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Bailey Watkins

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Finalist

Bio

My name is Bailey Watkins and I am a senior in high school in London, KY. I intend to enroll at either The University of Tennessee or The University of Kentucky in the upcoming fall. I plan to major in political science or communications, and hope to go to law school some day. I have a passion for community outreach and inclusiveness. I dream of being able to give back to my Appalachian Community.

Education

North Laurel High School

High School
2022 - 2026

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Majors of interest:

    • Political Science and Government
    • Communication, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Law Practice

    • Dream career goals:

    • Cashier/ Waitress

      Cornett Farm Fresh
      2024 – Present2 years
    • Clerk/ Assistant

      Taylor, Keller & Oswald Law Firm
      2025 – Present1 year

    Sports

    Soccer

    Varsity
    2021 – 20254 years

    Awards

    • Final Four in KHSAA tournament
    • Sweet Sixteen in KHSAA tournament
    • Team Captain
    • 3 time district and region champions

    Arts

    • North Laurel High School

      Music
      Multiple choir concerts, All-Festival, School Musical
      2025 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Faith Assembly of God Disaster Response Team — Volunteer/ Leader of the youth team
      2022 – Present
    Valerie Rabb Academic Scholarship
    Law is a subject that has peaked my interest from a young age. My mother is a Certified Court Reporter, and I have grown up listening to her depositions and reading transcripts of both heated and mundane cases, always longing to be the "Q" on the papers. As I have grown older, she allows me to earn extra money by proofing and editing transcripts before their final overview. I am now employed at a Law Firm that specializes in insurance defense. A few years ago, I felt a calling on my life to serve the people of my community through my passions. I have volunteered extensive hours to the people of Appalachia, though the 2022 floods that destroyed hundreds of lives in Eastern Kentucky, as well as in the 2025 Tornado that destroyed London, Kentucky. I have seen first hand the needs of these people. I heard testimonies, one after another, of children left without food, clothes, and even parents. I heard stories of the lack of governmental aid to these people until it was far too late. While many Appalachian stereotypes prove true, (low income, coal mining countrymen), the desperation for an advocate voice and a hand-up in this community is real. My dream, while I am not sure where I will end up, or even what profession I will uptake, is to provide services, advocacy, and aid to the people in Eastern Kentucky and its' surrounding areas. Whether I end up in Kentuckian Politics, National Politics, or Law, I will prioritize the assistance of the communities that are some of the most hospitable, kind, strong-rooted areas anyone could ever encounter. These people have needed outreach and assistance for decades now, often going unanswered and without help. Thousands of workers'-comp claims from the coal mines and physical laborers of Kentucky that go unheard, Thousands of women and children stuck in domestic violence situations, and thousands of unrepresented citizens within local politics, all because of poverty. While this is likely an area in America that will long term remain on the lower end of the income scale, I don't see why that has to mean that the citizens of the Appalachian region deserve any less. My dream is to be able to provide the advocacy and resources for these people without belittling them or requiring anything in return. I will strive to give back to the communities I love until I no longer have the capacity. I am young and determined, and I believe that I can become a light in a very dark region.
    Carlo Burns Memorial Scholarship
    Law is a subject that has peaked my interest from a young age. My mother is a Certified Court Reporter, and I have grown up listening to her depositions and reading transcripts of both heated and mundane cases, always longing to be the "Q" on the papers. As I have grown older, she allows me to earn extra money by proofing and editing transcripts before their final overview. I am now employed at a Law Firm that specializes in insurance defense. A few years ago, I felt a calling on my life to serve the people of my community through my passions. I have volunteered extensive hours to the people of Appalachia, though the 2022 floods that destroyed hundreds of lives in Eastern Kentucky, as well as in the 2025 Tornado that destroyed London, Kentucky. I have seen first hand the needs of these people. I heard testimonies, one after another, of children left without food, clothes, and even parents. I heard stories of the lack of governmental aid to these people until it was far too late. While many Appalachian stereotypes prove true, (low income, coal mining countrymen), the desperation for an advocate voice and a hand-up in this community is real. My dream, while I am not sure where I will end up, or even what profession I will uptake, is to provide services, advocacy, and aid to the people in Eastern Kentucky and its' surrounding areas. Whether I end up in Kentuckian Politics, National Politics, or Law, I will prioritize the assistance of the communities that are some of the most hospitable, kind, strong-rooted areas anyone could ever encounter. These people have needed outreach and assistance for decades now, often going unanswered and without help. Thousands of workers'-comp claims from the coal mines and physical laborers of Kentucky that go unheard, Thousands of women and children stuck in domestic violence situations, and thousands of unrepresented citizens within local politics, all because of poverty. While this is likely an area in America that will long term remain on the lower end of the income scale, I don't see why that has to mean that the citizens of the Appalachian region deserve any less. My dream is to be able to provide the advocacy and resources for these people without belittling them or requiring anything in return. I will strive to give back to the communities I love until I no longer have the capacity. I am young and determined, and I believe that I can become a light in a very dark region.