Students in Pike County received honors and scholarships at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s annual P.R.A.I.S.E. banquet on Thursday.

Students were honored for having the highest ACT score in their school and two students received $1,000 scholarships for achieving the highest ACT scores countywide.

Laura Cain from Charles Henderson High School and Mason Corley from Goshen High School both scored a 30 on the ACT, tying for the top position.

“My dream score was a 33, but after taking it three times I left it at 30,” Cain said. “I was really nervous about this because I know we have so many smart people in Pike County. It’s great to have achieved it.”

“I’m honored that I was awarded this scholarship,” Corley said. “I had to work to get to it and pay attention in class. I’m lucky enough to have had teachers that took the time out of their days and their personal lives to help me get to where I am.”

Each top scoring student from the county’s high schools was recognized, as well, and brought their favorite teacher to the banquet and recognized them as an asset to his or her success. Adrian Fisher scored the highest on the ACT at Pike County High School and Catherine Crowe scored the highest at Pike Liberal Arts School. These students each received a $300 scholarship, funded again through the Let’s Eat program..

Through the program, participating restaurants that are members of the Chamber donate a percent of their proceeds on a scheduled day toward the P.R.A.I.S.E. scholarship funds.

“This is how we have gone from funding one scholarship to the P.R.A.I.S.E. winner to also including the three runners up and the three academy scholarships,” said Dianna Lee, marketing and public relations officer of Troy Bank & Trust and a member of the Chamber Education Committee. Lee has been in charge of the Let’s Eat Program.

The students awarded the academy scholarships each received $200. The students who received the scholarships were Hannah Downing, from the agriculture academy of Goshen High School, Jeremy Green from the Charles Henderson High School business academy and Diamond Adam from the culinary arts academy at Charles Henderson High School.