Paducah Tilghman High School senior Angelique Hernandez has been named a finalist in the 2026 Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Scholar Program. Angelique was selected from a pool of 56,652 applicants. Selection is based on academic achievement, personal strengths, leadership, and extracurricular accomplishment.
The HSF Scholar Program is open to students of all races who identify as being of Hispanic heritage. Its mission is to empower students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships. HSF awards $30 million in scholarships annually, with more than $756 million allocated since its inception in 1975.
Angelique was recently named a Candidate in the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. She is an AP Scholar and graduate of the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts (in visual arts) and the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD program. Her oil paintings have received state-wide awards the past two years at the KyAEA All-State Purchase/Pennyrile Regional High School Art Exhibition. She has had numerous pieces selected for the annual Yeiser Art Center regional Teen Spirit exhibit and competition and has had her pieces selected for exhibit at local art venues and coffeehouses. She was recently voted “Most Artistic” by her senior class.
She was selected as one of two students to be a Junior Board Member for Paducah Public Schools. She is President of Tilghman’s National Honor Society and PT PageTurners Club, and is a member of the Interact Club and the Upward Bound Math and Science Program TRIO. She has been 1st Chair Bass (and Virtuoso Grand Master Award recipient) in Tilghman’s Orchestra all four years as well as 1st Chair Bassist in the Paducah Symphony Orchestra Honor Strings Academy, and was selected as bassist for the Quad-State Strings Orchestra. She’s also a member of the African American Leadership Club, a student ambassador for Paducah Bank, and is a PTHS Student Ambassador. She’s a four-year varsity soccer player, a member of the Pumas traveling team, and has been a state qualifier in cross country and track. She has many hours of volunteering at our community agencies, and traveled to El Salvador as the translator for our school Interact Club. She’s a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church of Paducah.
Angelique’s parents are Alma Lemuz and Isidro Hernandez.