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BGO
Night of Champions

The Bluegrass Orthopaedics Foundation, a non-profit organization, was proud to sponsor the 7th Annual BGO Night of Champions. This year's event took place on Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 at the Marriott - Griffin Gate beginning at 6:00PM.

The evening is a celebratory event for those individuals not always recognized with awards or accolades. The BGO Champion Scholarship is given to two very deserving high school student-athletes from the central Kentucky area - one male and one female. This scholarship is unique as it honors student-athletes at the high school level who have distinguished themselves by overcoming adversity or injury, and returned and excelled beyond expectations in their respective sport(s). The award is accompanied with a $2,500 scholarship per individual.

The BGO Achievement Scholarships are given to central Kentucky high school student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in the classroom, in their community, on the playing field/court, and have been high achievers in every aspect of their life. Each high school from bluegrass area may nominate student-athletes for this award. The award is accompanied with a $500 scholarship per individual.

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2023 BGO Female Champion

2023 BGO Male Champion 

2023 BGO Achievement Scholarship Recipients

  • Nathaniel Berry - Bourbon County High School
  • Antonio "Ezra" Blackman - Dunbar High School
  • Gage Bowling - Scott County High School
  • Emma Kate Brumley - Madison Central High School
  • Elijah Buckles - South Laurel High School
  • Edie Clark - Boyle County High School
  • Brad Elza - South Laurel High School
  • Lilly Hartman - Henry Clay High School
  • Grace Leis - South Laurel High School
  • Caleb Morrison - Great Crossing High School
  • Ciara O'Shea - Madison Central High School
  • Chloe Ralston - Lincoln County High School
  • Claira Beth Ramsey - Madison Central High School
  • Bennett Reynolds - Boyle County High School
  • Benjamin Swayze - Henry Clay High School
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2023 Keynote Speaker:
Melvin Adams

Melvin Adams knows firsthand how to achieve great things despite challenging circumstances.

Even though he is only 5'8", he became a two-time NCAA All-American basketball player and the team captain of the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters.

As an underdog who went on to become a professional basketball player, Melvin asks audiences, "Imagine what you can do?" Today, he encourages and entertains audiences and demonstrates how they can achieve their dreams no matter the circumstances they face.

Melvin grew up in poverty and with an abusive father in Houston, Texas. He was challenged early on with extremely negative circumstances. However, he dreamed of playing professional basketball. One coach told Melvin that he'd never play professional basketball because of his height. Melvin chose not to let those words dictate his future. He chose not to let any disadvantages stop him. He chose success. He out-trained his competitors and inspired his college teammates to always aim for more as well.

Melvin's tenacity on the court and his winning record earned him the opportunity to play for the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. Not only did he become the face of the Globetrotters in the media, but he became Team Captain and was named "Mr. Globetrotter" numerous times. The title "Mr. Globetrotter" is presented every year to the teammate that exemplifies the most excitement and energy associated with the Globetrotters.

Melvin Adams equips audiences with those same ideas that took him to the top despite his circumstances. He also encourages audiences to always aim for more by giving them practical ideas on making circumstances better.

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Previous Champion Scholarship
Recipients

2023 Female Champion Winner
Baylee Collingsworth, Southwestern High School

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2023 Male Champion
Jalen Smith, Lincoln County High School

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2022 Female Champion Winner 
Keaton Hall, Model Laboratory School

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2022 Male Champion Winner 
Connor Padgett, Boyle County High School

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2021 Female Champion Winner 
Shelby Cothron, Pulaski County High School

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2021 Male Champion Winner 
Remi Forlevil, Danville High School

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2020 Female Champion Winner 
Logan Thomas, Western Hills High School

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2020 Male Champion Winner 
Jace Bowling, South Laurel High School

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2019 Female Champion Winner
Audrey Rawls, Dunbar HS

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2019 Male Champion Winner
Vaughn Hall, Lexington Catholic HS

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2018 Female Champion Winner
Edie Meyer, West Jessamine High School

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2018 Male Champion Winner 
Logan Nieves, Lexington Christian Academy

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2017 Female Champion Winner
Summer Coleman, West Jessamine High School

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2017 Male Champion Winner
Adam Bender, Woodford County High School

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The BGO
Champion Scholarships

The BGO Champion Scholarship will be given to two very deserving high school student-athletes from the central Kentucky area - one male and one female. This award is unique as it honors student-athletes at the high school level who have distinguished themselves by overcoming adversity or injury, and returned and excelled beyond expectations in their respective sport(s). The award is accompanied with a $2,500 scholarship per individual.

The BGO
Achievement Scholarships

The BGO Achievement Scholarships are given to central Kentucky high school student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in the classroom, in their community, on the playing field/court, and have been high achievers in every aspect of their life. Each high school from bluegrass area may nominate student-athletes for this award. The award is accompanied with a $500 scholarship per individual.

