INEZ — Martin Circuit Clerk Denise Gauze praised local scholarship winner Haley Robinson as Kentucky’s Circuit Court Clerks announced the recipients of the 2026 Donate Life Kentucky Scholarship Program.
Robinson was among 20 students statewide selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship for promoting organ donation awareness through public education and outreach efforts.
“The students of today are tomorrow’s advocates, and it’s inspiring to see so many young Kentuckians use their voices for good,” Gauze said. “This scholarship is one way we continue the lifesaving mission education we began more than 30 years ago.”
According to the Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks, the scholarship program recognizes students who demonstrate “passion, creativity and commitment to the lifesaving mission of donation and transplantation.” Outreach projects included schoolwide awareness campaigns, classroom presentations, social media advocacy, public speaking and community education encouraging others to register as organ donors.
Among this year’s recipients was Riley Speck, a University of Kentucky student who received a heart transplant at 18 months old after being diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy as an infant.
“I survived only because of organ donation,” Speck said. “The generosity of my donor gave me the opportunity to grow up, pursue my dreams, and advocate for others. Organ donation is not an abstract cause to me; it is the reason I am alive today.”
Speck has spent years advocating for donation awareness through public speaking, school presentations and participation in the Transplant Games of America.
The Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks said circuit clerks have supported donation education since launching a $1 donation program at driver’s license counters in 1992. The organization reported that clerks have helped raise more than $20 million for donation education and awareness, and more than 90% of Kentucky’s more than 2 million registered organ donors signed up through their local circuit clerk’s office.
“Our Circuit Clerk Endowment honors the legacy of our founders, who built the foundation for organ donation education in our Commonwealth,” said Shelley Snyder, executive director of the Donate Life Kentucky Trust. “Their support continues to grow a culture of generosity and hope in all 120 Kentucky counties.”
In addition to Robinson, the following students also received the scholarship: Avery Robinson of Kenton County, Jacob Leach and Karaline Ratliff of Scott County, Tabitha Stevenson of Grayson County, Kayla McDonald of Crittenden County, Trey Christopher Floden of Shelby County, Bailey Poole and Tristan French of Hancock County, Riley Speck of Fayette County, Jonathan Voorhees of Boone County, Aubri Robinson of Franklin County, Salena Amro of Harlan County, Stuart Knight of Hardin County, Ella Thompson of Bullitt County, Ashtyn Markus of Campbell County, Zayna Yazigi of McCracken County, Catherine Elizabeth Osborne of Daviess County, Addison Morgan of Metcalfe County and Connor Klein of Jefferson County.