Western Kentucky University has announced the recipients of the 2026-2027 Cherry Presidential Scholarship, and a student from Edmonson County is on the list.
WKU said in a press release that only 16 high school students were chosen to receive the monetary award that’s valued at $16,000 annually and worth $64,000 over a four-year college career. One of those students is Edmonson County High School senior Brayden Johnson, of Bee Spring.
Johnson, according to WKU, plans to major in Biology at the Ogden College of Science & Engineering.
This isn’t Johnson’s first academic honor, as he was tabbed a National Coca Cola Semi-Finalist Scholar, as well as a National Merit Semi-Finalist.
According to WKU, to be eligible for “WKU’s most prestigious scholarship,” students must have a minimum 3.8 unweighted high school GPA and a minimum composite score of 30 on the ACT (1360 SAT).
Other Cherry Presidential Scholarship winners are:
- Colin Davey, of Hebron, a senior at Conner Senior High School who plans to major in Biology in the Ogden College of Science & Engineering.
- Miles Davis, of Louisville, a senior at Atherton High School who plans to major in Broadcasting in the Potter College of Arts & Letters.
- Presley Davis, of Somerset, a senior at Somerset Christian School who plans to major in Civil Engineering in the Ogden College of Science & Engineering.
- Annesley Frazier, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a senior at Providence Christian Academy who plans to major in Interior Design and Fashion Studies in the Potter College of Arts & Letters.
- Ethan Gallagher, of Bowling Green, a senior at Bowling Green High School who plans to major in Visual Journalism and Photography in the Potter College of Arts & Letters.
- Jocelyn Johnson, of Shelbyville, a senior at Shelby County High School who plans to major in Exercise Science in the College of Health & Human Services.
- Katelyn McCammon, of Glenview Manor, a senior at Ballard High School who plans to major in Data Science in the Gordon Ford College of Business.
- Emina McQueen, of Louisville, a senior at Dupont Manual Magnet High School who plans to major in Organizational Leadership in the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences.
- Monique Mwasumbi, of London, a senior at London Christian Academy who plans to major in Biology in the Ogden College of Science & Engineering.
- Sophie Pressley, of Henderson, a senior at Henderson County Senior High School who plans to major in Business Economics in the Gordon Ford College of Business.
- Kaitlyn Rundle, of Rineyville, a senior at North Hardin High School who plans to major in Elementary Education in the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences.
- Campbell Smith, of Lanesville, Indiana, a senior at Floyd Central High School who plans to major in Psychology in the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences.
- Makayla Throckmorton, of Walton, a senior at Walton Verona High School who plans to major in Nursing in the College of Health & Human Services.
- Leah Wheeler, of Crestwood, a senior at South Oldham High School who plans to major in Nursing in the College of Health & Human Services.
- Alayna Williams, of Frankfort, a senior at Anderson County High School who plans to major in Accounting in the Gordon Ford College of Business.
(Photo: Brayden Johnson, courtesy of Edmonson Co. High School)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
