Staff Report

Harlan County residents, organizations and businesses can help reward the area’s best and brightest students for their academic success by contributing to the Harlan County Community Scholarship Fund.

Honoring students from Harlan Independent schools and Harlan County schools, community scholarships in the amount of $1,250 are awarded, along with $750 Harlan County Soil Conservation District Scholarships from this fund.

“With the state of the economy, we’re hoping more people will step up and help us make the scholarships a reality this year,” said Mike Howard, Harlan County schools superintendent, who alternates with Harlan Independent schools superintendent David Johnson in overseeing the scholarship program. “There have been many generous contributions in the past and we certainly hope we will see those again this year. Even if you can spare only $25, $50 or $100, that certainly adds up when you need to raise the $5,000 necessary to present the students scholarships on May 2.”

Donations may be mailed to the Harlan County Community Scholarship Fund, 106 South Cumberland Ave., Harlan, KY. 40831-2104.

Questions about the fund may be directed to Susie Mavinidis by calling 573-2838, Johnson at 573-8700, option 6 or Howard at 573-4330, extension 2018.

Applications for the 2013 scholarships are now available online. Seniors attending Harlan High School and Harlan County High School may access and print the applications at http://harlan.k12.ky.us/HCCS.

Students applying for the scholarships must have the completed information to their school guidance counselor by March 22. Winners will be announced at the annual Harlan County Community Scholarship Banquet on May 2 at the Benham School House Inn.

The scholarships are based on five areas of performance. These include evidence of promise as a leader in the job field and community, evidence of well defined college and/or career plans, evidence that referees have positive assessment of the applicants, evidence of high school performance and evidence of academic achievement as measured by standardized tests.