Community leaders turned out Thursday evening to honor Harlan County's elite high school scholars.

"This is the community's way of showing these children that we are investing in their future," said Donell Busroe, master of ceremonies for the 20th Annual Harlan County Community Scholarship Banquet.

The scholarship fund was organized in 1984 with the goal of recognizing and rewarding graduates from the county's four accredited high schools. One student from each of the county's four high schools received a $1,000 scholarship from the program. Awards are based on students' academics, extracurricular accomplishments and potential for success at an institution of higher learning.

The four top honorees to take home a coveted Harlan County Community Scholarship included:

n Brent Jones, Cumberland High School, son of Lynn and David Jones of Benham.

n Maria Vanover, Evarts High School, daughter of Gary and Sharon Vanover of Evarts.

n Rebecca Lynn Smith, Harlan High School, daughter of Debbie and George Smith of Harlan.

n Miles Huff, James A. Cawood High School, son of Debbie and Rodney Huff of Blesdoe.

Harlan County Conservation District Scholarship winners were: Candice Mimes and Lindsey Vicini, Cumberland High School; Garett Bolin and Elizabeth Dean, Evarts High School; Cassie Haywood and Tara Brittany Pope from Harlan High School; Starlett Stewart and Robert Wright from James A. Cawood High School.

Other scholarship recipients who recognized during the banquet were:

Other scholarship recipients recognized during the banquet were Lori Osborne, Cawood Ledford Boys & Girls Club Scholarship; Beth Boggs, Cumberland Lions Club Scholarship; Elizabeth Doan, Eldon Boggs Memorial Scholarship; Robert Tyler Wright, J. Clark Metcalfe Memorial Scholarship; Brent Adam Clem, Joseph Drobnak Memorial Scholarship; Alyson Adams, Justin Shackleford Memorial Scholarship; Brandy Joseph, Susan Moody Memorial Scholarship; Starlett Stewart, Tommy Lee Memorial Scholarship; Beth Boggs, Tri-Cities Women's Club Scholarship; WalMart Scholarships: Lindsey Vicini and Misty Jones, School Resource Office Essay Scholarships: Brent Jones, Cassie Haywood, Tara Brittany Pope.