The Owensboro Times
Features
By Ryan Richardson
April 24, 2024 | 12:11 am
Updated April 24, 2024 | 12:11 am
Photo from Independence Bank
Independence Bank on Tuesday awarded approximately $130,000 in scholarships to 70 students across the area. Of that total, nearly $28,000 went to nine students across three schools in Daviess County. 
For the first time since 2019, the financial institution’s annual scholarship reception returned to an in-person gathering hosted at the bank’s location on Frederica Street.
“For many years, it brought us so much joy to host a centralized ceremony,” Charitable Foundation Manager Lauren Patton explained. “Like many other organizations, we had to temporarily pivot to a virtual setup. We see this as a great opportunity to revive the format. We’re elated to welcome these students and their loved ones back to the Bank for this celebratory reception.”
A total of 430 applications were received this year across the bank’s 15-county footprint. Selected students receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $15,000. Applicants are judged based on a submitted essay, high school grades, ACT scores, financial need, extracurricular activities, community involvement and personal interviews.
“We greatly appreciate every student who took time to share their story with us through submitting an application,” President Phil Riney shared. “As our Bank has grown into more counties across Kentucky, it has allowed us to get involved in more schools and assist additional students. Our employees are very involved in the review process and have been impressed with this year’s applicants. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for these students and our scholarship program.”
The Independence Bank Scholarship Program began in 2001 as a dream of the late Charles A. Reid, founding partner and the father of current Chairman Chris Reid. Before his death in 2001, Charles requested a scholarship program be built — providing deserving high school students in need to have the opportunity to receive a college education. The first scholarship was in the amount of $10,000. Since then, a grand total exceeding $1.8 million dollars has been awarded.
The list of winners, as provided by Independence Bank, is as follows:
Noah Yarbrough Mayfield High School
Charles A. Reid Scholarship $15,000
Whit Searcy McLean County High School
Marjorie Reid Scholarship $10,000
Lilith Buckman Henderson County High School
John Thacker Scholarship $10,000
Spencer Harris Owensboro Catholic High School
Chairman’s Scholarship $10,000
Kennedy Murphy Owensboro Catholic High School
Chairman’s Scholarship $5,000
Michael Chaney Apollo High School
Guy Reisz Scholarship $5,000
Rachel Lowe Community Christian Academy
Maurice Reisz Scholarship $5,000
Eli Blair Owensboro Catholic High School
Ag Scholarship $5,000
Brook Thomas Murray High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Elle Brey Owensboro Catholic High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Peyton Prichard Lafayette Senior High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Jaleia Hatchett Frankfort High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Noah Yarbrough Mayfield High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Alexis Gay Hancock County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Carter Lawrence Henderson County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Devon Carlton Madisonville North Hopkins High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Elizabeth Mobley DuPont Manual High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Brennan Christmas Logan County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Aubrey Hill McCracken County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Brayson Smith McLean County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Thomas Karcher Jr Shelby County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Ayden Barrick Warren East High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Evan Michalek Webster County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Calloway County
Karsyn Tucker Calloway County High School Calloway County
Community Board $1,000
Robert Stom Calloway County High School Calloway County
Community Board $1,000
Reed Falwell Murray High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,000
Clayton Bazzell Murray High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,000
Brook Thomas Murray High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,750
Sayde Lowe Calloway County High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,000
Daviess County
Mursal Nazari Apollo High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Jenna Quinn Apollo High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Alexander Carpenter Owensboro High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Justin Combs Owensboro High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Fayette County
Peyton Pritchard Lafayette Senior High School
Fayette County Community Board $900
Avery Gabbard Henry Clay High School
Fayette County Community Board $1,400
Franklin County
Jaleia Hatchett Frankfort High School
Franklin County Community Board $1,000
Zachary Perry Franklin County High School
Franklin County Community Board $850
Graves County
Addison Sullivan Mayfield High School
Graves County Community Board $750
Dylan Thompson Graves County High School
Graves County Community Board $750
Noah Yarbrough Mayfield High School
Graves County Community Board $800
Jillian Newsome Graves County High School
James R. Cash Memorial Scholarship $1,000
Terry Madding Graves County High School
James R. Cash Memorial Scholarship $1,000
Anna Davis Graves County High School
James R. Cash Memorial Scholarship $1,000
Jillian Newsome Graves County High School
Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship $500
