Since 1987, more than 4,200 talented high-school sophomores and juniors have attended the GSA summer program. The program culminated Saturday with an all-day festival that celebrated the achievements of Kentucky’s young artists. Additionally, 21 colleges and universities currently offer scholarships to alumni of GSA.
Threlkeld awarded doctor-of-medicine degree at UK
Zachary David Threlkeld of Nicholasville recently received a doctor-of-medicine degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine during a ceremony held for the class of 2012 on May 12 at the UK Singletary Center for the Arts.
During the ceremony, Threlkeld was recipient of the David B. Clark Award for Excellence in neurology and the Albert B. Chandler Award. He will continue his education in residency at the University of California San Francisco, specializing in neurology.
The UK College of Medicine has more than 800 full-time basic science and clinical faculty members as well as an average of 465 students from across the commonwealth and the nation. Approximately 80 percent of the medical students enrolled each year are Kentucky residents.
FFA chapter attends leadership training
June 25-29 was a special week for the Jessamine County FFA. 18 members of the local chapter headed to Hardinsburg to the Kentucky FFA Leadership Training Center, otherwise known as FFA camp. At camp, the Jessamine FFA officers and committee chairmen developed leadership skills through workshops with past and present state FFA officers as well as participated in various activities such as softball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, canoeing and karaoke.
Jessamine County FFA brought home numerous awards. Sophomore Joseph Brock was honored with the outstanding leadership award; only 3 percent of attending members are selected for this honor. Senior Kelly Smith, junior Nate Spicer and junior Derrick Simpson were selected for the leadership award, which is granted to 10 percent of attending members. Sophomore Fabian Leon received a $100 grant for the development of his supervised agriculture experience project. Junior Rod White won the cannonball contest during swimming events. There were three members who were selected as all-stars in athletics: Kelly Smith, volleyball; Joseph Brock, basketball; and Derrick Simpson, softball. The chapter brought home the cottage award for passing clean cabin inspections throughout the week.
The team also worked together to form goals and plan activities for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year for the Jessamine FFA chapter.
FCCLA members participate in leadership training
The Jessamine County Chapter of FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) recently attended FCCLA leadership camp. This took place at the FFA training center in Hardinsburg. Four students were in attendance — Sara Smith and Emily Kerns from West Jessamine High School, who are FCCLA regional officers this year and received their training at camp; and Taylor Tomlin and Sarah Hall from East Jessamine High School, who completed a freshmen academy to prepare them for future leadership opportunities.
Landis graduates from Rogers Scholars program
Jessamine County’s Luke Landis has graduated from this summer’s first class of The Center for Rural Development’s 2012 Rogers Scholars youth-leadership program.
The Rogers Scholars program — the center’s flagship youth program — provides leadership and exclusive scholarship opportunities for rising high-school juniors in southern and eastern Kentucky and encourages graduates to build their careers in the region.
“The Rogers Scholars program pointed me in the right direction for my future,” said Landis, 16, a student at East Jessamine High School and a member of the Rogers Scholars health-care team. “I was able to see glimpses of my future career, which will be a valuable asset in my education.”
The first summer session of Rogers Scholars was held June 24-29 on the grounds of the center in Somerset.
