Three JCHS Seniors Receive WYMT-TV Mountain Classic Scholarships

 JCHS congratulated three students who were awarded WYMT-TV Mountain Classic Scholarships. These students were seniors Emily Caldwell, Emily Summer, and Keagan Ward. The awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in Prestonburg, KY, at the Mountain Arts Center. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship and was invited to have lunch with the donors who made those funds available. 
The event, marking the classic's 38th year, saw the second-highest number of scholarships awarded to area seniors, with 125 academic scholarships presented on stage. 
"It means a lot, personally, to feel like we're kind of doing what the Lord has led us to do," said Mountain Classic Chairman Archie Everage. "It's always a great day at the banquet. We love seeing the students come in with the smiles on their faces, and their families, and how appreciative they are of all the scholarships." "We should never forget our academics. We, at the same time, are able to celebrate academics by awarding scholarships to those students that have worked so hard over the years and want to go to the next level and need this assistance in order to go to the next level," he said. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must also have at least a 20 on the ACT and be involved in the community. 
The Mountain Classic committee has given out scholarships every year since the tournament began in an effort to celebrate not only the athletes on the court, but also the students in the classroom. 
"My favorite thing is just to see the community come together in such a great way," said Everage. "I love to see the sponsors and meet each one of them. And each year, some new ones come to the program. And we love to match them up with some students who are receiving the scholarships." 
Students say the support from the sponsors and donors is incredible, with many saying the financial burden of tuition and books has been weighing on them as they look ahead to their future college journeys. Some students say they encourage future seniors to apply for the scholarships, saying it feels nice to have a community of support rallying behind you. 
Since its inception, the program has provided over 2,200 scholarships and invested more than $5 million into mountain students. 
To receive their scholarship, these students must finalize their plans for continued education by: 
1) Determine which college/university they will attend in the fall of 2025. 
2) Notify WYMT with their decision before the FALL semester begins. The WYMT Mountain Classic Committee will send each $1,000 scholarship to the selected college/university. 
The WYMT Mountain Classic Committee will send the scholarship check to their selected school's financial aid department in their name. 
The students will not receive a check personally. The money will go directly to their college choice. 
Any college/university listed in the program will match, and sometimes over-match, the WYMT scholarship, subject to the college/university's requirements. 
This is a "one-time" scholarship. While a school may match or exceed the scholarship, the WYMT Mountain Classic Committee fund only pays $1,000 once. 
The recipient must enroll in college by the 2026 SPRING semester to receive the WYMT Mountain Classic Scholarship. Any scholarships not used by this deadline will be returned to the WYMT Mountain Classic Scholarship Fund for the benefit of future recipients.