Correction: In the original version of this story, it was erroneously stated that KEES money cannot be used to attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College. In fact, KEES money can be used to attend BCTC.

Four Boyle County High School students put together a legislative proposal concerning Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) money and on Thursday, they got to discuss their bill with state Rep. Daniel Elliott.

Susanna Moore, Rachel Rodgers, Ally Anderson and Jaelyn Young, members of the Y Club at the high school, presented their bill at the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) in November.

The idea for their topic came from Danville-Boyle County Community Education Director Alane Mills.

“The girls put a lot of work into researching the topic and writing the bill and thinking about cons that others could bring up and writing speeches,” Boyle County High School English teacher and Y Club advisor Blossom Brosi said. “Then they went to KYA and did a really good job delivering the bill.” 

In the several years Brosi has been a part of KYA, she said KEES money is a frequent topic. 

“They really like to change KEES,” she said. 

The topic of KEES money “was applicable to us because KEES money is something that we deal with every year,” Moore said. 

In their bill, the students wanted to make KEES money available for apprenticeship programs in the state.

Their bill states that, “By expanding the KEES fund to apprenticeship programs, the state can direct our own talent and funds to deserving students on career pathways.”

While the students’ bill is not currently being considered by lawmakers, Elliott spoke with the students about the importance of technical schools and how he supports them. 

“We certainly need to support students who choose to go to alternative forms of education,” he said. “I’ll be in support of it to make sure KEES money can be used at technical schools and those sorts of programs. We certainly need welders and plumbers and those people to keep society running well.”