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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Chilton County resident Liz Huntley has been named a 2020 Woman of Impact by Momentum.

“I’m shocked,” Huntley, an attorney and co-founder of the Hope Institute, said.

She said it was an honor to be included, especially since there are so many “incredible women across this state that impact this state.”

“Momentum is an organization that provides a major leadership conference for women leaders, and they do it every (other) year,” Huntley said. “It is the largest female leadership conference in the state,”

According to the Momentum website, the award “honors Alabama women leaders who do extraordinary work to positively impact lives of others in the community, business, culture or politics.”

“They recognize five Women of Impact in Alabama every other year,” Huntley said.

A committee takes nominations and makes a decision, but Huntley said she has no idea who nominated her.

Huntley said she gave “honor to God (for) all the work that he is doing through my life … I had a very tough childhood that I wouldn’t wish on any children and God has taken that darkness and turned it into a radiant light to help a lot of people. I am just honored and blessed.”

In its bio for Huntley, Momentum highlights her efforts to positively influence children.

“In addition to her work as an attorney, Liz is the CEO of the Hope Institute, a nonprofit with a mission to develop character education curriculum/programs in schools that enable children to learn in an environment of positive respect and support,” the bio stated.

Huntley co-founded the institute with Drayton Nabers Jr., former CEO Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.

“He and I both just had a passion for helping schools have an environment that … is not only helping kids be smart, but helping kids be good, too,” Huntley said.

She said character development is important to academic success.

She is also an advocate “for high quality preschool” opportunities for all children.

The awards will be presented March 12 at a luncheon during the annual Momentum conference.

Huntley had done a signing for her book “More than a Bird” at the event previously.

She is a 1989 Chilton County High School graduate. She is married to Tony Huntley and they have three children: Ada Ruth, Sarah Beth and AJ.

Huntley said a highlight of her year has been seeing Ada Ruth and Sara Beth both become the first female African-Americans to serve on the Student Government Association at their schools. Ada Ruth is a junior at Auburn University. Sara Beth attends Chilton County High School.

Huntley said it was a “full circle moment” because she had run for those same positions at those same schools but did not win.

She said she appreciated all the support she and her family has received from the community.