Youth programs coordinator Delaney Stephens, left, and Lonnie Lawson, right, president and CEO of The Center for Rural Development, present Chandler Hutchinson with the Doug Reece Memorial Award.

Rogers Scholars graduate Chandler Hutchinson was presented the Doug Reece Memorial Award at Friday night’s graduation program at The Center for Rural Development.

Hutchinson, 16, a student at Pulaski County High School, had the highest-scoring application among the first class of 2013 Rogers Scholars graduates.

As an award recipient, he received a handcrafted Appalachian dulcimer donated by Dr. Bruce Ayers, president of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, and a $250 scholarship to any in-state college or university.

“The Rogers Scholars program has allowed me to branch out and meet a lot of cool people,” said Hutchinson. “The program gave me the opportunity to investigate further health careers and find out more of who I am.”

The award is presented in memory of the late Doug Reece, former chairman of the executive committee of The Center’s board of directors. He served on the board of directors from 1995 through 2005 and was board chairman at the time of his death in 2006.

Thirty-two rising high school juniors from Southern and Eastern Kentucky graduated from the first class of Rogers Scholars. Scholars spent June 23-27 on the campus of Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia and returned to The Center on Friday for a graduation program.

Chandler and Pulaski County High School student Lindsey Jasper were selected to represent their class as Rogers Scholars Ambassadors. Ambassadors continue to work with the program after graduation and help plan a Rogers Scholars class reunion in the fall.

Click here to view photos taken at Friday’s Rogers Scholars graduation program.