Independence Bank Awards More Than $140,000 In Scholarships to 72 Class of 2025 Students Across Kentucky

 

OWENSBORO, Ky. — The 2025 Independence Bank Scholarship program has awarded 72 high school seniors from across Kentucky a total of $144,400 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

Carter Crisp Hancock County High School
Kenny and Debbie Lanham 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 Martha Layne Collins High School
Shelby County Community Board $1,250

Maha Salem Shelby County 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.