McCracken County High School recognized the following Performing Arts and Visual Arts Seniors for their accomplishments and signing college scholarships.
Theatre:
Ashlyn Garner
College: Samford University
Location: Birmingham, AL
Major: Theatre for Youth with a Vocal Concentration
Scholarships: The Mann Ministry Scholarship, the Davis Scholarship, the Marion Scholarship, The School of the Arts Scholarship, and the Lone Oak First Baptist Church Music Scholarship
Special Notes: Ashlyn is a prominent member of the MCHS Theatre and Choral Department, being a member of Drama 3, Varsity Singers, and Mane Attraction. This year she served as Teacher's Aide for both Mrs. Bowden and Ms. Fallis. She is also a member of Market House Theater and a TA. She attended Southern ACDA this February and is an alumnus of the Governor's School for the Arts 2025 for Drama.
Clara Pierce
College: Belmont University
Location: Nashville, TN
Major: Theatre BFA, with a focus in Theatre Production Design
Scholarships: Friends of the Arts at Belmont (FAB) Theatre and Dance Scholarship
Special Notes: Clara has been involved in McCracken County’s Theatre Department for four years and has served as a Theatre Department Leadership Board Member for two years. This year, she served as a technical intern for the Performing Arts Center, assisting in the everyday operations of the space as well as the technical design and build of both productions. She was accepted into the Drama program at GSA and attended GSP with a focus in Dramatic Expression. She has also been involved with Market House Theatre, where she worked as a Teaching Assistant for seven years, stage managed multiple productions, and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2022.
Miranda Tovar
College: Northern Kentucky University
Location: Highland Heights, KY
Major: BFA in Musical Theatre
Scholarships: Governors School of the Arts Scholarship
Special Notes: Miranda has been a part of the McCracken Theatre Department for the past 4 years and has previously been in 7 shows. She has taken all 3 drama classes, and other theatre related courses. Miranda is also student at MainStage and a 2024 Alum of the Kentucky Governors School of the Arts for Vocal Music.
Jack Nelson - University of Oklahoma - Musical Theatre BFA
Musical Theatre Dept.: $3500 per year
National Award Scholarship: Full Tuition
Welcome Home Scholarship: $6,000
Emily Powless Fund: $2,500
President Leadership Class Scholarship: $1,250
McCracken County High School Valedictorian & Commencement Speaker
Student Government President
Choir Co-president
One of Twenty out-of-state students accepted into the OU Presidents Leadership Class
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team Member & MVP
2x 3rd place international finalist in Future Problem Solving presentation of action plan division
3x State Champion in Future Problem solving at the governors cup state competition in both individual and team events
Rotary Club of Paducah September Student of the Month
National Honors Society Member
Brave New Faces Award Nominee
2025 State Runner Up in the FCCLA Digital Stories For Change State Competition
2024 Kentucky Governors School for the Arts Vocal Musical Finalist and Musical Theatre Acceptee
AP Scholar & AP Scholar with Distinction Award Recipient
Band:
Ian Cunningham - Western Kentucky University - Musical General
$4,000 WKU Scholarship
4x All District Symphonic Band
4x Quad State Band
4x WKU Honor Band
3x All State Band
Governor's School for the Arts in 2024
3x All District Jazz Band
Olive Denton - Murray State University - Music Composition
Department of Music Scholarship - $1500
Distinguished Solo and Ensemble 2021-2022
Most Valuable Player 2024-2025
Indoor Percussion 2nd place SCGC 2024-2025
Braden French - Asbury University - Major in Worship Arts, Minor in Business Administration
$1,500 Worship Arts Scholarship
Gracie Griffin - University Of Louisville - Music Education - Wind Emphasis
Four year Music Scholarship of $12,000 ($3,000 per year)
Member of the All-State Concert Band Junior and Senior Year
All-District Symphonic Band Junior and Senior years
All-District Concert Band Sophomore years
McCracken County High School Marching Band for 3 years - serving as a marching leader last year and the primary flute section leader this year
McCracken County Wind Ensemble for two years - serving as the flute section leader this year
Participated in the Developmental Jazz Band for two years before playing in the McBig Band this year
Received Proficient or Distinguished ratings at all Solo and Ensemble events she has participated in
MCHS Advanced Orchestra for all four years of high school - served as a section leader for the last two years
Participated in last year's All-District Orchestra as the second-chair viola.
Cameron Leath- University Of Kentucky - Band - Major Biology
$2,000 Scholarship from AJR Life Insurance Policy
2024 All District Concert Band (5th chair trombone)
2026 All District Symphonic Band (2nd chair euphonium)
2026 Murray State Quad State Blue Band Member (2nd chair euphonium)
WKU Honor Band Member (euphonium)
Member of the inaugural Jackson Purchase Youth Wind Orchestra
Distinguished Solo and Ensemble participant
Abraham Taylor - Murray State University - Music Performance
Governor’s School for the Arts and Ray Conklin Scholarships
4 years All District Symphonic
4 years All District Jazz
1 year All State Jazz 1
All State Symphonic Band 2 years
Governor’s School for the Arts
Southeast Trombone Symposium Tenor Solo Competition Semi-finalist
Jackson Purchase Youth Wind Orchestra Principal Trombone
Bethel University Matching Competition Outstanding Soloist
Shelby Turner- Murray State University - Major Music Education
Mary Charles Harris Honorary Music Scholarship
Provost Scholarship
Anonymous General Scholarship
Department of Music Scholarship
All-State 2026
All-District Symphonic 2024, 2025, 2026
Quad-State Symphonic Band 2024, 2025, 2026
McCracken Orchestra Horn Soloist 2024
Western Kentucky University Honor Band 2024
MMB Section Leader 2025, 2026
Most Valuable Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, (TBD)
Distinguished Solo/Ensemble 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026