Paducah Tilghman High School juniors Kilee Minter and Sade’a Shackelford have been named Dr. Carter G. Woodson Legacy Scholars at Berea College.
Berea College’s prestigious Dr. Carter G. Woodson Legacy Scholarship and Award honors outstanding high school juniors who embody Dr. Woodson’s spirit in the areas of academic excellence, civic engagement, and community service. The designation comes with an annual scholarship to Berea College.
Dr. Carter Goodwin Woodson, known worldwide as the “Father of Black History,” is a Berea College graduate and was the second African American to earn a doctorate degree from Harvard University. He was the first to develop the field of African American studies and created Black History Month. His legacy exemplifies Berea’s centuries-old commitment to interracial education.
Sade’a is a member of Tilghman’s marching, concert, and pep bands and currently is first chair bass clarinet. She competes with the Archery program (since elementary school), and is active in the African American Leadership Club, B.A.B.E.S, Upward Bound, her church, and with leadership and volunteering in the community with ROTC. She’s employed by Bargain Hunt and has been working as a DJ since she was 13 years old. She’s very skilled with digital and graphic arts and is eyeing computer science for her future career. Her art was recently featured at Paducah City Hall during Black History Month. She was the recipient last year of the Daughters of the American Revolution Youth Citizenship Medal and has received several ROTC ribbons and regional awards for her service. Sade’a is the daughter of Cornell Shackelford and the late Crystal Shackelford.
Kilee was one of five Tilghman juniors who were selected by the McCracken County Community Career Endowment as a participant in Class 13 of the Paxton Scholars Program. She’s third chair trumpet in Tilghman’s marching and concert bands and recently received a distinguished rating at the KMEA Solo & Ensemble Assessment for a trumpet duet. She’s a graduate of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD class #12 and was the recipient of the Tilghman Student of the Month award her sophomore year. Kilee is a member of the Tilghman Chess Team and Beta Club, and is employed at Pizza Inn. She has volunteered for the United Way of Western Kentucky, Salvation Army, and was a story teller to Morgan Elementary School students for a special Black History Month Presentation earlier this year. Kilee is the daughter of Traci Thomasson and Kearee Minter.
Congratulations, Kilee and Sade’a!
Pictured: Sade’a Shackelford (L) and Kilee Minter (R)