Additional $1,776 to be awarded to recipient demonstrating ‘Here For Good’ challenge
Independence Bank awarded $155,000 in scholarships to students from their 12-county service area during a virtual reception Thursday, with 14 students in Daviess County receiving a total of $66,500.
A full list of all students and their scholarship amounts can be found below.
The Bank has also presented a challenge to the recipients and an opportunity to win an additional $1,776 on top of their existing scholarship. Each student was given $100 with simple instructions to use it for good in the communities they call home.
“As a Bank, we have never just been about the transaction, rather always the relationship,” said Independence Bank President, Jacob Reid. “That relationship has guided how we do business today and we believe that by challenging our recipients to find a need in their community and step into action to solve it, we are helping them understand a great lesson about social responsibility and giving back to those around you.”
The Independence Bank Scholarship program is comprised of more than 50 scholarships. Since the inception of the program in 2001, Independence Bank has now awarded $1,425,700 to students.
Applicants are judged based on a submitted essay, high school grades, ACT scores, financial need, extracurricular activities, community involvement and personal interviews.
“Our recipients are extraordinary and we know that goes well beyond just their grade point average,” said Lauren Patton, Charitable Foundation Manager. “We look at our applicants as a whole and have seen over the years that some of the most worthy recipients are often overlooked by other scholarship programs.”
For the 2020 -2021 school year, scholarships were awarded to the following students:
Charles A Reid Scholarship – $15,000
The Charles A. Reid Scholarship is the original scholarship that started the Independence Bank program in 2001. It is given in honor of the late Charles A, Reid, former Independence Bank President. His wish was to develop a scholarship program so that students could continue their pursuit of a higher education, something upon which he placed the utmost importance on. A finalist is chosen from each market that Independence Bank serves. Each finalist receives a $500 Ernie and Martine Davis Scholarship as well as a $500 Maurice E. Reisz Scholarship. One winner is selected based on an interview process and receives $15,000.
Winner:
- Caitlyn Blandford, Apollo High School
Finalists:
- Julia McClard, Calloway County High School
- Caitlyn Blandford, Apollo High School
- Bonnie Beth Olson, Owensboro High School
- Virginia (Ginny) Lyle, Western Hills High School
- Colton Massey, Mayfield High School
- Alex Kratzer, Hancock County High School
- Madison Scott, Henderson County High School
- Andrew (Drew) Belcher, Madisonville North Hopkins High School
- Andrew Dunn, DuPont Manual High School
- Mason Hancock, McCracken County High School
- Aaron Ring, McLean County High School
- Allison (Ally) Bush, Greenwood High School
- Jacelyn Deibler, Webster County High School
CEO Scholarship – $15,000
The CEO scholarship is funded and selected by current CEO Chris Reid and his wife Janet Reid, retired Independence Bank COO. This recipient shows true character, inspires others and has proven to be a leader in all that they do.
- Max Holder, Apollo High School
Marjorie Reid Scholarship – $10,000
Marjorie Reid is the wife of the late Charles A. Reid, and was one of the founding partners of Independence Bank. Mrs. Reid awards this scholarship to a child or grandchild of an Independence Bank employee or director so that the pursuit of higher education is extended to the Independence Bank family.
- Caroline Ashby, Apollo High School, daughter of Pete Ashby, Franklin Aviation
Maurice Reisz Memorial Scholarship – $10,000
Maurice E. Reisz was a co-founder of Independence Bank and served as a Chairman of the Independence Bank board. He was also a local pharmacist in Daviess County. The Maurice E. Reisz Memorial Scholarship was intended for a student pursuing a pharmacy degree.
- Hailey Stokes, Hopkins County Central High School
Guy Reisz Memorial Scholarship – $10,000
Guy Reisz served as an Independence Bank board of director and this scholarship was intended for a student attending Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro.
- Anslee Hopewell, Apollo High School
President’s Scholarship – $5,000
The recipient of the President’s scholarships has shown strong commitment and ties to their community and leads with a servant’s heart.
- Matthew Miller, McLean County High School
Ag Scholarship – $5,000
- Sarah Lyell, Graves County High School
Chairman’s Scholarship – $5,000
The recipient of the Chairman’s scholarship is selected from the 13 finalists who interviewed for the Charles A. Reid Scholarship.
- Andrew Dunn, DuPont Manual High School
Ernie & Martine Davis Scholarship – $3,000
Ernie Davis Jr. has been a member of our Board of Directors for 20 years. He is co-owner of Ernie Davis & Sons and serves as the Bank’s building chairman. Ernie wanted to be a part of the Independence Bank Scholarship Program because “Ernie Davis and Sons,” a company which was founded by his parents, wanted to give back to the community that has supported them over the years. The scholarship is in honor of the late Mr. and Mrs. Davis.
