Seven to be inducted into 2018 Hall of Fame
Published 12:29 pm Monday, December 31, 2018
<p>Blair Green</p>
<p>Chelsey Caldwell<strong> </strong></p>
<p>Lainey Cox</p>
<p>Autumn Dunaway<strong></strong></p>
<p>Breanna Epperson<strong> </strong></p>
<p>Jaden Hall</p>
<p>Emma Pinkley</p>
The Harlan County School District will induct seven members of the Harlan County High School graduating class of 2018 into the Frank Brittain Academic and Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday.
The induction will be held in the administrative conference room at the central office, beginning at 4 p.m.
This year’s honorees are:
Chelsey Caldwell: Chelsey was the 2018 class valedictorian, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average while taking honors and dual credit classes. She was a member of the Community Problem Solving Team placing twice as the runner-up at the state level and earning third place honors at the international level. She was a member of the academic team, earning various awards, Beta Club, Educational Talent Search, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Link Crew, treasurer of the Future Business Leaders of America, and secretary of the Distributive Education Clubs of America. She participated in the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative’s Appalachian Renaissance Institute, the Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Challenge, Cedar Inc.’s Coal Entrepreneurial Coal Lands Redevelopment Program winning the district champion and regional runner-up honors. She graduated from the Leadership Harlan County United. She was accepted into the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Medical Scholars Program and the Honors Program at the University of Pikeville. She is the daughter of George and Allyson Caldwell
Carmen Elaine “Lainey” Cox: Lainey was the 2018 class valedictorian, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average while taking honors and dual credit classes. She was a five-year member of the basketball team, receiving numerous accolades for her success on and off the court. These included the 2018 All Southeastern Kentucky Conference, District All-Tournament and the 13th Region coaches’ Association All-Region Senior Academic Team. She participated on the first HCHS Lady Bear basketball team to reach the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen. She was a member of the softball team and was named to the District All-Tournament teams. A well-rounded student, she was an award winning member of the academic team, and a member of the Gifted Leadership Program, Beta Club, Educational Talent Search, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Link Crew. She was state runner-up on the Lt. Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge. She earned numerous academic awards and was the recipient of the WYMT Mountain Basketball Classic’s Wayne Martin Leadership Scholarship. In addition, she performed various community service activities and founded the “Golf Fore Life” charity tournament to fund cancer research. She attended the University of Kentucky and majored in Political Science. She is the daughter of Ronald and Lynn Cox.
Autumn Dunaway: Autumn earned a composite score of 35 on the Act and was valedictorian of her graduating class, earning a 4.0 grade point average while taking dual credit and honors classes. A 2017 Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, she placed second in the state at the Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge; first at the post, first in the region, and third in the state Voice of Democracy Audio Essay competition; served as a Legislative Page; and received the University of Kentucky Book Award for outstanding junior. She earned numerous medals in math, science, composition and quick recall at the district and region levels of the Kentucky Governor’s Cup competition. She was a Link Crew leader, co-editor of the yearbook, a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanic, Talent Search, Gifted and Talented, academic team and a three-year member of the softball team. She earned several scholarships including the Harvard College Faculty Scholarship, and the Otis A. Singletary Scholarship. She attended the University of Kentucky as a Singletary Scholar in the Lewis Honors College. She double majored in accounting and finance. She is the daughter of Jay and Stephanie Dunaway.
Breanna Hope Epperson: Breanna was valedictorian of her graduating class with a 4.0 grade point average and an honors graduate. Through her extensive community and school involvement, she received numerous awards across all levels. She was a two-year member of the Appalachian Renaissance Initiative’s Student Senate, inaugural member of the superintendent’s student council, a Rogers Scholar, Governor’s Scholar, president of the Future Business Leaders of America and Distributive Education Clubs of America, captain of the CEDAR Entrepreneurial Coal Lands Redevelopment Team, and a member of the National Honor Society, Talent Search and Beta Club. She was a member of the future problem solving team, earning eighth place at the Governor’s Cup competition, as well as the decorated community problem solving team that was a two-time runner-up and one time champion at the state level. She was a member of the community problem solving team competing at the international competition in 2015, 2016 and 2017, placing third in the world twice. She placed fourth in the individual state competition in 2016. She was a 10-year member of the Cross Country team, a four-time state qualifier. She was a three-time qualifier for state Track and Field. She received numerous scholarships for her success. She attended Morehead State University to pursue a physics degree for teaching. She is the daughter of Clarence and April Epperson.
Alexandria Blair Green: Blair became the first HCHS athlete to attend a NCAA Division I university on full scholarship. She chose the University of Kentucky Women’s Basketball Team. She earned the title of the all-time leading scorer of boys and girls at HCHS with 2,375 points from 2014-2018. She was ranked number 11 in Kentucky for all time points scored with 3193 career points from 2013-2018. She earned the title of all-time leading rebounder with 756 in four years. She receive many accolades for her success on the court, including 2017 and 2018 first-team Kentucky All State. She was a member of the 2018 Kentucky All Star Team. She was a Kentucky Miss Basketball finalist, Naismith All American Honorable Mention, McDonald’s All American Nominee, Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist, and 13th region KABC, Media, Conference and Coaches Association and WYMT Mountain Classic Player of the Year, 52nd District and 13th Region in 2018, 2018 ESPN top 100 players in class and number 9 at wing position. She was a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, Gifted and Talented Leadership, Link Crew, Future Business Leaders of America, Distributive Education Clubs of America, and Spanish Honor Society. She attended the University of Kentucky to major in Kinesiology. Her career interests were to become a child occupational therapist or a sports broadcaster. She is the daughter of Elgie and Debbie Green.
Joshua “Jaden” Hall: Jaden was valedictorian of the 2018 graduating class, earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average while taking honors and dual credit classes. He accumulated 39 college credit hours while in high school. He was a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, First Priority Club, Educational Talent Search and Future Business Leaders of America. He won first place in the MATHCOUNTS competition, winning a scholarship to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. He attended Western Kentucky University in pursuit of a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is the son of Bobby and Rhonda Belcher.
Emma Pinkley: Emma was salutatorian of her graduating class, earning a 3.99 grade point average while taking honor and dual credit classes. She was a 2017 Kentucky Governor’s Scholar. She was president of the Spanish Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Educational Talent Search, and the Gifted and Talented program. She was active in the arts department. She served two terms as the choir president. She auditioned and participated in many productions at her school. A member of the Kentucky All-State Choir and Southeastern Kentucky Music Educators All-Festival Chorus for three years, she participated in the prestigious All-National Honor Choir in Orlando, Fla., She attended the University of Louisville as an honors student to study Music Education. She had extensive community service. She is the daughter of Jim and Vickie Pinkley.
