Independence Bank Awards More Than $135,000 In Scholarships to 71 Class of 2025 Students Across Kentucky
OWENSBORO, Ky. — The 2025 Independence Bank Scholarship program has awarded 71 high school seniors from across Kentucky a total of $139,400 in scholarships to help them continue their academic journeys.
All recipients were honored at a special in-person reception held at Independence Bank’s Frederica Street location in Owensboro. The event brought together students, families and Bank leadership to recognize the accomplishments of the class of 2025.
“Our goal has always been to invest in more than just education—we’re investing in people,” said Lauren Patton, Bank Charitable Foundation Manager. “These students have shown us their determination and grit, and it’s a privilege to celebrate this moment with them and their families.”
More than 460 applications were received from across the Bank’s 15-county footprint, showcasing a wide variety of student achievements and community contributions. Awards ranged from $500 to $15,000, with ten recipients earning scholarships of $5,000 or more.
“We’re proud to play a role in helping these students take that next step,” said Phil Riney, President of Independence Bank. “These recipients are thoughtful, driven and deeply committed to making a difference—and that gives us great confidence in the future of our communities.”
Since its inception in 2001, the Independence Bank Scholarship Program has awarded nearly $2 million to deserving high school seniors. It was the vision of the late Charles A. Reid, a founding partner of Independence Bank and father of current Chairman Chris Reid. Before his passing, Charles expressed a deep desire to create a scholarship fund to support students who otherwise might not be able to attend college. His legacy continues today, through the expansion and evolution of the program that also involves employees of the bank in many ways each year.
“The impact of this program is felt and seen year after year,” Bank CEO Greg Mullican reflected. “We’ve met students who go on to lead, serve and uplift the very towns they grew up in. That kind of full-circle impact is what community banking is all about.”
Applicants were selected through a comprehensive review process that evaluates academic excellence, financial need, extracurricular involvement, community service and personal essays.
As Independence Bank continues to grow across the Commonwealth, so does its investment in education, leadership and charitable giving.
“Each scholarship is more than just a financial backing,” Patton added. “It’s a vote of confidence in the dreams of a student—and we’re proud to always be part of their unfolding story.”
Top Winners
Matthew King McCracken County High School
Charles A. Reid Scholarship $15,000
Tyranda Stuart Owensboro Catholic High School
Marjorie Reid Scholarship $10,000
Kennedy Warren Webster County High School
John Thacker Scholarship $10,000
Lukas Humphrey Daviess County High School
Chairman’s Scholarship $5,000
Lucy Spaw Daviess County High School
Chairman’s Scholarship $5,000
Andrew Dennison Owensboro High School
Chairman’s Scholarship $5,000
Ryan Loairs Greenwood High School
Guy Reisz Scholarship $5,000
Abbigal Powers Owensboro Catholic High School
Maurice Reisz Scholarship $5,000
Caroline Mattingly Crossroads Christian Academy (Murray)
Ag Scholarship $5,000
Carson Carter Apollo High School
Ernie and Lou Davis Scholarship $5,000
Charles A. Reid Finalists
Matthew King McCracken County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Katherine McCain Daviess County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Caylee Bufkin Murray High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Aaliyah Cash Graves County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Hope Calhoun Madisonville-North Hopkins High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Emma Garner Martha Layne Collins High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Bradyn Dean Lafayette High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Vinson Embry Henderson County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Aiden Stathers Bowling Green High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Jayron Jefferson Logan County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Brianna Abney McLean County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Katie Kruger Hancock County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Sara Welshans Webster County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Ellie Bevington Franklin County High School
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Alexis Loveless Sacred Heart Academy
Charles A. Reid Finalist $500
Full List of 2025 Scholarship Winners By County
Calloway County
Caylee Bufkin Murray High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,500
Bella Karns Murray High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,000
Ezra Foote Calloway County High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,000
