Prattville High School's John 'Tripp' Berch named Student of the Week

After a whopping 62,679 votes, Montgomery Advertiser readers have chosen Prattville High School student John "Tripp" Berch as the Student of the Week.

Tripp is a senior and a leader inside and outside of the classroom. He is a peer helper and drum major and participates in various other sports and activities. School leaders say Tripp continually puts others before himself and considers the needs of his friends before his own. He is respectful to authority figures, and he is always smiling. Tripp is an excellent role model to underclassmen. He goes above and beyond to try to make the school a better place.

Congratulations, Tripp!

Student of the Week honors the hard work that high school students across the River Region put into their studies, their schools and their greater community every day, and it aims to recognize as many awesome high schoolers as possible. Every public and private high school in the outer Montgomery area is eligible to nominate one student a week who exemplifies success in academics and community involvement.

Here are the other impressive nominees for this week's Student of the Week:

D'Kaylen Seals, Lamp High School: Senior D'Kaylen excelled in the Distinguished Young Women scholarship program, achieving a Top 8 finish and winning the "Be Yourself" essay competition. Her academic prowess was further recognized with a merit scholarship from the University of Mobile. She is a dedicated leader on campus, serving as captain of LAMP's cheer squad and president of Heritage Club. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and LAMP's step team, and she has received College Board's National African American recognition award.

Jannatara Nilima, Park Crossing High School: Jannatara excels in her information technology classes at the Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies and her advanced placement courses, showcasing exceptional dedication and academic excellence. Her drive to succeed and passion for learning make her a standout student in both fields. School leaders say she is truly an amazing student and an inspiration to her peers.

Latavis Thomas, Valiant Cross Academy: Latavis is a proud member of the 2025 senior class, a member of the National Honors Society and has a 3.8 GPA. He's enrolled in the dual enrollment program with Faulkner University and has also completed numerous volunteer hours with Valiant Cross Academy including Capitol Hill Health and Rehabilitation Facility, Reality and Truth Ministries, along with the Montgomery Area Food Bank. Latavis wrote an article titled “Disagreements, Lack of Communication, Leave Black Men in a Cycle of Violence” which was featured in the Montgomery Advertiser in April 2023. He also finds time to work outside of school. He has worked with the nonprofit organization “That’s My Child” at “That’s My Dog.” He's a member of St. James Missionary Baptist Church Old Field.

Kyleigh King, Percy Julian High School: Kyleigh maintains a 3.86 GPA while being a star student-athlete. She participates in varsity volleyball and flag football. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society and the National Math Honor Society. Kyleigh studies medical science at the Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies and will complete a hospital internship prior to graduation. She serves as Percy L. Julian Student Ambassador. Kyleigh is a dual enrollment student. In her spare time she likes solving Rubik's Cube puzzles. One teacher noted, "Kyleigh is a soft-spoken leader who exemplifies what it means to be a student leader, student-athlete and the epitome of a portrait of a graduate."

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Prattville senior John 'Tripp' Berch named Student of the Week