By Samantha Bolden | The Selma Times-Journal

The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) announced Morgan Academy as one of the recipients of the AISA Blue Ribbon School award for the 2015-2016 academic school year.

To be considered for the award, a school must exemplify academic achievement, community interaction, professional learning as well as completing a complex application process.

Karim Oaks, Director of Instruction at Morgan, said that the school has received the award every year since the origin of the award in 1970.

“There are a lot of hoops that you have to jump through to make sure that you do what you’re supposed to do,” Oaks said. “We just continue to compete in academic competitions whether it be arts and sports. Our students participate in community service, and just last year, our SGA was voted the best organization in the state. Things like that plays a factor in being rewarded. It’s about continuing improvement.”

Oaks credits their teachers in the success of winning the award throughout the years.

“We have teachers that push our students to excel and we set the bar as to this is what we are going to achieve,” Oaks said.

The AISA Blue Ribbon School Program is sponsored by the AISA to recognize member schools with outstanding programs. These schools have demonstrated a high level of excellence in their academic and student programs.