Kentucky School Advocate
April 2024
KSBA’s 2024 Annual Conference served as a celebration of student scholarship. During the luncheon on March 2, five Kentucky high school seniors were recognized as this year’s class of First Degree College Scholarship winners.
Now in its 14th year, the First Degree program awards $2,500 scholarships to academically eligible high school seniors who will be in the first in their immediate families to complete a postsecondary degree . Winners are drawn from a pool of nominees submitted by school districts.
2024 scholarship recipients honored on the conference stage include:
• Orion Taylor, Williamstown Independent High School (Williamstown Independent Schools)
• Steve Russell, Dixie Heights High School (Kenton County Schools)
• Allie Beard, Crittenden County High School (Crittenden County Schools)
• Jacky Qiu, Butler County High School (Butler County Schools)
• Chloe Glass, Barren County High School (Barren County Schools)
KSBA’s 2024 First Degree College Scholarship award was sponsored by American Fidelity Educational Services and Houchens Insurance Group-Education.
The association’s student aid programs are made possible through funds raised by the KSBA Educational Foundation. Visit
ksbaef.org to learn more about KSBA’s student scholarships and grants and to make a contribution.
Photo above: From left: KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling, KSBA President-elect Pamela Morehead, Williamstown Independent High School student Orion Taylor

From left: KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling, KSBA President-elect Pamela Morehead, Butler County High School student Jacky Qiu, American Fidelity State Managers Rebecca Combs and Kate Mathis
From left: KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling, KSBA President-elect Pamela Morehead, Barren County High School student Chloe Glass, American Fidelity State Managers Rebecca Combs and Kate Mathis
From left: KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling, KSBA President-elect Pamela Morehead, Dixie Heights High School (Kenton County) student Steve Russell, Houchens Insurance Group Vice President David Brooks
From left: KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling, KSBA President-elect Pamela Morehead, Crittenden County High School student Allie Beard, Houchens Insurance Group Vice President David Brooks