(Feb. 21, 2026) Cayden Hancock, a senior at Paducah Tilghman High School, was selected as one of four Kentucky students to be awarded a First Degree Scholarship from the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA).
Hancock received the scholarship during a presentation at KSBA’s 2026 Annual Conference held Feb. 20-22 at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville.
He is involved with Hub Club, esports and church activities. Hancock plans to attend Western Kentucky University where he plans to study meteorology.
“Firstly, I'm thankful for God and blessed for this scholarship and opportunity that I'm in,” he said. “Also, I'm very thankful for KSBA for presenting me with this scholarship and helping me become one step closer in achieving my dreams.”
Each year, four $2,500 scholarship recipients (two female students and two male students) are drawn at random by KSBA’s board of directors from a pool of eligible applicants. In addition to certain academic criteria, eligible scholarship applicants must be the first members of their immediate families to receive a degree from a postsecondary institution.
Eligibility must be affirmed and signed by the high school guidance counselor and the school district’s board chairperson and superintendent. Scholarships are paid directly to the designated institutions of higher education upon the recipients’ official admission acceptance. All of Kentucky’s 171 local boards of education many put forth the names of up to two eligible students – one male, one female – to be entered into the scholarship drawing each year.
“The presentation of these scholarships to deserving Kentucky high school students is a time-honored annual conference tradition,” said KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling. “The scholarships would not be possible without the continued support of our members, partners and our sponsors. We are grateful for their generosity.”
This year marked the 15th anniversary of the First Degree Scholarship program’s launch. In addition to KSBA’s four annual college scholarships, KSBA also announced its 2026 class of Career and Technical Education (CTE) scholarship winners. Fifty-five students will receive $250 to cover the cost of the final assessments required prior to receiving CTE industry certification.
“Kentucky has long been at the forefront of career and technical education, and demand for a qualified workforce has skyrocketed in many sectors,” Schelling said. “Districts have found innovative ways to ensure students can go the distance in fields such as computer science, agriculture, pre-nursing, welding, media arts, industrial maintenance, family and consumer sciences, culinary arts, automotive repair, law enforcement, aviation – the list goes on.”
For more information about the First Degree Scholarship program and the KSBA Educational Foundation, visit KSBAEF.org.
KSBA’s 2026 First Degree college scholarships were sponsored by American Fidelity Educational Services and Houchens Insurance Group Education.
Photo attachment: Pictured (from left): KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling, KSBA President Pamela Morehead, Paducah Tilghman High School senior Cayden Hancock, and American Fidelity Educational Services representatives Kate Mathis and Leah Major.