- [Narrator] Meet Elyse Mae Dean.

Elyse is a senior at Pickens Academy in Carrollton and maintains a 4.0 GPA.

She has already completed 22 hours of college courses with a 4.0 GPA there as well.

Elyse is on the Math Team and the Scholars Bowl Team.

She's a member of the National Honor Society and Pi Alpha Epsilon.

She is also involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is a varsity cheerleader, majorette, and member of the band, as well as playing softball and basketball and teaching the Peewee majorette squad.

When Elyse was seven years old, she was diagnosed with Chiari malformation, which doctors said would prevent her from performing physical activities like cheer and band and basketball.

To date, despite continuing physical challenges, she manages to do all that and more.

- Last summer, I was watching Alabama Public Television and I think it was just a commercial was on about the young heroes.

And as I was watching that and hearing the students that were winners last year, their stories just, I thought, that's Elyse.

- I'm involved with many different sports throughout the year around my school.

I played volleyball, basketball, softball, and I'm on the cheer team.

And throughout those different sports, I've made a lot of different memories and friends, and I've learned a lot of, not only like sports stuff, but like life lessons through my coaches and different situations that we've been put in as a team.

It has really helped me learn how to be a team player.

My plans after graduation, I am going to attend the University of West Alabama and pursue a degree in mathematics education.

I wanna be a math teacher when I grow up.

- [Narrator] For her courage and determination, Alabama Public Television is proud to recognize Elyse as one of the five young heroes of Alabama for 2023.

Learn about all of APT's young heroes and how to nominate a student for the 2024 awards at aptv.org/heroes.