Kentucky Kernel (@kentuckykernel) • Instagram photos and videos
As the first official week of events wrapped up, Keeneland hosted College Scholarship Day, welcoming college students from across the state for a day of community and prizes.
Held on Friday, April 11, the event offered free admission for all full-time college students. Each admitted student was entered into a raffle for a total of $40,000 in scholarships provided by Keeneland.
A $2,000 scholarship was announced after each of the 10 races and two $10,000 scholarships were given after the fifth race.
Transylvania University sophomore business management major, Maggie Simmons, won the $10,000 scholarship from Keeneland, and said she was shocked to receive the call that she had won the prize.
“Never in a million years would I think that I would have got to get a scholarship with so many people coming here,” Simmons said. “I did not know it would even be $10,000.”
Simmons said she initially didn’t plan on attending College Scholarship Day, but due to class cancellations she was able to attend at the last minute, saying she was “forever grateful” she did.
Growing up with an identical twin sister, Simmons said paying for college was “extremely difficult” for her parents, saying getting the scholarship would make life much easier and guarantee she and her sister could graduate without severe debt.
Simmons said earning the scholarship changed her life, saying it was amazing Keeneland “is willing to invest in kids’ futures and change their lives.”
“I think it’s great that the community is able to and wants to do that (give scholarships) and I think that they have amazing hearts and I’m just so grateful that it (the scholarship) could end up going to anyone,” Simmons said. “But honestly, I don’t know what I did to deserve it.”
According to Simmons, although winning the scholarship was an added bonus, College Scholarship Day gave her a positive outlook on life she would never forget.
“I think it gives a lot of students hope and just a positive outlook on the world,” Simmons said. “It shows students that people are willing to help you, so you might as well take the risk.”
University of Kentucky sophomore integrated strategic communication major, Laurel Anstine, said she came to College Scholarship Day to experience Keeneland with her friends and the Keeneland community, saying she also hoped to win a scholarship.
“I see so many girls in different sororities or my classes that I know of but wouldn’t regularly see and I feel like when you see someone you know, you say hi, even if you barely know them,” Anstine said. “ I think that’s just such a great thing about Keeneland.”
According to Anstine, her favorite part of College Scholarship Day was that Keeneland is willing to give back to the community through scholarships.
Anstine said she never believed anyone won the scholarships given on scholarship day until last year when a girl in her sorority won.
“I feel like, at first, some of these things feel kind of intangible,” Anstine said. “But then when you see someone you actually know get such a cool opportunity . . . it feels tangible.”
According to Anstine, the $10,000 scholarship would be “life-changing. Anstine said her mom currently pays for her education on her own, saying winning the scholarship would benefit not only herself but also her mom.
“I would be able to give back just by taking a little bit of weight off her shoulders,” Anstine said.
UK junior community and leadership development major Zoey Ortega said College Scholarship Day was a nice “breather” from her busy schedule.
According to Ortega, having the opportunity to get off campus and experience Keeneland was like “no other.”
Ortega said the experience was amazing and the scholarship would lift a burden off her busy schedule, saying if she won the scholarship, she would no longer have to work nearly every day of the week while being a full-time student.
Ortega said she feels fortunate that a day like College Scholarship Day exists because it is important for communities to give back to their students and future.
“I think what’s really cool about UK is its location and how much students can be involved in the community,” Ortega said. “So just feeling like it’s a two-way street is pretty supportive and it feels good.”
Georgetown College junior finance major, Jackson Raaf, said College Scholarship Day benefits Lexington’s economy by encouraging the next generation to give back.
“The more they pour into the youth . . . the more they can continue that cycle and pour money back into people younger than us now,” Raaf said.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
