MARION — Casey Knox is shooting for the stars.
The 18-year-old Crittenden County High School senior has a laundry list of awards and honors. She received the Commonwealth Ambassador Award this year. She also earned the FFA scholarship award for maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in agricultural studies. Knox also lettered in academics each year of high school and was named to her school’s all “A” honor roll and to the United States Achievement Academy. Knox was accepted to the Pepps Program at Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine over the summer, but could not attend because of scheduling conflicts with other summer scholar programs.
Knox spent three weeks in June at Murray State University’s Commonwealth Honors Academy studying art. She achieved a 4.0 grade point average at the academy and earned six college credits.
She also studied art at the five-week Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program at Centre College in Danville in June and July.
Notice a trend? Knox said art is something she has always been interested, but has never been formally trained. Instead, she taught herself to draw and sketch and learned to paint from a family friend. Knox also plays the piano.
Knox has taken home various awards over the past three years at the county fair art contest. She has also earned six blue ribbons at the state fair’s art show and one at the Kentucky Federation of Women’s Club First District Art Contest. To see Knox describe her art in her own words, watch the video interview at paducahsun.com.
Knox participates in her church’s puppet ministry and plays piano for music specials and various services. She is a member of Deercreek Baptist Church.
She is a member of the FFA, National Honor Society, National Beta Club, Girl Scouts and volleyball team and participated in the county’s Teen Court program from eighth to 10th grades.
Knox has a 4.0 grade-point average and is poised to be named valedictorian at graduation.
Knox’s volleyball coach, Glenna Hoeszle-Rich, said, “Casey is an outstanding leader and shows the mental capacity, maturity and compassion for others that is rare to see in a high school-aged young woman.”
Knox, daughter of Dennis and Donna Knox, is the Murray State University Teen of the Week. Each Monday, the Sun features a different MSU Teen of the Week selected from nominees submitted by high school guidance counselors throughout western Kentucky and southern Illinois. In May, a Teen of the Year will be chosen from the weekly winners, earning a $5,000 scholarship to Murray State. Teen of the Week is part of the Sun’s Newspapers in Education program.
In the fall, Know will attend Murray State, where she will major in pre-medicine. She hopes to pursue a career as a doctor.
Knox is looking forward to college and said her experience at Commonwealth Honors Academy influenced her decision to attend Murray State.
“Since I spent the summer there, it feels like home already,” Knox said.
Contact Danielle Ray, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8657.
