Shoals Scholar Dollars Foundation

Shoals Student of the Year

April 16 5:30 meet/greet 6:30 awards/dinner

All 17 high schools in Colbert and Lauderdale County have nominated their candidates for Shoals Student of the Year. On April 16, find out who will take home this year's honor, along with a fantastic prize package. If you would like to be a part of the night, email us at [email protected] to reserve your seats.

For a full list of this year's nominees, click here.

Sweet Sounds of the Shoals
April 30, 2025 from 6:30 - 10:00

The sweetest event in the Shoals is happening April 30 at the Renaissance Conference Center. Come sample desserts from over 25 local restaurants and cast your vote for this year's Shoals Dessert of the Year. In addition, the party gets even livelier with music by dueling pianos taking all your requests. There will be games, door prizes and lots of fun.

In partnership with the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, get your tickets at shoalschamber.com under the EVENTS tab. Tickets are only $25.

Shoals Dragon Boat Festival - September 26, 2026

CONGRATULATIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTING - "LIGHTING THE WAY" - FOR THEIR FIRST PLACE WIN IN THIS YEAR'S SHOALS DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

2025 Shoals Student of the Year - Ava Risner

Congratulations to Ava Risner, a senior at Central High School who was named the 2025 Shoals Student of the Year on April 17.
Ava will travel to the Shoals Area this year and promote our mission. She will visit many of our fantastic sponsors and will also be speaking at community and civic events.

If you would like to book Ava to help or speak at your events, contact us at [email protected]
We are so excited to work with Ava as we promote Shoals Scholar Dollars.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 ARE AVAILABLE BY CLICKING HERE.

In 2011, the Shoals community, headed by the Florence and Greater Shoals Rotary Clubs, decided that education was the most important gift we could give our children. Because education is the underpinning for success in every endeavor, the Shoals community banded together to give every student from the 17 local high schools in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties the opportunity to continue their education after graduation. The rules are simple. If you are a student who has maintained a C average in high school, has a good attendance record, has no behavioral incidents, and is a U.S. citizen, you will have earned a two year scholarship to Northwest Shoals Community College. To make this possible, the community has raised approximately $3 million since our inception. However, the amount needed annually is $400,000 to fully fund those students attending both Northwest Shoals and then transferring to the University of North Alabama. It is a challenge to the community and a challenge to the student, but it’s a challenge that has great rewards. Whether you are a student, a parent, or simply a member of the Shoals community, participation in this program will provide a lifetime of rewards.

Click through the pages of this website to learn more.