Independence Bank Scholarships Top $1 Million

These latest awards bring the total amount of scholarships funded by the bank since the inception of the program to $1,085,300.

The program began in 2001 as a dream of the late Charles A. Reid, founding partner and father of current CEO Chris Reid. Before his death, Charles requested that the scholarship program be built to provide an opportunity for deserving high school students in need to have the opportunity to receive a college education.

"My father loved the thought of the American dream, and with that, he knew he had to go to college. But there was no scholarships to be had when he graduated from high school," said Chris Reid, CEO. "So he joined the Navy to get the GI bill to pay for his college education and at 17-years-old he was sent to Korea during the Korean War. It was his dream to be able to provide students like himself who wanted to make the world a better place with the opportunity to get a college education, no matter their circumstances. And I know if he were here today, he would be so proud of what our scholarship program has accomplished."

The very first scholarship given was in the amount of $10,000. Since then, over $1 million has been awarded to high school seniors to help make their dreams of a college education come true. Applicants are judged based on a submitted essay, high school grades, ACT scores, financial need, extracurricular activities, community involvement and personal interviews. The Independence Bank Scholarship program is comprised of over 50 scholarships that applicants are eligible to receive based on specified criteria; many honoring the founding partners of Independence Bank and their families.

In addition, Independence Bank’s Community Board members fund scholarships that are awarded to a student in their individual markets and the recipients are chosen by the members of the local board.

For the 2019 year, scholarships were awarded to the following students:

CHARLES A REID SCHOLARSHIP - $15,000

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 President. His wish was to develop a scholarship program so that students could continue their pursuit of a higher education, something he placed the utmost importance on. A finalist is chosen from each market that Independence Bank serves and those finalists each receive $1,000. One winner is selected based on an interview process and receives $15,000.

WINNER:

Abigail Mitchell, Hopkins County Central High School

FINALISTS:

ELIZABETH HILLBRECHT, Murray High School

SAVANNAH GATTON, Owensboro High School

ZACHARY CECIL, Owensboro Catholic High School

BENNETT TATE, Franklin County High School

ELIZABETH ABREY, Mayfield High School

TYLER WALZ, Hancock County High School

RILEY LOVELL, Henderson County High School

ABIGAIL MITCHELL, Hopkins Country Central High School

MATTHEW KNERR, McCracken County High School and Gatton Academy

KATIE MILLER, McLean County High School

ANNA SWEETS, South Warren High School

RYLEI ROY, Webster County High School

EMILY MERRILL, Homeschooled, Louisville

MARJORIE REID SCHOLARSHIP

Marjorie Reid is the wife of the late Charles A. Reid, and was one of the founding partners of Independence Bank. Mrs. Reid 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.

TAYLOR GARRISON, Calloway County High School, daughter of Matt Garrison,
Loan Officer, Murray - $10,000

JACOB MILLER, McLean County High School, son of Derek Miller, McLean
County Community Board member - $5,000

AG SCHOLARSHIP - $5,000

ALYSSA TROMBETTI, Calloway County High School

REVOLUTIONARY SCHOLARSHIP - $2,500

GENAROSE JONES, Owensboro Catholic High School

RYAN MONTGOMERY, Jeffersontown High School

FAITH PORTER, Daviess County High School

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.

ELIZABETH ABREU, Mayfield High School, Graves County Community Board
Scholarship - $750

NOAH BALDWIN, McLean County High School, McLean County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,050

ASIA BLANTON, Murray High School, Calloway County Board Scholarship -
$1,000

ZACH CECIL, Owensboro Catholic High School, Daviess County Community
Board Scholarship - $2,000

DANIMARIE CRUZ, Madisonville North Hopkins High School, Hopkins County
Community Board Scholarship - $1,500

MIKAYLA DEES, Webster County High School, Webster County Community Board
Scholarship - $500

HANNAH DOYEL, Warren Central High School, Warren County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,500

FAITH ELDER, Graves County High School, Graves County Community Board
Scholarship - $750

MADELYN GARRETT, Madisonville North Hopkins High School, Hopkins County
Community Board Scholarship - $1,500

SAVANNAH GATTON, Owensboro High School, Daviess County Community Board
Scholarship - $2,000

