Is there an educator who made you feel seen, supported, or inspired? Students and families—now’s your chance to say thank you.

For Educator Appreciation Week (May 4-8, 2026), we’re inviting you to write a short thank‑you note to any Model faculty or staff member who has made a difference.

At Model, we celebrate Educator Appreciation—not just Teacher Appreciation—because every member of our community plays a vital role in shaping students’ experiences and helping them thrive.

Your messages will be delivered to ensure our educators feel seen, valued, and celebrated, and our goal is to share a note with every faculty and staff member.

Share your appreciation here: model.eku.edu/thankyou.

Extended Learning closes for the 2025-2026 school year on Friday, May 1.

This will be the final day Extended Learning services are offered until next school year.

Congratulations to our Model STLP team for a Runners-Up finish at the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) State Tournament, held April 24 at Rupp Arena. Competing live before more than 20,000 visitors, Aiden Flynn ('27), Jiwoo Kim ('27), and Tobias Sowders ('27) presented their project, Model C.R.E.W. (Cancer Research Exchange Workshop), in the Projects Competition.

Their project stood out among 1,200 submissions, advancing from the regional level to the top 600 at state, earning a spot in the Terrific Top Twenty, then advancing to the Elite 8. They closed out an incredible day as State Runners-Up, an impressive achievement.

Additional congratulations go to Aiden Flynn, Annistyn Flynn (31), and Amelia King ('29), who were each named State Finalists in their respective Creative Digital Arts (CDA) categories. Their projects were selected among 5,000 entries submitted statewide.

We are proud of all of these students for their creativity, innovation, and leadership in technology!

Congratulations to three Model seniors who committed to athletic programs at their respective universities.

Kate Arvin ('26)

Transylvania University

Tennis

Matthew Gorbett ('26)

Mount Saint Joseph University

Baseball

Jayden Bingham ('26)

Lakeland University

Basketball

Model German students have earned several impressive distinctions in recent competitions. In German 2, students participated in the National German Exam (Level 2), with Lauren Zerbee ('27), Colin Wangler ('29), and Rory Erlandson ('28) receiving recognition for their strong performance. Congratulations to Lauren Zerbee, who earned a bronze medal for her outstanding score.

In German 1, students submitted digital storybooks to the 2026 Kentucky World Language Student Exhibition in Louisville. Four students earned top honors in the middle and high school divisions. Kate Whitlock ('29) won first place in high school German 1, while Caroline Williams ('30), Lily Byron ('30), and Potter Miller ('30) earned first through third places for middle school in that order.

We are proud of our students for their dedication to language learning and their excellent achievements at both the state and national levels

Spring has been an especially active and exciting season for our Model visual arts students! We are proud to share several upcoming exhibitions and to celebrate our students whose artwork has been recognized locally and statewide.

Madison County Arts Expo
Model students were selected to participate in the Madison County Arts Expo, where artwork from schools across the county is juried and awarded. Congratulations to the following students whose work was selected for the show:

• Elementary: Shannah Zeng, Saylor Stumbo, Evelynn Davis, Lily‑Drew Chaffins, Everly Hoskins, Kinley Brooks, Zora Stearns, Arevia Gump, Cora Werle, Sara Sokolowski, Kathryn Kelley, Ava Medina, Haley Bruno, Rosie Conn, Etta Mohler

• Middle School: Lia Tejeda Flores, Foster Holt, Lucy Smith, Hazel Cooper, Ava Weis, Paityn Shoopman, Potter Miller, Emily Fore, Whitley Bartel, Alivia Burchett, Maya Collins

• High School: Lillian Dale, Morgan Long, Lewy Kuba, Avnita Sherigar, Abbey Zeng, Scarlett Ochs, Haley Kim, Zara Maddox, Anastasia Woods, Elise Wygant, Maeve Hensley Johnson, Gray Robinson, Electa Grant, Jaylee Pham

Thrivent Young Artists Showcase
This year marks the first Thrivent Young Artists Showcase, a new countywide invitational sponsored by Thrivent Financial and Model Laboratory Schools. Student artwork is currently on display at the Thrivent Financial office in downtown Richmond. A closing reception will be held on Thursday, May 7, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Congratulations to the following artists selected for this exhibit: Zara Maddox, Abbey Zeng, Katherine Whitlock, Electa Grant, Morgan Long, Camille Luxon, Oliver Windham, Nora Maynard, Oscar Jacobi, Flora Barker, Ayla Comey, Avery Barnett, Madi Cain, and Alivia Burchett.

Kentucky All‑State High School Art Competition
Model artist Zara Maddox ('26) advanced to the Kentucky All‑State High School Art Competition after earning First Place in Textiles at the Bluegrass Regional Art Show. The exhibit will be on display May 4-17 at the UK Bolivar Art Gallery in Lexington, with a reception and awards ceremony on May 17 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Model Represented at the Kentucky Department of Education
We are also proud to share that Lillian Dale ('29) has an acrylic painting on display at the Kentucky Department of Education building in Frankfort as part of the KyAEA art exhibition.

We are incredibly proud of our student artists and grateful to our visual arts teachers for continuing to provide meaningful, creative opportunities throughout the year.

The Summer Discovery at EKU for Talented Youth program is a wonderful opportunity for gifted and talented students to explore new interests and deepen their learning this summer. Students will engage in exciting courses such as visual arts, ecology, aviation, and mock trial, led by EKU faculty and experienced educators.

The program is open to students who will be in Grades 5-7 during the 2026-2027 school year. The registration deadline is June 17.

To learn more or register, see the registration form here.

For questions, please contact Anne Calloway Kinsman at anne.dacci@eku.edu.

The Class of 2027 is bringing the Golden Age of Hollywood to life! Step into a night of classic Hollywood elegance and red‑carpet style on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

We can’t fit every celebration into the newsletter, but our social media can! Follow us on social platforms (@ekumodel) or visit our website (model.eku.edu) to catch the latest highlights, everyday happenings, behind-the-scenes snapshots, event photography, and celebrations from across campus.

Model Laboratory Schools at Eastern Kentucky University
521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475
859-622-4000  •  model.eku.edu  •  @EKUModel