Thank you
for our partners

Keynote
Sponsor

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Gold
Sponsors

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Silver
Sponsors

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Bronze
Sponsors

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2022 Achievement Scholarship Recipients

  • South Laurel HS - Sarah Bailey
  • Boyle County HS - Ashley Bigelow
  • Bourbon County HS - Kathryn Boshears
  • Bourbon County HS - Sadie Darbro
  • Dunbar HS - Campbell Gash
  • Sayre School - Catherine Graves
  • Estill County HS - Mia Hale
  • Estill County HS - Gabe Hall
  • Madison Central HS - Matthew Johns
  • Madison Central HS - Jeffrey Kinley
  • Bourbon County HS - Charisma Massey
  • Scott County HS - Brianna Penney
  • Woodford County HS - Morgan Reynolds
  • South Laurel HS - Gracie Turner
  • Madison Southern HS - Rocky Whitehead

2021 Achievement Scholarship Recipients

  • Scott County High School - Jackson Albensi

  • Rockcastle County High School - Sarah Barron

  • Bourbon County High School - Madyson Walters

  • Madison Central High School - Morgan Thomas

  • Bourbon County High School - Ximena Tamariz

  • Estill County High School - Jenna Stone

  • Morgan County High School - Krista Perry

  • Lexington Christian Academy - Mattie Lebryk

  • Model Laboratory - McKenzie Johnson

  • Trinity Christian Academy - Cameron Johnson

  • Bourbon County High School - Jaycee Goodwin

  • Pulaski County High School - Austyn Crawford

  • Paul Laurence Dunbar - Caroline Cole

  • Madison Central High School - Ryleigh Blythe

  • Madison Central High School - Olivia Young

2020 Achievement Scholarship Recipients

  • Bourbon County High School - Austin Lay

  • Boyle County High School - Faris Allahham

  • Boyle County High School - Eli Goggin

  • Dunbar High School - Peyton Gash

  • Estill County High School - Kaylee Riddell

  • George Rogers Clark High School - Hannah Curreri

  • Henry Clay High School - Buddy Goodwin

  • Henry Clay High School - Olivia Greinke

  • Henry Clay High School - Van McKinley

  • Lexington Catholic - Alexis Brock

  • Lexington Christian Academy - Aliesha White

  • Lexington Christian Academy - Mackenzie Buckler

  • Madison Southern High School - Destiny Dooley

  • Sayre School - Maggie Little

  • Scott County High School - Philip Garner

2019 Achievement Scholarship Recipients

  • Bourbon County High School - Matthew Dampier
  • Dunbar High School - Meredith Phillips
  • East Jessamine High School - Lindsey Rose
  • Estill County High School - Amelia Farmer
  • George Rogers Clark - William David Henry
  • Henry Clay High School - Allison Tripure
  • Lafayette High School - Lindi Debilzan
  • Lexington Christian Academy - Grace Jacobs
  • Lexington Christian Academy - Kyle Rode
  • Madison Central High School - Ethan Hahn
  • Madison Southern High School - Zaria Carter
  • Model Laboratory - Savanna Gullett
  • Rockcastle County High School - Selicity Broaddus
  • Rockcastle County High School - Gracelyn Owens
  • Scott County High School - Bryan Hudson
  • Scott County High School - Michael Moreno
  • Tates Creek High School - Garrett Belcher
  • Tates Creek High School - Kenzie Putteet
  • Western Hills High School - Peyton Cody
  • Woodford County High School - Emily Hestand

2018 Achievement Scholarship Recipients

  • Bourbon County High School - Kenton Edwards

  • Dunbar High School - Savannah Dudek
  • East Jessamine High School - Parker Harris
  • Franklin County High School - Kindall Talley
  • George Rogers Clark High School - Whitney Walker
  • Henry Clay High School Jalen - Thomas Williams
  • Lexington Catholic - Spencer Kriss
  • Lexington Christian Academy - Colten Crager
  • Madison Central High School - Blaze Pacheco
  • Madison Southern High School - Angelo Ou
  • Model Laboratory School - Peyton Erslan
  • Sayre School - Isabel Pergande
  • Scott County High School - Landen Easley
  • West Jessamine High School - Ashley Miller
  • Woodford County High School - Emma Boebinger

2017 Achievement Scholarship Recipients

  • Berea High School - Alexandria Horn
  • Dunbar High School - Alexander Alonso-Ibarra
  • East Jessamine High School - Justin McIntire
  • George Rogers Clark High School - Sarah Vickers
  • Henry Clay High School - Charlotte Kessinger
  • Lafayette High School - Nick SirLouis
  • Lexington Catholic - Ashlyn Coleman
  • Lexington Christian Academy - Blake Richardson
  • Madison Central High School - Bailee Vanover
  • Madison Southern High School - Conner Coyle
  • Model Laboratory School - Nathan Frisbie
  • Sayre School - Lauren Dunn
  • Scott County High School - Kadee Hudson
  • Tates Creek High School - Cameron Davis
  • West Jessamine High School - Alexis Rich
  • Woodford County High School - Tylan Tucker