Rebekah Allen, Kristen Daniels, Emily Ann Hall, Rachael Hall, Nicholas Hites, Lauralee Johnson, Christi Rose and Kristyn Watkins were honored as finalists of the $1,000 Democratic Women’s Club scholarship Monday night. In addition to each finalist receiving a $25 token gift, he or she will also receive guidance from a club member whose background closely matches his or her chosen goal.

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PRESTONSBURG — The Floyd County Democratic Women’s Club honored the eight finalists of the group’s annual $1,000 scholarship Monday night, by providing each of them with a $25 token gift and something even more valuable — guidance for their future lives.

Members of the club will be serving as mentors to each of the finalists this year. To ensure they get the most out of the opportunity, each student was matched with a club member whose background closely matches his or her goals.

“Once the scholarship committee met, theyrealized what potential the applicants have,” said Jean Rosenberg, who serves as chair of the scholarship committee. “And we wanted to reach into our club and match each applicant to a Floyd County Democratic Women’s Club member who was in sort of the same field, so the student would have a local connection.”

Along with Rosenberg, other members of the scholarship committee include Lacy Yeager and Janice Allen.

This year’s finalists include:

• Rebekah Allen, Prestonsburg High School, who plans to study elementary education at the University of Louisville. She has been paired with Pat Hites.

• Kristen Daniels, the David School, who plans to study criminal justice and psychology at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. She has been paired with Michelle Sode.

• Emily Ann Hall, Allen Central High School, who plans to study pharmacy at Big Sandy Community and Technical College and the University of Pikeville. She has been paired with Renee Hall.

• Rachael Hall, Prestonsburg High School, who plans to study nursing at Alice Lloyd College. She has been paired with Pricilla Fraley.

• Nicholas Hites, Prestonsburg High School, who plans to study political science at the University of Pikeville. He has been paired with Hattie Owens.

• Lauralee Johnson, South Floyd High School, who plans to study communication disorders at Eastern Kentucky University. She has been paired with Madeline Allen.

• Christi Rose, the Piarist School, who plans to study English and history at Alice Lloyd College. She has been paired with Judi Calhoun.

• Kristyn Watkins, Betsy Layne High School, who plans to study biology at Morehead State University. She has been paired with Charly Shorty.

The club plans to announce the winner of the $1,000 scholarship at a later date.