April 28, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – One student selected from Fayette County public high schools will be honored with the 2009 Jamal Mashburn Scholarship award on Thursday, May 7.

The recipient, along with the scholarship finalists, will be recognized in a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at the King Alumni House on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Rose Street in the Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

The student will be the latest participant in a program started by the former Kentucky basketball All-American 17 years ago. After the recipient completes his/her high school requirements and meets UK standards for admission, he/she will receive full tuition to the University of Kentucky or Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington for each year he/she meets the outlined program requirements.

Since the program was established, more than two dozen students from Fayette County high schools have participated in this scholarship program. Applicants for scholarship had to meet a multitude of requirements including grade-point average, educational achievement and financial need.

The recipient and finalists are just completing their freshman year of high school and the university will provide a support system designed to help them meet their goals and objectives, providing mentors, establishing a summer enrichment program and having a continuous monitoring system to assess the academic and social needs of each student.

Mashburn (1991-93) started the scholarship just days after declaring himself eligible for the 1993 NBA Draft and before signing his first professional basketball contract. The $500,000 endowment directly benefits young people in the Lexington community. With recent revisions to the program, students will now be awarded scholarships annually, instead of every two years.

For more information on the Jamal Mashburn Scholarship program, contact Cindy LaRue at 859.257.5230 or by email at cdlaru2@uky.edu.