Paducah Tilghman Seniors Hernandez, Holm, and LeBuhn Named Semifinalists in Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Program
Paducah Tilghman High School seniors Dana Hernandez, Lillian Holm, and Kate LeBuhn have been named semifinalists in the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Program. They are among 1,617 students who were selected from over 68,000 applicants from across the country to continue through the selection process based on their academic excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated in school and community activities. They are three of forty-six high school seniors across Kentucky selected to advance in the scholarship process.
The semifinalists will advance to the next round with 250 advancing as Regional Finalists, and 150 becoming Coca-Cola Scholars and receiving a $20,000 college scholarship. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has provided more than 6,600 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $78 million in scholarships over the course of 34 years.
Hernandez is a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, a recent Paducah Bank Teen of the Week, Editor in Chief of the Tilghman Bell Student Newspaper, freelance writer for the Paducah Life magazine for which she recently wrote a feature article on Vice President Kamala Harris, and was an attendee of the Princeton University Journalism Symposium in 2020. She is a member of Tilghman’s Varsity Soccer Team, a Student Representative on the Paducah Public Schools Racial Equity Committee, a Student Representative for Tilghman’s Student Council, and the first ever Kentucky designee R2L NextGen Student Representative on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. To initiate regular discussions among students of all colors and backgrounds, Hernandez co-founded and helps moderate Tilghman’s United Voices group. She is a Paducah Bank Teen Ambassador, member of Tilghman’s Sustainability Club, and President of both the National Honor Society and the Interact Club, with which she volunteered on a week-long service trip to El Salvador last year.
Hernandez is also an attorney for Tilghman’s Mock Trial Team, Senior Mentor for the Adventures in Math and Science program, Tilghman Student Ambassador, and a graduate of the Paducah Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD class #10. She volunteers for Lotus Children’s Advocacy & Sexual Violence Resource Center, is a member of the Broadway church of Christ Youth Group, and is a freelance makeup artist. She also manages invoicing for Hernandez Painting.
Hernandez is the daughter of Alma Lemur and Isidro Hernandez.
Holm is an AP Scholar, a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, and a graduate of the Paducah Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD class #10. She’s a member of the Tilghman Varsity Soccer Team, Pumas Futbol Club 04 Team, a volunteer and mentor for the Tilghman JV Soccer Team, as well as a volunteer for and assistant to the management of the Walter Jetton Soccer Field and associated soccer camps. Holm is a member of the National Honor Society, Tilghman’s Sustainability Club, a leader for the Tilghman Pep Club, and a Mental Health Table Discussion Leader for Loqui, a student-lead group aimed at addressing and discussing mental health issues in a safe venue. She is an employee and art teacher at MAKE Art Studio, and is a Contractor’s Assistant for Holm Contracting and Renovating. Holm volunteers at Lotus Children’s Advocacy & Sexual Violence Resource Center and creates art for the purpose of being sold at charity auctions benefiting Lotus.
Holm was named a Centre Fellow last year and has received the KHSAA First District Academic First Team Award all four years. She was also nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence by the National Academy of Future Physicians.
She is the daughter of Sarah and Kris Holm.
LeBuhn is an AP Scholar with Honor, a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, and was recently named a Paducah Bank Teen of the Week. She is currently ranked number one in her senior class. She is a member of the Tilghman Varsity Soccer Team and Varsity Tennis Team, and has been named to the All District Soccer Team and awarded the Academic All state First Team Award all four years. She also is a member of the Beverly Rogers Academy of Dance competitive troupe, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. LeBuhn is the Finance Committee Leader for the Interact Club, a leader for the Tilghman Pep Club, member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Tilghman’s Sustainability Club, and a graduate of the Paducah Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD class #10.
LeBuhn is the second chair clarinetist with the Tilghman Concert and Pep Bands and has chaired in All District and All Region Symphonic Bands. She is a former cellist for the Tilghman Orchestra and traveled to Incheon, South Korea, as a UNESCO Global Youth Orchestra member and delegate. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Youth Choir and Hand Bell Choir, and serves as a Church Acolyte and Assistant to the Clergy.
LeBuhn was recently awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award, and has been named a Centre Fellow and UK Rising Scholar. She has been awarded the University of Louisville Yarmuth Book Award and has received the annual Tilghman departmental awards in math, social studies, and science (twice received).
She is the daughter of Polly and Carl LeBuhn.
“Dana, Lily, and Kate have consistently shown that they are dedicated to both academic excellence and meaningful service to our school and community,” said Principal Allison Stieg. “We are so proud that they’ve been recognized by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation as leaders among the nation’s most accomplished and compassionate high school seniors. We at Tilghman are excited to watch their journey through Coca-Cola’s scholarship process.”
Pictured L to R: Dana Hernandez, Kate LeBuhn, and Lillian Holm