Craft Academy welcomes 126 new students to Morehead State

The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics at Morehead State University is beginning the Fall 2026 semester with a new class of students from across the Commonwealth. In addition to welcoming a new class of juniors, the Academy launched a pilot initiative this year that allowed a limited number of rising seniors to apply for admission. The pilot was designed to enroll up to 12 seniors, with 10 students being selected to join the incoming class.

Selected through a competitive admissions process, these students will complete their final years of high school while living and learning on Morehead State University's campus. Residents of Craft Tower, students enroll exclusively in Morehead State courses while participating in specialized programming, collaborative learning spaces, a makerspace and other opportunities designed to support academic and personal growth. Although students remain connected to and represent their home high schools and communities, they ultimately earn their high school diploma through Craft Academy.

“We are thrilled to welcome this year’s exceptional class of students,” said Aaron Collins, director of Craft Academy. “These students have demonstrated determination and a passion for learning that set them apart.”

Craft Academy provides academically gifted Kentucky high school students with a college-preparatory STEM residential experience at Morehead State University. Students participate in rigorous STEM+X learning opportunities that emphasize innovation, creativity and hands-on problem-solving. By immersing students in a collegiate environment, the Academy helps prepare them for success in higher education and beyond.

“As I begin my tenure as director, I could not be more excited about the year ahead,” Collins said. “I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas, academic achievements and meaningful contributions this class will bring to our campus.”

For the Fall 2026 semester, Craft Academy welcomed 126 incoming students, including 116 juniors and 10 seniors. The following students are the newest members of the Craft Academy.

