The financial burden of postsecondary education will be a little lighter for a Paintsville Independent student, who is one of two students to receive the first scholarships awarded by the Kentucky School Boards Association’s First Degree College Scholarship Program.
Dustin Tyler Adams, a senior at Paintsville High School, received his $2,500 scholarship on Feb. 4 during KSBA’s annual conference in Louisville.
The scholarship program was created last year by the association’s Board of Directors to help students who will be the first in their immediate family to pursue postsecondary education. A total of 126 of the state’s 174 school boards submitted the names of 231 high school seniors for the award. Selection from that pool – one male, one female – was made by blind draw at the Dec. 6 meeting of the KSBA board. The announcement of the names was not made until the conference presentation.
Adams plans to attend Morehead State and major in mining engineering. His teachers describe him as “intelligent, dependable, friendly and helpful to others,” according to his guidance counselor, Beverly Martin.
He participates in the Beta Club, Pep Club, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Spanish Club, and Quiz Bowl and academic teams.
Adams has a weighted GPA of 4.065 and this year alone is enrolled in two Advanced Placement and two honors classes, and has completed numerous others. He is the son of Mike Adams and Carey Adams of West Van Lear.
The First Degree scholarships will be paid directly to any two- or four-year college or university upon receipt of a copy of a letter of acceptance to the selected students. The scholarship may be used at any accredited postsecondary institution, in state or out.
Financial support for the scholarships is being provided this year by the Kentucky School Plant Management Association, Towing and Recovery Association of Kentucky and Codell Construction.
The other 2012 KSBA First Degree Scholarship went to Kelsey Rae Bentley, a senior at Magoffin County High School