Landon Kemp Mayfield High School
Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship $500
Zane Cartwright Mayfield High School
Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship $500
Elizabeth Woods Graves County High School
Derek Hart Scholarship $1,000
Jacylin Shelton Graves County High School
Derek Hart Scholarship $1,000
Emily Lee Graves County High School
Derek Hart Scholarship $1,000
Hancock County
Alexis Gay Hancock County High School
Hancock County Community Board $2,100
Henderson County
Carter Lawrence Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $2,000
Chloe Sheffer Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $1,000
Lillith Buckman Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $1,000
Brooklyn Burris Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $1,000
Lorelei Duncan Henderson County High School
JL Beasley AG Memorial Scholarship $500
Hopkins County
Tyrone Hopson Hopkins County Central High School
Hopkins County Community Board $1,500
Devon Carlton Madisonville North Hopkins High School
Hopkins County Community Board $1,500
Kenneth Brown Madisonville North Hopkins High School
Danny Peyton Scholarship $1,750
Jordon Giffin Hopkins County Central High School
Danny Peyton Scholarship $1,750
Jefferson County
Elizabeth Mobley DuPont Manual High School
Jefferson County Community Board $500
Audrey Martinez Fairdale High School
Jefferson County Community Board $1,000
Ryley Hendrick Assumption High School
Jefferson County Community Board $1,000
Josephine McRae Assumption High School
Jefferson County Community Board $1,000
Grace Merrill Home School
Jefferson County Community Board $500
Addison Littlefield Assumption High School
Doe Anderson Scholarship $500
Logan County
Brennan Christmas Logan County High School
Logan County Community Board $2,000
McCracken County
Margaret Kitchen McCracken County High School
McCracken County Community Board $1,000
Cameron McDowell McCracken County High School
McCracken County Community Board $1,000
Taylor Boone McCracken County High School
McCracken County Community Board $1,000
Aubrey Hill McCracken County High School
McCracken County Community Board $1,000
Rachel Lowe Community Christian Academy
McCracken County Community Board $1,000
Owen Cody McCracken County High School
McCracken County Community Board $1,000
McLean County
Laney Colburn McLean County High School
McLean County Community Board $500
Chloe Case McLean County High School
McLean County Community Board $500
Shelby County
Thomas Karcher, Jr Shelby County High School
Shelby County Community Board $1,000
Keenan Brangers Shelby County High School
Shelby County Community Board $1,000
Cameryn McCann Collins High School
Shelby County Community Board $1,000
Warren County
Abigail May Bowling Green High School
Warren County Community Board $550
Elle Sells Greenwood High School
Warren County Community Board $550
Hannah Rains South Warren High School
Warren County Community Board $550
Caraline Cordell Warren East High School
Warren County Community Board $550
Evalynn Veith Gatton Academy
Warren County Community Board $550
Webster County
Evan Michalek Webster County High School
Webster County Community Board $500
Courtney Blackwell Webster County High School
Webster County Community Board $500
Kyla Plowman Webster County High School
Webster County Community Board $500
Erika Noffsinger Webster County High School
Webster County Community Board $500
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.
Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship
The Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship, in Graves County, is funded partially by proceeds from the Independence Bank tractor drive and Danny’s daughter, Jennifer Hawkins and family. Danny was a long-time farmer and owner of Ford-Richardson Case – IH farm equipment dealership.
James R. Cash Scholarship
The James R. Cash Auction Company Scholarship is funded by the family of the late James R. Cash, Sr.
JL Beasley Ag Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing a career in ag in honor of JL Beasley and his family farming operation. The scholarship is funded by the family of JL Beasley.
Danny Peyton Memorial Scholarship
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.
Charles A. Reid Scholarship
The Charles A. Reid Scholarship is the original scholarship that started the Independence Bank program in 2001. It is given in honor of Charles A. Reid, former Independence Bank Founder, CEO, and President. A finalist is chosen from each market that Independence Bank serves and those finalists each receive a $500 scholarship.
Chairman’s Scholarship
The recipient of the Chairman’s Scholarship is selected from the finalists who interviewed for the Charles A. Reid Scholarship.
Agriculture Scholarship
Independence Bank is one of the top ag lending institutions in the state. It’s only natural that we offer a $5,000 scholarship to a student who is pursuing an ag-related degree.
Guy Reisz Memorial Scholarship
Guy Reisz served as an Independence Bank Board of Director and this scholarship was intended for a student attending Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro. Guy’s sister, Gail Reisz Branch, provides this scholarship to honor her brother’s love for Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Maurice Reisz Memorial Scholarship
Maurice E. Reisz was a co-founder of Independence Bank and served as the 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. Reisz’ daughter, Gail Reisz Branch, provides this scholarship in honor of her father and his passion.
Marjorie Reid Scholarship
Marjorie Reid is the wife of the late Charles A. Reid, and CEO Chris Reid’s mother, and is one of the founding partners of Independence Bank. She 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.
April 24, 2024 | 12:11 am
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