Holifield Youth Salute
My daughter just completed the process. To me The Central Kentucky Council on Youth Leadership seems to be a meaningless organization designed to extract dollars from parents hoping to get scholarships for their children. Searching the internet for Central Kentucky Council on Youth Leadership doesn't go anywhere except to Holifield Photography. There appears to be a strong relationship between Holifield Photography and the National Council on Youth Leadership. Jim Holifield is the National Director of Chapter Development. Kudos to him and his civic involvement.
Here is the basic process as I went through it with my child:
My child filled out some paperwork and submitted it.
We were told my child was accepted as a Youth Leader.
Trip to Lexington to have the photo taken.
Trip to Lexington to view the proofs (you have to pay in advance if you want to see the photos on line, which locks you into a $150 minimum purchase.) You don't have to purchase pictures, but this is how funds are generated for scholarships and other things Holifield Photography gives out.
Trip to Lexington to pick up the pictures you purchased.
From my perspective, the pictures weren't remarkably better than photos I've gotten from other studios.
$175 if you want the storyboard collage that is put on display.
Parents/volunteers move the display boards around.
Trip to Lexington for the awards ceremony (which lasts most of the day) if you want to be eligible.
Transylvania University provided the venue and free lunch.
Asbury University, Eastern Kentucky University, Georgetown College, and Transylvania University each gave out five $4,000 scholarships. Recipients were decided by each university's selection committee, but I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
Two $500 scholarships from Holifield Photography. I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
Five ACT - SAT Courses valued at $500 each from Class 101. I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
Five $100 Leadership Awards from Central Bank & Trust Co. I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
$50 certificates from Class 101 for a Class 101 course.
Six $1000 trips to Town Meeting on Tomorrow, St. Louis from Holifield Photography. I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
55 Awards Top Youth Leader from each high school. I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
One Award Central Kentucky Youth Leader of the Year. I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
One Award Lexington Youth Leader of the Year. My daughter is not attending a Lexington High School so was not eligible. I have no idea what the selection criteria was.
Far more important, to me anyway, was more than 200 students didn't get anything other than an opportunity to put on a college and/or scholarship application they were selected by the Central Kentucky Council on Youth Leadership as a Youth Leader.
And starting last week I began receiving emails from Holifield Photography selling High School graduation photos.
From my perspective, the Youth Salute is as meaningless as the National Society of High School Scholars, except it's far more expensive. read more