8 students receive self-reliance awards

Staff report
The Independent

ASHLAND May 01, 2008 09:51 pm

— Eight area high school students were recipients of the 53rd annual AK Steel Self-Reliance awards in a ceremony and banquet Thursday.
The winners were chosen from 16 finalists from Boyd County, Ashland Blazer, Rose Hill Christian, Russell and Fairview high schools.
The winners shared a total of $7,000 in cash prizes from the AK Steel Self-Reliance Scholarship Fund of the Foundation for the Tri-State Community Inc.
The students are evaluated on how they use their time in high school, said Terry Elliott, chairman of the AK Steel Self-Reliance Committee. The committee reviews academic records, community involvement, employment and church and school activities.
First-place winners were Michael Alvin Ross Miller of Fairview, son of Gail Sue Miller, and Hannah Sue Maloy of Boyd County, daughter of Kevin and Debra Maloy. Each received $1,250.
Second-place winners were Scott Alexander Tatman of Ashland Blazer, son of Scott and Laura Tatman, and Hannah Nicole Sloan of Ashland Blazer, daughter of David K. and Anne M. Sloan. They each got $1,000.
Third-place winners were Cody Allen Ison of Boyd County, son of Greg and Deborah Ison, and Emily Kirsten Greene of Ashland Blazer, daughter of John and Eugeni Greene. Their award was $750.
Fourth-place winners were Zachary Todd Virgin of Russell, son of Todd and Tiffany Virgin, and Gonnevieve Andrea Stamper of Fairview, daughter of Melitza Lyaneth Stephens. Each received $500.
The awards program is administered by the Ashland Breakfast Kiwanis Club.
The program was started in 1955 by W.W. Sebald, when he was president of the company, known at the time as Armco Steel.
Sebald said he wanted to encourage leadership in young people because he had been encouraged himself in his ascendancy to president from office boy.