diversity Leader:

• Cristina Almanza - Business Development Coordinator, Buffalo Rock (WINNER)
• James E. King Jr. - Associate Dean for Diversity, Culverhouse College at UA
• Martina Winston - VP & Senior HR Partner | Diversity & Inclusion Leader, Protective Life

Faith/Non-Profit Leader presented by Legacy of Hope:

• Catrena Norris Carter - Co-Founder and Executive Director, Salute Selma Inc. (WINNER)
• NaKaria Barfield - Founder, Pretty Young Girls
• LTC Kenneth Phillips - CEO, Priority Soldier Inc

Automotive Professional of the Year presented by BB&T, now Truist Bank:

• John Porter - General Sales Manager, Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (WINNER)
• April Benson - Chief Operating Officer, King Boyz Towing
• Thomas Walker Sr. - Owner, Speedy Tire and Service | T. Walker Enterprises

Justice/Attorney Professional:

• Danny Carr - D.A. Jefferson Co. - Birmingham Division (WINNER)
• Randall Minor - Shareholder, Maynard Cooper Gale
• LeFrante Williams - Attorney, Fan Will Legal Services, LLC.

Entrepreneur of the Year presented by Alabama Power:

• Tanesha Sims-Summers - CEO, Naughty but Nice Kettle Corn Co. (WINNER)
• LaToya Meadows - CEO, Simple Tax Solutions
• Lemar Storey - CEO, Life Touch Massage

Medical Professional:

• Tony Christon-Walker - Director of Prevention & Community Partnerships, AIDS Alabama
• Cherie May Edwards - Owner / CEO, Work in Progress LLC Counseling Services
• Alexia C. Vaughn - President & Optometrist, Advanced Eye Care

Executive of the Year:

• Alisa Summerville - Director of Customer Service Centers, Alabama Power
• Montal Morton - Owner & Marketing Director, Redmont Distilling Company
• Tawanna Morton - Intake Director, Crossroads to Intervention