ALYSSA GORMAN, Eastern High School, Jefferson County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,250

EMILY HALEMAN, Owensboro Catholic High School, Daviess County Community
Board Scholarship - $1,800

TREYSON HAWS, McCracken County High School, McCracken County Community
Board Scholarship - $500

ELIZABETH HILBRECHT, Murray High School, Calloway County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,000

CHLOE ISTRE, Portland Christian School, Jefferson County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,250

DANIEL GONZALEZ, Webster County High School, Webster County Community
Board Scholarships - $500

KYLIE JONES, Calloway County High School, Calloway County Board
Scholarship - $1,000

MATTHEW KNERR, Gatton Academy, McCracken County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,200

Chloe Lovins, Murray High School, Calloway County Board Scholarship -
$1,000

JULIA MARTINEZ, Western Hills High School, Franklin County Community
Board Scholarship - $1,300

KENT’TREY MATTHEWS, Mayfield High School, Graves County Community
Board Scholarship - $750

KATIE MILLER, McLean County High School, McLean County Community Board -
$500

CORRINE MOBLEY, Greenwood High School, Warren County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,500

TITUS MOODY, Webster County High School, Webster County Community Board
Scholarship - $500

CURTIS ORR, Calloway County High School, Calloway County Board
Scholarship - $1,000

TREVOR PAYNE, Apollo High School, Daviess County Community Board
Scholarship - $1,800

HALEY PERRY, Graves County High School, Graves County Community Board
Scholarship - $750

GRACE RABER, Paducah Tilghman High School, McCracken County Community
Board Scholarship - $1,000

ANNA SWEETS, South Warren High School, Community Board Scholarship -
$1,000

TYLER WALZ, Hancock County High School, Hancock County Community Board
Scholarship - $2,400

RYLEE WARFORD, Webster County High School, Webster County Community
Board Scholarship, $500

HAILEY WATSON, Calloway County High School, Calloway County Board
Scholarship - $2,000

JACOB WORKINS, Henderson County High School, Henderson County Community
Board Scholarship - $2,000

CHAIRMAN'S SCHOLARSHIP - $5,000

The recipient of the Chairman's scholarship is selected from the 13
finalists who interviewed for the Charles A. Reid Scholarship.

TYLER WALZ, Hancock County High School

ALIEENE REISZ SCHOLARSHIP - $2,500

MAGGIE VINCENT, Henderson County High School

RYLEE WARFORD, Webster County High School

MAURICE REISZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - $10,000

Maurice E. Reisz was a co-founder of Independence Bank and served as a 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.

OLIVIA UTLEY, Webster County High School

GUY REISZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - $10,000

Guy Reisz served as an Independence Bank board of director and this scholarship was intended for a student attending Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro.

HAILEY NEAL, McLean County High School

DEREK HART MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - $1,000

This scholarship is funded by Danny and Melva Hart of Hickory, KY in memory of their son. The scholarship is awarded to a Graves County student with hopes of returning to the family farm.

RYAN MATHIS, Graves County High School

Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship

CARSON GUTHRIE, Mayfield High School - $500

CONNOR GUTHRIE, Mayfield High School - $500

RYAN MATHIS, Graves County High School - $1,000

DANNY PEYTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - $1,500

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.

MEGAN RIDEOUT, Hopkins County Central High School

SARAH RUSS, Hopkins County Central High School

LANHAM FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP- $3,000

This scholarship is funded by John and Wanda Lanham, Tony and Sandy Lanham, and Kenny and Debbie Lanham. The Lanham Family have been blessed to be involved in various businesses for over 35 years, so the scholarship is intended for a student pursuing a business major.

CHARLES WEST, St. Mary School System

ERNIE AND MARTINE DAVIS - $3,000

Ernie Davis has been a member of our Board of Directors for 20 years. He is co-owner of Ernie Davis & Sons and serves as the Bank's building chairman. Ernie wanted to be a part of the Independence Bank Scholarship Program because "Ernie Davis and Sons," a company which was founded by his parents, wanted to give back to the community that has supported them over the years. The scholarship is in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Davis.

EMILY MERRILL, HOMESCHOOLED, LOUISVILLE

For more information contact Kayla Altman at Kaltman@1776bank.com.