Lexington high school scholarship winners want ‘to be a part of healing Kentucky’

Two Bryan Station High School students were named the recipients of the 2024 “Be the Change” scholarships Tuesday.

The scholarships, each for $10,000 through ONE Lexington’s Be the Change program, were available for Bryan Station High School students of color pursuing a degree related to criminal justice at a Kentucky college or university.

Michelle Moore and Aline Sandoval Cano, seniors at Bryan Station were named the winners of the scholarships after a judging process.

A committee of officials in the public safety sector combined to do the judging and voting of the applicants, according to Devine Carama, director of ONE Lexington. Carama said he and his office didn’t participate in the voting but heard academics, extracurricular activities and circumstances contributed towards Moore and Cano receiving the scholarships.

“I think the thing that stood out most was they really wanted to be a part of healing Kentucky physically and emotionally. That was what stood out to us from the feedback,” Carama said. “It’s not just a career or a job but they’re thinking beyond that, beyond themselves, and for us that’s what it’s all about.”

Moore is a part of the IT Academy at Bryan Station High School and will soon receive her state registered nurses aide certification, according to Mayor Linda Gorton. Moore is also a member of the softball team, black student union and sister keeper program at Bryan Station High School.

Moore said she just got out of practice when she received the text that she won the scholarship and she instantly started joyfully screaming.

“It was truly a very exciting moment for me and I just want to say thank you again for everybody who has given me this opportunity,” Moore said.

Cano has received her state registered nurses aide certification, enrolled in the EMT program at Southside Technical Center. She is also a part of the Spanish immersion program, a member of the soccer team and president of the Hispanic honor society and Bryan Station High School.

Cano said she ran around the house with excitement when she found out she won the scholarship.

“I would like to thank everyone who gave me the opportunity to receive this scholarship,” Cano said. “It will greatly benefit me in continuing my studies in the criminal justice psychology major.”

Moore and Cano plan to attend the University of Kentucky.

‘We are proud to be a part of this.’

The Be the Change scholarship program began a few years ago when Carama was approached by Galls, an apparel brand for public safety officials, about wanting to support the community. Carama said Galls wanted to support ONE Lexington’s mission while starting its own initiative, and together they came up with the scholarship program and formed as partners.

“It is our honor to give back to the Lexington community and help support the next generation of young professionals, like Aline and Michelle,” said Gwen Bates, co-chair of Galls’ Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Central Bank is also a partner of the program and they’re proud to be a part of positive change.

“We are proud to be a part of this. This is our second time doing this and we’ll continue doing it hopefully,” said Shane Asminger, senior vice president at Central Bank and a former police officer. “This is one of our many efforts we do to make our community safer for all of our citizens.”

The program has only awarded scholarships to Bryan Station High School students since the program’s inception. However, Carama said they are working to expand the program to include other high schools and alternative schools in scholarship possibilities.

More information about an expansion in the program could be announced within a few weeks.

“We really look forward to the future of Be the Change, the scholarship program, the opportunities it gives our youth and looking at ways we can expand across our community,” Gorton said.

“We want to encourage our young people to continue using their voice to speak about the importance of equity, diversity, being inclusive, but that’s only one part of it,” Carama said.