Two Coleman High School students were honored at 4:00 today, December 17, as nominees for the Youths of Inspiration Award at Bruner Toyota. The Youths of Inspiration Award recognizes young men and young ladies from area high schools who have overcome significant life circumstances and having the courage, discipline and stamina to fight past those obstacles to make impressive achievements in school.

Alicia Cody and Justin Brixey are both seniors who will graduate from Coleman High School this spring.

Alicia has won the hearts of most of the faculty at Coleman High School for persevering through some tough times. Due to family challenges, Alicia was at one time homeless, and she has lived with friends, often rotating where she would stay.

Living with such uncertainty would break many young people, but it only seemed to strengthen her and give her more resolve. This past year, Alicia befriended a young man who was just going through the motions at school. She took him under her wing, mentored and encouraged him, and with great persistence on her part, he changed. Last spring he graduated from Coleman High, and that was beyond everyone’s expectations.

Alicia has taken the lessons from her life’s circumstances and used them to create opportunity for others. She currently carries a 3.72 GPA and is making A in each of her classes. Upon graduation she plans to attend college.

Justin Brixey lives with his father and has experienced both emotional and financial challenges. Despite what should be such distractions in his life, he has applied himself and become active in band, football and UIL academic competition.

He advanced to Area in UIL Number Sense. He was a member of the Bluecat Band that advanced to Area. And the varsity football team has made the playoffs two of the three years that he played.

Justin plans to join the Marines after graduation. The recruiter told Coleman High Counselor Carol Bennington that Justin made one of the highest scores that he has seen on the aptitude test. The Marines will train him in computer science, and Justin plans to receive a college degree in computer science with help from the GI Bill.

“We are delighted to honor two such exceptional students as Alicia Cody and Justin Brixey, not only for their achievements, but for overcoming adversity,” says Bruner Auto Family President Greg Bruner. “We are grateful to Ms. Carol Bennington, the Coleman High School Counselor, and her team for helping bring Alicia and Justin to our attention.”

Through the Youths of Inspiration program, Bruner Toyota will recognize two students from area high schools each month during this school year. Each monthly honoree will receive a certificate in the showroom of Bruner Toyota.

Each student must be in good standing with his/her high school and be an exemplary citizen. Individual campus counselors recommend their school recipients of the Youths of Inspiration Award.

In mid-May, Bruner Toyota will host a dinner to recognize each of the 20 honorees from the participating campuses. At the event, Bruner Toyota will select one young man and one young woman, who will each receive a $500 scholarship. The school of each selected student will also receive a $500 scholarship donation from Bruner Toyota, for a total of $2,000 presented to individuals and schools.

Pictured are Alicia Cody (left) and Justin Brixey (right) with Greg Bruner (center). Photo by Lisa Tipton.