Optimism, attitude important in meeting goals, speaker tells 2009 Academic All-Stars Grace Lauzon, a senior at Owensboro High School, hugs Carolyn Greer, a drama teacher at O.H.S., on Tuesday after Lauzon was presented with the 2009 Regional Academic All-Stars award for arts at Daviess County High School. Photo by Jenny Sevcik By Joy Campbell Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:18 AM CDT Messenger-Inquirer Seven students in the Owensboro region earned top honors and $500 scholarships competing against “the best and brightest” during Tuesday night’s 2009 Regional Academic All-Stars Awards Ceremony at Daviess County High School. “What excites me this evening is being able to look out into this gathering of young scholars and know what you had to do to get here,” said keynote speaker Glenn Skeens, Owensboro Police Chief and the chairman of The Learning Community. “You are here because each of you has made good decisions and you have made personal sacrifices.” Each winner in the seven categories received a plaque and a $500 scholarship. All finalists received certificates. Skeens encouraged the scholars to keep a winning attitude and to make optimism a top personal priority. “Research shows that optimism and attitude can make a huge difference in your ability to accomplish your goals,” he said. “Never, never, never let naysayers or partial facts tell you it can’t be done. ...” The speaker said residents of the region are fortunate to live in a community that is so focused on education. “... The Learning Community believes education is everyone’s business, and we are fortunate to have such strong support from corporate citizens. ...,” Skeens said. The Learning Community is working closely with the regional economic development corporation to raise the educational attainment in the region, he said. “Our goal is to have 10,000 more college graduates in our community by 2020,” Skeens said. “When I look around this room full of talented young people from our community, the future is bright.” McKinley Heflin, representing McLean County High School, was a four-time nominee and took home the top award in English. Heflin is valedictorian of his class following the lead of two older siblings, also valedictorians. He is among 20 students chosen as Otis A. Singletary Scholars at the University of Kentucky. The award is UK’s most prestigious 4-year scholarship. The Livermore student expects to go to medical school and is considering becoming either a general practitioner or a surgeon. “My parents would love for me to come back to McLean County and practice medicine,” he said. Grace Lauzon from Owensboro High School was the winner in the Arts category. She has performed in 17 shows with the Rose Curtain Players. Although Lauzon plans a career in physical therapy, she also will keep the arts in her life, she said. “A funny story is that I’m terrified of performing in small groups, but when I’m in a show, I get to step out of myself and become someone else; I love that,” she said. “That experience has helped me in so many ways.” Other category winners were Ariel Raven Stratton, Ohio County High School in Foreign Language; Cameron Franey, Apollo High School, Journalism; George Lytle, DCHS, Math; Kyle Hardesty, DCHS, Science; Samuel McKown, Ohio County High School. The Messenger-Inquirer’s revamped academic competition is sponsored by all four local colleges, the hospital and Domtar Paper Company. Messenger-Inquirer Publisher Bob Morris recognized the All-Star students from all five regional counties as ones who will change lives and improve their communities and the world around them. The college leaders who judged the academic contests — Paula Gastenveld from Owensboro Community & Technical College; Gene Tice, Western Kentucky University; the Rev. Larry Hostetter, Brescia University, and Cheryl King, Kentucky Wesleyan College — had their work cut out for them, the newspaper’s executive editor Matt Francis said. “I read the essays and saw the transcripts,” he said. Francis said this year the newspaper began a new practice of holding the awards ceremony at the participating high schools.