• Noah Allen, Powell, Powell County High School
• Robert Antonelli, Spencer, Spencer County High School
• Joseph Barker, Rowan, Rowan County Senior High School
• Torsten Basham-Wiley, Jefferson, J.M. Atherton High School
• Sorana Basu, Oldham, North Oldham High School
• Colt Berry, Carter, East Carter County High School
• Cynthia Black, Rowan, Morgan County High School
• Sophia Blose, Clark, George Rogers Clark Hs
• Willow Bolt, Fayette, Henry Clay High School
• Sara Boughaba, Jefferson, Harry Doss High School
• Karsyn Branham, Carter, East Carter County High School
• Xander Braxton, Montgomery, Montgomery County High School
• Deacon Brown, Greenup, East Carter High School
• Isabella Bryant, Jessamine, Home School
• Carter Burkett, Kenton, Dixie Heights High School
• Keegan Carter, Montgomery, Montgomery County High School
• Dakota Clark, Whitley, Whitley County High School
• Savannah Conley, Pike, Belfry High School
• Isabella Cornetet, Bullitt, North Bullitt High School
• Hezekiah Crouch, Bath, Bath County High School
• Bradley Delaney, Meade, Meade County High School
• Easton Delap, Jefferson, Eastern High School
• Sierra Denton, Lincoln, Lincoln County High School
• Jace Deskins, Carter, East Carter High School
• Gaige Dicus, Bullitt, Bullitt East High School
• Daniel Dixon, Rowan, Rowan County Senior Hs
• Avery Duvall, Bullitt, North Bullitt High School
• Rylan Evans, Rowan, Rowan County Senior High School
• Jayden Ferrell, Montgomery, Montgomery County High School
• Peyton Fouch, Carter, East Carter High School
• Addyson Gabbard, Montgomery, Montgomery County High School
• Ansh Gadhiya, Jefferson, Eastern High School
• Alexander Garcia, Fleming, Fleming County High School
• Skyler Gearhart, Carter, West Carter High School
• Brandon Geary, Bullitt, North Bullitt High School
• Jacob Goins, Bullitt, Riverview High School
• James Guevara, Spencer, Spencer County High School
• Harrison Hamblen, Fayette, Lafayette Senior High School
• Curtis Hamlin, Rowan, Rowan County Senior Hs
• Ian Horseman, Pulaski, Somerset High School
• Jaxon Howard, Bullitt, North Bullitt High School
• Max Isaacs, Estill, Estill County High School
• Lilah Jack, Madison, Henry Clay High School
• Khadija Jammeh, Jefferson, Central High School
• Gabriella Johnson, Jessamine, Lexington Latin School
• Alijah Keene, Pike, Shelby Valley High School
• Ragan King, Montgomery, Montgomery County High School
• Kai Kukas-Choate, Madison, Madison Southern High School
• Grettel Lagunas, Bourbon, Paris High School
• Nikolai Lane, Fleming, Home School
• Asher Lanigan, Boyle, Danville High School
• Silas Laprade, McCreary, Southwestern Pulaski County High School
• Zadee Lau, Bullitt, North Bullitt High School
• Issac Lester, Pike, Belfry High School
• Grayson Little, Bath, Bath County High School
• Chaylon Lowrance, Powell, Powell County High School
• Jackson Lueker, Madison, Home Schooled
• Angel Lykins, Bath, Bath County High School
• Holly Macario-Avilla, Campbell, Newport High School
• Morgan Marsillett, Floyd, Prestonsburg High School
• Lincoln McCombs, Shelby, Martha Layne High School
• Lola McDonald, Bullitt, Bullitt East High School
• Samuel McKenzie, Rowan, Lakeside Christian Academy
• Alyssa McLendon, Spencer, Spencer County High School
• Isabella Middleton, Knox, Knox Central High School
• Amber-Joy Milligan, Scott, Success Academy
• John Mills, McCreary, McCreary Central High School
• Cameron Morris, Bullitt, Bullitt East High School
• Pierce Mynheer, Montgomery, Montgomery County High School
• Brayden Napper, Bullitt, North Bullitt High School
• Addilynn Noah, Franklin, Home School
• Timothy Oakley, Rowan, Rowan County Senior High School
• Trinity Parker, Knott, Knott County High School
• Ishan Patel, Whitley, Whitley County High School
• Sanvi Patel, Bullitt, Bullitt East High School
• Haylee Patton, Powell, Powell County High School
• Kaylee Patton, Powell, Powell County High School
• Brendyn Pope, Lawrence, Lawrence County High School
• Wiley Potts, Oldham, Oldham County High School
• Shalyn Profitt, Powell, Powell County High School
• Ethan Pruitt, Lewis, Lewis County High School
• Isabella Pruitt, Lewis, Lewis County High School
• Thomas Rager, Daviess, Apollo High School
• Malory Rainey, Carter, West Carter High School
• Raelynn Ream, Greenup, Greenup County High School
• Maitreya Reinhart, Madison, Berea Community High School
• Sarah Reynolds, Montgomery, Montgomery County High School
• Kaeyln Ring, Carter, West Carer High School
• Jiana Rivera, Boyle, Danville High School
• Kaden Rogers, Greenup, West Carter High School
• Ryker Russell, Fleming, Fleming County High School
• Cadence Ryan, Pendleton, Pendleton County High School
• Cameron Sammons, Pike, Belfry High School
• Charlotte Scott, Union, Union County High School
• Zayden Scott, Fayette, Henry Clay High School
• Tristan Setters, Rowan, Rowan County Senior High School
• Avery Shelton, Bullitt, Bullitt East High School
• Jacob Sherrard, Carter, East Carter County High School
• Lana Shoemaker, Jefferson, Jefferson County High School
• Abigail Smith, Bullitt, J.M. Atherton High School
• Isabella Smith, Rowan, Rowan County Senior High School
• Jeneva Smith, Nelson, Nelson County High School
• Jackson Sosby, Clark, George Rogers Clark High School
• Ethan Stokley, Bullitt, Bullitt East High School
• Kinsley Teater, Jessamine, West Jessamine High School
• Zachery Thomas, Powell, Powell County High School
• Abram Toole, Bullitt, Bullitt East High School
• Anahi Trujillo Cuevas, LaRue, LaRue County High School
• Michelle Utter, Grant, Grant County High School
• Logan Van Kirk, Laurel, North Laurel High School
• Matthew Vance, Morgan, Morgan County High School
• Annabelle Wallin, Oldham, Oldham County High School
• Ethan Wilson, Carter, East Carter County High School
• Willow Wireman, Powell, Powell County High School
• Bryson York, Lawrence, The Millard School
• William Zepahua, Grant, Grant County High School

The Craft Academy is made possible through funding appropriations from the Kentucky General Assembly and the generous support of Joe and Kelly Craft and the Craft Foundation.

Students interested in joining the next cohort of Craft Academy beginning in Fall 2027 are encouraged to apply during the upcoming admissions cycle. Eligible Kentucky students currently enrolled in high school can learn more about program requirements, application deadlines and the admissions process by visiting the Craft Academy website, email craftacademy@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2093.