Shortly after becoming the 2018 Teen of the Year Carlissa Frederich became the second Kentuckian and the first resident of western Kentucky to win the national American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship contest. "Through her district, regional, state and national victories, Carlissa received a total of $22,400 in scholarship money," said Joe Framptom at the Teen of the Year event.  "It was her very first speech contest. Before, she had only presented in front of people in class or events like church functions." In addition to a 4.0 GPA, Frederich scored 35 - nearly perfect - on her ACT.

"I feel honored to be recognized by The Paducah Sun and Paducah Bank," Carlissa said two years ago. "But I feel even more honored to be part of a community that helps students like me. A community who reaches out and helps future generations."

"Carlissa checks off all the boxes of qualities we look for in any Teen of the Year," Paducah Bank CEO Joe Framptom commented. "She is community-minded and active in her church. She volunteers with the McCracken County Teen Court, a local juvenile justice program that focuses on rehabilitation and second chances, and she cares for therapy horses."

Today Carlissa is a junior at Brigham Young University majoring in Physiology and Developmental Biology with a minor in Chemistry. “I love BYU,” said Carlissa. “I plan to attend medical school after my undergraduate studies.”

Recently Carlissa took 18 months away from college to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I was in El Salvador, but I had to come back because of the virus. My mission work involved service projects and teaching English. I plan to return as soon as possible to finish my mission! Serving the people of El Salvador brought me to love them and their culture and to appreciate our country even more.

The last two years since my graduation have been full of learning and progress, and I am so grateful for the community support that helped me on my path!”