Paducah Tilghman High School seniors Alicia Durfee, Addie Franklin, Maya Romanak, and Nathaniel Skinner have been named semifinalists in the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. They are among 1,557 students who were selected from over 91,000 applicants across the country to continue through the selection process based on their academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and dedication to their community as demonstrated in school and community activities.
They are four of only thirty-three high school seniors chosen from across Kentucky and the only students in Paducah and McCracken County 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 35 years.
Alicia is a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, the President and Social Media Director for the Tilghman Interact Club, and Treasurer of the National Honor Society. She has been a member of Tilghman’s Track and Field and Cross Country teams since 2017 and currently serves as Captain. She’s been very active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a school leader, Huddle Leader, and Power Camp leader and attendee. She’s a member of Tilghman’s Pep Club, Beta Club, FBLA, and Concert Choir. She’s a graduate of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD Class #11, has been involved in a local Sewing Club since 2013, and is employed at Mellow Mushroom. She attends Heartland Baptist and has volunteered extensively in the community, including serving on a mission trip to El Salvador and working with the Build a Bed program, Community Kitchen, Starfish Orphan Ministries, Paducah Day Nursery, Paducah Senior Citizens Center, and the Save Our Rivers program.
Alicia is the daughter of Vanessa and Kristopher Durfee.
Addie is a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar and a graduate of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD Class #11. She’s a Dance Instructor, student, and performer at DanceMHT, and has volunteered extensively as a Teaching Assistant for Market House Theatre since 5th grade. She’s a member of Tilghman’s Concert Choir, Concordia, Another Shade of Blue, National Honor Society, Sustainability Club, Student Council, Beta Club, Interact Club, and is a Tilghman Student Ambassador. She’s employed by Market House Theatre as an AirBnb apartment housekeeper. A plant researcher and cultivator, she also has her own online plant shop. She is a member of Immanual Baptist Church and has volunteered at numerous places, including Lotus Children’s Advocacy & Sexual Violence Resource Center, the American Red Cross Blood Drives, Starfish Orphan Ministries, Merryman House, and on mission trips to El Salvador and South Carolina.
Addie is the daughter of Katrina and Tim Franklin.
Maya is a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar and was also accepted to the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. She is a graduate of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD Class #11 and is a former Paducah Bank Teen Ambassador. She has volunteered for many years as a Teaching Assistant, stage crew member, and performer for Market House Theatre. She also wrote, arranged, and directed the music for Market House Theatre’s “Shakespeare in the Park” performances two years in a row. She’s a member of Tilghman’s Varsity Soccer Team, Choir, Concordia, and Another Shade of Blue, and has had her visual art featured in the Yeiser Art Center Teen Spirit Exhibit twice. She is employed by Market House Theatre as an AirBnb apartment housekeeper and by The Paducah Expo and Convention Center as Department Lead and member of the events staff.
Maya is the daughter of Denise and Eric Romanak.
Nathaniel is a National Merit Commended Student, AP Scholar, Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, and is Tilghman’s male nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. He is a graduate of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Youth LEAD Class #11, member of the Paducah Bank Teen Ambassador Alumni Advisory Board, and was recently named a Paducah Rotary Student of the Month. He’s a member of the Paducah Tilghman Varsity Soccer Team, Pumas FC, and is a devotional leader for Tilghman’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is President of the Tilghman Student Council and serves as Chaplain on the Executive Committee for the Baptist Health Medical Explorers Post 2501. He’s a member of the Tilghman Orchestra, Pep Band, Paducah Community Band, and Time on the Strings. He’s a Tilghman Student Ambassador, member of the Academic Team, Interact Club, National Honor Society, Beta Club Pep Club, and Secretary for the Sustainability Club. He has served as a volunteer, paid tutor, and mentor at the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club. Nathaniel is a member of Concord United Methodist Church and has been an active volunteer for several community projects and agencies, including the Community Kitchen, Family Kitchen, Starfish Orphan Ministries, mission trips to El Salvador, Christmas in the Park, Tornado Alley Christmas Angels, and Mayfield Tornado Relief.
Nathaniel is the son of William Skinner and Dr. Rennie Church Skinner.
“Alicia, Addie, Maya, and Nathaniel have been consistently dedicated to both academic excellence and meaningful service to our school and community,” said Principal Allison Stieg. “Tilghman is 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.”
Pictured L to R: Maya Romanak, Nathaniel Skinner, Alicia Durfee, Addie Franklin