Sophia is a proud graduate of Martha Layne Collins High School. She truly embodies what it means to LOVE BIG and serve others. In addition to filling blessing boxes with food and necessities around Shelby County, she has hosted multiple food and clothing drives. In 2023 she founded “Warm Our Winters” and collected and distributed over 300 coats to her community. Additionally, Sophia is deeply involved with Awake Ministries, a Christian based residential addiction recovery center and food bank in Shelby County. She was recently part of a volunteer initiative that spent hours listening and transcribing stories of hardship, recovery, and redemption. These stories are being compiled into a book and will soon be published and sold at The Paddock, a local Shelbyville coffee shop. All proceeds will go to Awake Ministries. Sophia was awarded a $10,000 scholarship and will attend Transylvania University in the fall. She plans to pursue a degree in veterinary science and will also be competing on the university’s cross country and track team. She hopes to one day work in some of Kentucky’s rural areas that lack essential veterinary care.
Sofia is a hard-working, resilient young woman who has a love for God and a passion for people. Growing up in a home that truly knows how to love big, her parents chose to become a foster family for displaced children. After witnessing the overwhelming need firsthand, she became an advocate for young kids. She even encouraged her own family to expand their already very large household; knowing that meant she would have to give up some personal comforts in the process. During her high school tenure she was a competitive volleyball player, studied Spanish and became a successful entrepreneur and community service organizer. In 2022 she started her own baking business selling homemade baked goods all across Kentucky. She raised thousands of dollars and put the proceeds back into her community to help fund various local service initiatives. Sofia’s love and compassion for people is fueled by her faith. She is a volunteer youth worship leader at Shelby Christian Church and helps lead various services when needed. Sofia is a 2026 graduate of Martha Layne Collins High School and was awarded a $10,000 scholarship. She plans to study medicine at the University of Louisville in the fall. She hopes to one day work with Doctors Without Borders and care for people all across the globe.
“To our community Avery was more than just another student, he connected the lost, forgotten, outcast, popular, cool kids, losers, those in need, those in crisis. He impacted everyone he crossed paths with. "