Jordan Coles Calloway County High School
Calloway County Community Board $2,000
Aubrey Settle Murray High School
Calloway County Community Board $1,000
Daviess County
Jacob Hammen Daviess County High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Drew Crandall Owensboro High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Alexia Latham Apollo High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Lillian Coombs Daviess County High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Madison Rowland Daviess County High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Patrick Hauke Owensboro Catholic High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Kaden Blankenship Owensboro High School
Daviess County Community Board $500
Fayette County
Bradyn Dean Lafayette High School
Fayette County Community Board $1,250
Logan Fett Lafayette High School
Fayette County Community Board $1,200
Carter Overtoom Frederick Douglass High School
Fayette County Community Board $1,200
Franklin County
Ellie Bevington Franklin County High School
Franklin County Community Board $500
Ava Hedden Frankfort High School
Franklin County Community Board $500
Claudia Logan Franklin County High School
Franklin County Community Board $500
Varshitha Ramesh Western Hills High School
Franklin County Community Board $500
Graves County
Aaliyah Cash Graves County High School
Graves County Community Board $1,000
Amelia Williams Graves County High School
Graves County Community Board $1,000
Avery Sullivan Mayfield High School
Graves County Community Board $1,000
Olivia Smith Mayfield High School
James R. Cash Memorial Scholarship $1,000
Owen Webb Mayfield High School
James R. Cash Memorial Scholarship $1,000
Jayda Wright Graves County High School
James R. Cash Memorial Scholarship $1,000
James Waller Graves County High School
Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship $1,000
Ian Williams Mayfield High School
Danny Flood Memorial Scholarship $1,000
Aidan Cope Graves County High School
Graves County Trade Scholarship $2,750
Hancock County
Katie Kruger Hancock County High School
Hancock County Community Board $1,800
Henderson County
Braxton Stauffer Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $2,000
Vinson Embry Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $1,500
Lydia Burnette Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $750
Marquise Spann Henderson County High School
Henderson County Community Board $750
Lydia Burnette Henderson County High School
JL Beasley AG Memorial Scholarship $500
Hopkins County
Hope Calhoun Madisonville-North Hopkins High School
Hopkins County Community Board $500
Albany Ray Madisonville North Hopkins High School
Hopkins County Community Board $1,000
Za’Nya Wilson Madisonville North Hopkins High School
Hopkins County Community Board $500
Mattie Reynolds Hopkins County Central High School
Danny Peyton Scholarship $1,750
Hailey Holmes Madisonville-North Hopkins High School
Danny Peyton Scholarship $1,750
Jefferson County
Alexis Loveless Sacred Heart Academy
Jefferson County Community Board $500
Lily Sumner Mercy Academy
Jefferson County Community Board $500
Jordan Pate Assumption High School
Jefferson County Community Board $1,000
Kendra Quaye-Mansell Fern Creek High School
Jefferson County Community Board $1,000
Ting Chen Fern Creek High School
Jefferson County Community Board $500
William Hammer Trinity High School
Jefferson County Community Board $500
Lily Sumner Mercy Academy
Doe Anderson Business Scholarship $500
Logan County
Jayron Jefferson Logan County High School
Logan County Community Board $2,000
McCracken County
Landon Willett St. Mary High School
McCracken County Community Board $3,000
Waverly Watson McCracken County High School
McCracken County Community Board $1,500
Riley Clevidence McCracken County High School
McCracken County Community Board $1,500
McLean County
Brianna Abney McLean County High School
McLean County Community Board $1,000
Trinity Holmes McLean County High School
McLean County Community Board $500
Shelby County
Emma Garner Martha Layne Collins High School
Shelby County Community Board $500
Elizabeth England Shelby County High School
Shelby County Community Board $1,250
Maha Salem Collins High School
Shelby County Community Board $1,250
Warren County
Aiden Stathers Bowling Green High School
Warren County Community Board $500
Neely Clark Foundation Christian Academy
Warren County Community Board $500
Hope Bush Greenwood High School
Warren County Community Board $500
Sadiki Asumani South Warren High School
Warren County Community Board $500
Shivam Mishra Bowling Green High School
Warren County Community Board $500
Karlie Carroll Warren East High School
Warren County Community Board $500
Webster County
Sara Welshans Webster County High School
Webster County Community Board $2,700
Additional Scholarship Information
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 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. 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.