- Jacelyn Deibler, Webster County High School
Lanham Family Scholarship – $3,000
This scholarship is funded by John and Wanda Lanham, Tony and Sandy Lanham, and Kenny and Debbie Lanham. The Lanham Family have been blessed to be involved in various businesses for over 35 years, so the scholarship is intended for a student pursuing a business major.
- Haven Riley, Hancock County High School
Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship – $2,000
- Alexandria (Lexie) Hawkins, Graves County High School
William and Sherry O’Bryan Scholarship – $2,000 (per recipient)
Dr. William and Sherry O’Bryan have committed their lives to the community through their passion of agriculture and nursing. The scholarship honors the work they have done and will continue to do.
- Madeline Castlen, Owensboro Catholic High School
- Aubrey Mills, Daviess County High School
- Kloee Phelps, Daviess County High School
- Savannah French, Owensboro Catholic High School
- Seth Ranes, Webster County High School
Danny Peyton Memorial Scholarship – $1,250 (per recipient)
This scholarship is funded by Independence Bank’s Farm to Fork Dinner in Madisonville and awarded to an FFA student pursuing a degree in agriculture.
- Olivia Buriss, Madisonville North Hopkins High School
- Keli Reynolds, Hopkins County Central High School
Community Board Scholarships
The Community Board Scholarships are funded entirely by Independence Bank’s local community boards in each market. Applicants are reviewed by a committee of local employees in each market.
- Lila Munsey, Murray High School, Calloway County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Lexan Roberts, Calloway County High School, Calloway County Community Board Scholarship – $1,500
- Claire Whitaker, Murray High School, Calloway County Community Board Scholarship – $1,500
- Annabel Wilmurth, Calloway County High School, Calloway County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Julia McLard, Calloway County High School, Calloway County Community Board Scholarship – $1,250
- Caitlyn Bell, Owensboro Innovation Academy | Daviess County High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- William (Evan) Carpenter, Owensboro Innovation Academy | Daviess County High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Ashlyn Dube, Owensboro High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Harold Fuchs, Daviess County High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Teresa Klee, Apollo High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Luke Malott, Apollo High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Caitlyn Blandford, Apollo High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Bonnie Beth Olson, Owensboro High School, Daviess County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Joshua Kurra, Western Hills High School, Franklin County Community Board Scholarship – $1,800
- Taylor Flowers, Graves County High School, Graves County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Cynthia Mateo, Mayfield High School, Graves County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Colton Massey, Mayfield High School, Graves County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Alex Kratzer, Hancock County High School, Hancock County Community Board Scholarship – $1,450
- William (Jack) Whitmore, Henderson County High School, Henderson County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Madison Scott, Henderson County High School, Henderson County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Dylan Dawson, Dawson Springs High School, Hopkins County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Andrew (Drew) Belcher, Madisonville North Hopkins High School, Hopkins County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Jenna Baldwin, Male Traditional High School, Jefferson County Community Board Scholarship – $750
- Kennedy Howard, Eastern High School, Jefferson County Community Board Scholarship – $750
- Nicolas (Nico) Osborn, Trinity High School, Jefferson County Community Board Scholarship – $750
- Andrew Dunn, DuPont Manual High school, Jefferson County Community Board Scholarship – $750
- Avery Bailey, McCracken County High School, McCracken County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Grace Bakehouse, Paducah Tilghman High School, McCracken County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Olivia Carter, McCracken County High School, McCracken County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- James (Elliot) Evans, McLean County High School, McLean County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Gabriel Whitmer, McLean County High School, McLean County Community Board Scholarship – $1,000
- Abigail (Abby) Abrams, South Warren High School, Warren County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Charles (Chas) Brassell, Homeschooled, Warren County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Anna Neal, Bowling Green High School, Warren County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Htee Paw, Warren Central High School, Warren County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Claire Young, Warren East High School, Warren County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Allison (Ally) Bush, Greenwood High School, Warren County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Seth Ranes, Webster County High School, Webster County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Hannah Corbin, Webster County High School, Webster County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Preston Hill, Webster County High School, Webster County Community Board Scholarship – $500
- Hope Shepherd, Webster County High School, Webster County Community Board Scholarship – $500
Revolutionary Scholarship – $1,000 (per recipient)
- Madison Scott, Henderson County High School
- Virginia (Ginny) Lyle, Western Hills High School
- Madison Scott, Henderson County High School
Revolution Square Trade Scholarship – $1,000 (per recipient)
- Brooke Lawson, Mayfield High School
- Ryleigh Smithson, Graves County High School
Derek Hart Memorial Scholarship – $1,000
This scholarship is funded by Danny and Melva Hart of Hickory, KY in memory of their son. The scholarship is awarded to a Graves County student with hopes of returning to the family farm.
- Nathan Boles, Graves County High School
Doe Anderson Scholarship – $500
- Elizabeth (Beth) Merrill, Home School
