Kentucky Bank Nears $2M in Scholarships for Students
Independence Bank is about to hit a major milestone: $2 million in scholarships awarded to Kentucky students since 2001. Applications are now open for this year's program, which gave 72 seniors $144,400 last year alone.
A Kentucky community bank is proving that investing in local students creates ripples that last generations.
Independence Bank just opened applications for its 25th annual scholarship program, and the numbers tell an incredible story of commitment. Since 2001, the bank has awarded over $1.9 million in scholarships to deserving high school seniors across Kentucky. This year could push them past the $2 million mark.
The program started as one man's dream. Charles A. Reid, the bank's late founding partner, wanted to make sure talented students wouldn't miss college because of financial barriers. Before his death in 2001, he asked the bank to create a lasting scholarship fund in his memory.
That first year, the bank awarded a single $10,000 scholarship. Fast forward to 2025, and 72 students shared $144,400 in awards ranging from $500 to $15,000. Ten of those recipients earned scholarships of $5,000 or more.
Charles's son Chris Reid now serves as the bank's chairman, carrying forward his father's vision. The scholarship has become a family legacy that touches hundreds of families every year.
The selection process looks at the whole student. Academic excellence matters, but so does financial need, community service, extracurricular activities, and personal essays that reveal character and determination.
The Ripple Effect
Every scholarship creates a chain reaction. A student who might have skipped college or taken on crushing debt gets a fresh start. They graduate, build careers, and often return to invest in their own communities. Some probably work alongside scholarship recipients from years past, all connected by one man's belief in the power of education.
The bank now serves communities across Kentucky, but the scholarship program remains deeply local, keeping Charles Reid's promise alive in every town they serve.
High school seniors have until February 24 to apply online at 1776bank.com/scholarships. Winners will be celebrated at a reception in Owensboro this spring, just before graduation, when dreams start becoming real plans.
Twenty five years of believing in young people adds up to something beautiful.
Based on reporting by Google News - Scholarship Awarded
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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