Excellence in Education: All-Stars, Leadership, Against All Odds — honoring students who stand out

Erin Roberts

Sean Sullivan, Holmes High School

Ella Watson, Walton-Verona

Delaney Williams

Student Leadership Awards Go to two Northern Kentucky high school seniors who exhibit exemplary leadership skills.

Shannon Carey

Lydia Schneider, Campbell County High School

Jazmin Kilgore, Dayton High School

Sherri Chan of Dayton High School nominated Jazmin: “It is an honor to have nominated Jazmin for the Against All Odds award. I came to know Jazmin as an eighth grade student when she enrolled in Dayton High School. She always had a smile on her face, and her engaging personality helped her fit right in at Dayton. Although she came across as a mature for her age, I never would have guessed that her childhood had been so challenging.

Jazmin Kilgore

“It became necessary for Jazmin to be self-reliant from an early age. Her parents struggled with the disease of addiction, and Jazmin faced this challenge by caring for herself and her younger sister as the family moved from place to place. Both parents eventually lost their battle with addiction, forcing Jazmin and her siblings into foster care. After multiple foster care placements and attending over 10 different schools throughout elementary and middle school, Jazmin was able to find stability living with her aunt and enrolling in Dayton High School.

“I have been fortunate enough to work with Jazmin over the last five years, seeing her grow and mature into the person she is today. Just before her senior year started, Jazmin rented her first apartment. She is living independently and supports herself by balancing school and working two jobs. In one of her jobs she serves as a teacher’s assistant with the YMCA 21st Century After-School Program at Lincoln Elementary. Her supervisor, Stefanie Craven, stated “Jazmin is amazing at connecting with our students that need some extra support. She often goes out of her way to get to know students in other grades that are struggling.”

“Jazmin has always been a hard-working individual. Although her classes are often challenging, Jazmin is always willing to put forth the extra effort to succeed. Her English teacher, Mr. Volpenhein, says that “you can tell that she takes school as an opportunity and a privilege, not merely a requirement.” Just last week Jazmin became College and Career Ready. She has been accepted to multiple colleges and universities, with hopes of attending Northern Kentucky University, where she plans to major in social work. She aspires to counsel children that have experienced abuse.

“I have no doubt that Jazmin will do well in life. Her story is already one of success. Her passion for helping others, her ability to overcome adversity, and her determination to continually grow as a person will take her wherever she wants to go. Jazmin is a true example of someone who has overcome obstacles to achieve academic success.”

Ellis McCarthy

Ellis McCarthy, Dixie Heights High School

Robbie Maddox, Dixie Hts. High School will share her story with us:
“Allow me to describe some of the reasons Ellis McCarthy is a worthy recipient of the 2016 Against All Odds Scholarship. Living means facing obstacles. Obstacles can be physical, mental, emotional, financial…; they can even be circumstances you are born into, through no fault of your own.

“The summer before Ellis’s sophomore year, her step father, Jeff, discovered he had stage four cancer. Jeff ran his own construction business, so it wasn’t long before the cancer and the expenses that came along with treatment put a tremendous strain on the family dynamics. Jeff was unable to work and care for himself. Ellis’s mother, Stephanie, was unable to work because she had just given birth to twins a few months earlier. At 14, Ellis found herself caring for her younger siblings and helping with many of the day-to-day operations of the house while Stephanie cared for Jeff.

“Simple things, like transportation, became a challenge. Ellis has gotten up around 4:30 a.m. almost every day of the week for the last few years just to take two city buses in order to get to school an hour early to work on her studies. Due to her involvement in athletics, early days were almost always followed by late nights waiting on a ride that could be running two to three hours late. Meals were often missed and security of house and home was threatened as bills went unpaid.

“In spite of it all, Ellis remained resilient. One of her coaches said it this way, “I’ve had many conversations with Ellis. Every one of those conversations could have turned into a ‘poor me’ session, but none ever did. I reminded Ellis…we can only focus on what we can control. Ellis put my words into action in a way I never could have dreamed. She took control of her life and future by placing an emphasis on academic achievement. Ellis has overcome every obstacle placed in front of her.

“Ellis is one who represents the best definition of “student athlete” I have ever seen. As a student, her commitment to academic excellence is evidenced on her transcript. She has risen to the challenge of difficult courses and been inducted into Beta Club and National Honor Society for her efforts. As an athlete, Ellis has played three sports for all four years of high school, something no female athlete has accomplished in the last 20 years at Dixie Heights High School. In addition to being a talented athlete, Ellis is a gifted artist. As an AP Studio Art student, she continues to hone her technique and impress judges in local and regional competitions often winning accolades.

“Today, Jeff is cancer free, but things are not back to normal. Debt remains, and new obstacles arise. Ellis continues to push herself beyond limitations and take advantage of every opportunity provided her. Ellis is an extremely talented, well-rounded, and hard-working individual who has fought against all odds in order to reach her goals.”

Blake Powell, Simon Kenton High School

Craig Reinhart, his nominator said: “Blake Powell has overcome the typical trials of any high-achieving student, but he also has another story that not many students in his position could tell. This story will begin and end with family.
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“Blake Powell comes from a low-income family where his parents were separated. He had to work to provide the things that many students are blessed to have given to them. He has worked many jobs here and there to support himself and had to rely on relatives outside of the home for help beyond that.

Blake Powell

“The real adversity Blake had to experience, however, started in 3rd grade. He found a bag of marijuana under his couch, which belonged to his father, who sold drugs. Blake was aware of what was taking place in elementary school. In middle school, his father began to make him ride along for drug deals. Blake had to stash drugs on himself in case his dad was searched during these deals. Blake also had to witness his father with a gun pointed at his head, at which point he thought they were both going to die. As Blake began high school, his father made him grow, harvest, bag and sell marijuana. Blake’s father was recently sentenced to multiple years on a drug sentence.

“Throughout all of this, Blake was able to maintain excellent grades, participate fully with football, wrestling, and track, and most importantly, remain a great person. Blake was able to be with his football family most of the time, which gave him some respite from home. Our football program is full of people, staff, students, and parents who love and care for each other. Logan Scott, Blake’s best friend, was a consistent support throughout Blake’s hard times. Logan, I hope you know how much of an impact you and your family have had on Blake’s success.

“When his father was put away, Blake was able to move in with the Scott family, they opened their home and hearts to Blake, offering him a stable home and a stable life. More than that, they modeled what a supportive family could and should be. This does not make’s Blake separation from his family easy, but having loving and supportive people to help take care of him does make adjusting possible. Blake credits the Scott family with giving him the extra motivation to keep striving through adversity since they showed that they care. Blake will be graduating this year in the top 25% of his class and taking 4 AP or honors courses. He did all of this while playing three varsity sports and overcoming tremendous odds. He will be attending Rose-Hulman College where he will be playing football and pursuing engineering in the fall.

“If you can take one thing from Blake’s story home with you, make it this: be kind to people no matter their circumstances, family, or background. You never know when you will be called to be like the Scott family was to Blake. When you have the opportunity to help someone or not, please take it—you could be the difference in someone’s life.”

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