Chris Thompson, a Pendleton County native and agriculture teacher at Pendleton County High School, experienced a full-circle moment as he received the regional Golden Owl Award for his work as an agriculture educator from organizers of the same program he started in.
Teachers who attain the National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) status often face challenges throughout the process of becoming certified, but teachers have shared that they’ve been able to overcome challenges with help from different supports.
After 16 years of teaching agriculture in the community where she was raised, Noel Pack is being recognized as a regional Golden Owl Award winner.
Kimberly Stevenson, a social studies teacher at Todd County Middle School, was one of the recipients of the 2026 Teacher Achievement Award.
South Laurel High School (Laurel County) teacher Jason McWhorter is being recognized as a regional Golden Owl Award winner for his two-decade-long commitment to agriculture education.
Apollo High School (Daviess County) agriculture teacher Aaron Tucker has dedicated 31 years to his career in education, a dedication that has earned him recognition as a regional Golden Owl Award winner.
For 26 years, Western Hills High School (Franklin County) agriculture teacher JR Zinner has built a classroom that promotes curiosity and innovative learning, earning recognition as a regional Golden Owl Award winner.
Greenup County Area Technology Center (ATC) senior Cameron Whitt accomplished something no student at the school has completed before: becoming fully certified in three different career pathways before graduation.
In his 11th year at Hopkins County Central, Benjamin Prevette is being honored for his work in agricultural education.
The ceremony featured scholarship awards, a student-led musical rendition of “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” by Green Day and “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses, and the annual appreciation ceremony where the graduates hand out roses to people who played an important role in their lives.