Craft Academy graduation ceremony is May 14
The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Class of 2022 will hold a graduation ceremony for its Class of 2022 on Saturday, May 14, at 4 p.m. at the Academic-Athletic Center (AAC). Doors will be open at 3:15 p.m., and there will be a reception immediately following the ceremony at the Adron Doran University Center (ADUC).
The student speaker is Zoe Baker of Alvaton. She is the daughter of Tyson and Mary Joe Baker. Baker was active in several extracurricular activities and service projects. She was an ambassador for the Craft Academy, led multiple focus groups, acted as a peer tutor, and was selected for an internship teaching college algebra for the Craft Academy over the summer. Baker further explored her love for STEM+ education by regularly volunteering at Rowan County Middle School. She also conducts research in the lab of entomologist Dr. Sean O'Keefe, associate professor of biology at Morehead State University, on his parasitoid wasp team, where she specializes in identifying Chalcidoidea wasps.
Baker's areas of interest at the Academy were medicine and zoology. She received the Distinguished Scholar Financial Award from MSU and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Pre-medicine, in the fall. Her long-term goals include medical school and practicing as a rural dermatologist in her hometown, focusing heavily on fighting skin cancer for manual laborers.
Graduates and their hometowns are listed below:
- Tyler Baker, Versailles
- Zoe Baker, Alvaton
- Donavon Blevins, Clearfield
- Emma Brock, Corbin
- Po’iu Burgo, Mt. Washington
- Connor Caskey, Paris
- Bryce Charles, Mt. Sterling
- Hailey Costanzo, Richmond
- Owen Day, Georgetown
- Zoe Forrest, Louisville
- Ryland Gross, Jackson
- Paul Grubbs, Shepherdsville
- Melissa Hannemann, Lexington
- Dante Henneberg, Morehead
- Savannah Jones, Germantown
- Suleman Khan, Elizabethtown
- Grant Klingenberg, Jeffersonville
- Dhwani Kothari, Frankfort
- Ashlee Lewis, Mt. Washington
- Roxanne Lockard, Georgetown
- Sarah Massie, Garrison
- Phillip Maxson, Lexington
- Nakia McBride, Alexandria
- Duncan McGinnis, Ashland
- Wade McGuire, Littcarr
- Jordan McKinney, Shepherdsville
- Lorien Molstad, Mt. Sterling
- Kaelyn Moore, Shepherdsville
- Olivia Moore, Lexington
- Gabriella Music, Louisa
- Elizabeth Oakes, Winchester
- Blake Orr, Winchester
- Zarric Queen, London
- Charissa Reid, Falmouth
- Andrew Roberts, Winchester
- Slate Robinson, Union
- Jonathan Rose, Brooksville
- Allison Scarlett, Stanville
- Alayna Slone, Lexington
- Ashlyn Smetanko, Nicholasville
- Ethan Smith, Frankfort
- Logan Smith, Fisty
- Rosa Smith, Lexington
- Timothy Smith, Hazel Green
- Lauren Strong, Danville
- Freder'oni Terrado, Elizabethtown
- Cayenne Warren, Butler
- Quinn Weil, Mt. Sterling
- Clara Williams, Morehead
- Hailey Williams, Kevil
- Andrew Winterman, Burlington
- Jane Zhang, Richmond
- Paul Zigo, Lawrenceburg
The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics is a dual-credit academy for academically exceptional Kentucky students. Craft Academy provides students with postsecondary residential experience to complete their junior and senior high school years by enrolling in college courses. The Craft Academy aims to meet the unique educational needs of academically gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors in the Commonwealth. The academic rigor of the Craft Academy challenges students to excel at their highest level through project-based STEM+X courses and hands-on learning experiences, with emphasis on innovation, design and creativity, and civic and regional engagement.
Funding for the Craft Academy comes from the generous contributions and support of Dr. Joe Craft and his wife, Ambassador Dr. Kelly Craft. They have donated approximately $10 million to the Academy. Additional funding comes from state appropriations.
For more information about the Craft Academy, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/craft-academy, email craftacademy@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2093.
Photo: Zoe Baker will be the student speaker at the commencement ceremony for the Craft Academy.
