by Alexis Barrett, Melanie Antonitis, Jaden Sanders
The Paducah Sun
October 4, 2025
Used with permission.
Good grades can take you far. In this case, literally — Paducah Tilghman High School is again partnering with the nonprofit Hands of Hope, offering students a chance to win a new car.
The nonprofit’s Road to Excellence program aims to bring students back to school basics like being present in class, prioritizing good behavior and working toward good grades.
Throughout the school year, students can earn up to five tickets per category for attendance excellence, behavioral excellence and academic excellence. Every month there are three random drawings for prizes donated by local businesses.
The grand prize drawing for a car is held at the end of the school year.
“We wanted to find a way to involve the community more with the school, and to bring back the importance of being present in school,” said Kimberly Yates, executive director of Hands for Hope and founder of the Road to Excellence program.
The program aims to not just reward strong grades, but to encourage improvement.
“We don’t mean all A’s — we mean if you make Cs and you move up to Bs, those are good grades,” Yates said. “You’re putting forth the effort.”
High school senior D.J. Wilson won the Road to Excellence Car Giveaway program last year. He highlighted the financial relief the new car provided for his family and the independence he now enjoys with a car of his own.
“It felt great because, you know, that’s less money my parents got to spend…for me getting a new car,” Wilson said. “It’s just great for me, you know, going to practice, if I need something to eat, and I don’t need my parents…‘Hey, I need a ride,’ you know? But now I’ve got my own car.”
He emphasized the role he now has in setting a positive example for younger students and being a role model at Tilghman.
“I got freshmen, you know, sophomores looking up to me, but…I can set an example for them,” Wilson said. “I really want to be looked up to, you know, just for anything, you know, winning a car or like, sports…It feels great when somebody is like, ‘Hey, I like that person. I want to be like him.’ ”
“From the moment that I heard his name, it’s been nothing but good things — well deserved win there. A good student, he’s an athlete, he’s well liked among his peers, [and he has a] great attitude. I mean, it couldn’t have been a better person to win, and that’s what this program is about,” Yates said.
As a Tilghman alumna herself, Yates expressed pride at the ability to give back to the school and promote good habits in students. She encourages anyone interested to donate to the cause.
“We’re always looking for donors or sponsors. If you’re interested, reach out,” she said. “We’re accomplishing what we set out to do, getting the community involved with the school, and this is going to be here for a long time.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the Road to Excellence program can contact Paducah Tilghman High School at 270-444-5600 or donate to Hands of Hope via Venmo at @HandsofHope41, Cash App at $HandsofHope2024 or by mailing a check to Hands of Hope, 428 Hilldale Road, Paducah, KY 42001.