The Craft Academy at Morehead State

05/22/2026

The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics at Morehead State University is proud to announce a brand-new initiative for the 2026-2027 academic year. While we are still currently recruiting rising juniors for the Class of 2028, for the very first time, we are also offering limited enrollment to rising seniors for the Class of 2027!

The Craft Academy is a two-year, dual-enrollment, early college program for Kentucky high school students. Participants remain enrolled at their home high school while living on MSU’s campus during their junior and senior years, taking in-person college courses and earning college credit. Our program is entirely free, and there is no cost to apply or attend.

Many of our graduates have gone on to highly selective colleges and universities both within and beyond Kentucky. Our graduates pursue careers across a wide range of fields, not limited to STEM professions.

If you know academically and socially prepared rising juniors or rising seniors, please share this opportunity with them. A link to our website is included below. We also offer campus tours, parent nights, and school presentations, which can be scheduled by emailing [email protected].

https://www.moreheadstate.edu/academics/colleges/craft-academy/

05/19/2026

Congratulations to our very own alumna, Emma Grace Laney, on being selected to represent Morehead State University at the 2026 Mountain Laurel Festival! Emma Grace exemplifies poise, integrity, and leadership, and we are incredibly proud to see her serve as an ambassador for our campus community. Best of luck this weekend as she competes for the title of Mountain Laurel Queen!

— NEWS —

Congratulations to Emma Grace Laney of Ashland, KY, who will represent Morehead State University as a candidate at the 2026 Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival this upcoming weekend!

Read more about Laney and her time at MSU: https://bit.ly/3RwLAuB

05/18/2026

The Craft Academy is overjoyed to have graduated our 10th class, the Class of 2026!

Congratulations to the Craft Academy at Morehead State Class of 2026! 🎉🎓⚛️

This past weekend the Academy recognized nearly 100 students representing 49 counties across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

📹 Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/live/RsDFvRbTbAs
📸 Flickr Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCTu6v
📰 Story: https://bit.ly/4npDgIV

05/07/2026

As we celebrate our milestone 10th graduation this Saturday, we also want to recognize the Craft Academy alumni who are earning additional degrees this semester. Congratulations to the following graduates on achieving yet another remarkable accomplishment!

Duncan McGinnis, Class of 2022
Bachelor's Degree, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Centre College

Josh Loiacono, Class of 2020
Master’s Degree, Professional Science Masters in Environmental Informatics
Tennessee Tech University

Ashlee Lewis, Class of 2022
Master’s Degree, Applied Behavior Analysis
University of Louisville

Taylor Horsfall, Class of 2023
Bachelor’s Degree, Architecture
University of Michigan

Slate Robinson, Class of 2022
Bachelor’s Degree, Mechatronics Engineering Technology
Northern Kentucky University

Peyton Tubbs, Class of 2020
Master’s Degree, School Social Work
University of Kentucky

Savannah Jones, Class of 2022
Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science and Sustainable Development
Columbia University

Derek Gill, Class of 2023
Bachelor's Degree, Biology
University of Louisville

Abigail Gillispie, Class of 2018
Master’s Degree, Occupational Therapy
Shenandoah University

Emma Collins, Class of 2020
Doctoral Degree, Juris Doctor
University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law

Lauren Beasley, Class of 2023
Bachelor’s Degree, Construction Management and Pre-Civil Engineering
Morehead State University

Owen Day, Class of 2022
Master’s Degree, Veterinary Clinical Medicine
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Kendall Staton, Class of 2021
Master’s Degree, Journalism and Public Affairs
American University

Ethan Speer, Class of 2021
Bachelor’s Degree, Public Policy
University of Kentucky

Ren Kelley, Class of 2023
Bachelor’s Degree, Social Work
University of Kentucky

Sydney Gordon, Class of 2019
Doctoral Degree, Dentistry
University of Kentucky

Carter Smith, Class of 2019
Bachelor’s Degree, Biomedical Sciences
Morehead State University

Garrett Flynn, Class of 2020
Doctoral Degree, Juris Doctor
Salmon P. Chase College of Law

Ashlyn Smetanko, Class of 2022
Bachelor’s Degree, Accounting
Western Kentucky University

Alexander Masterson, Class of 2024
Bachelor’s Degree, Business Management
University of Kentucky

Timothy Smith, Class of 2022
Bachelor's Degree, Mechanical Engineering
University of Kentucky

Andrew Winterman, Class of 2022
Bachelor's Degree, Physics and Computer Science
University of Kentucky

Mark Webb, Class of 2021
Bachelor's Degree, Aerospace Engineering
University of Alabama

Jonathan Antonelli, Class of 2021
Bachelor's Degree, Liberal Studies, Natural/Physical/Mathematical Sciences
University of Kentucky

05/04/2026

The University of Kentucky published a wonderful piece about Craft Academy Class of 2021 alum, Jonathan Antonelli. Since his time at our program, Jonathan has been a remarkably resilient and dedicated mentor to our students. We are so proud of his hard work and are thrilled to congratulate him on his graduation!

For Jonathan Antonelli of Taylorsville, Kentucky, graduating from the UK College of Arts and Sciences means more than earning a degree — it’s proof that second chances matter. Next stop: medical school, with hopes of serving communities just like the one that raised him.

05/04/2026

Part 5of Senior Spotlight: Class of 2026
Congratulations to our seniors for their commitments to outstanding colleges!

🎉Luke Seeyle attending Vanderbilt University
🎉Jordan Richmond attending Transylvania University
🎉Kiki Rice attending University of Kentucky
🎉Joe Reader attending University of Louisville
🎉Shyann Wilburn attending Morehead State University
🎉Dylan Williams attending Centre College
🎉Tori Reid attending University of Louisville
🎉Kyndra Gray attending Morehead State University
🎉Chloe Dowse attending University of Louisville
🎉Amelia Colinger attending Morehead State University

04/22/2026

Part 4 of Senior Spotlight: Class of 2026
Congratulations to our seniors for their commitments to outstanding colleges!

🎉Ellis Kidwell attending United States Military Academy at West Point
🎉Jayden Bradley attending University of Louisville
🎉Jayla Sands attending Morehead State University
🎉Cameron Combs attending Eastern Kentucky University
🎉Lydia Smith attending Morehead State University
🎉Gracie Mudd attending Western Kentucky University
🎉Wyatt Dalrymple attending Morehead State University
🎉Aryanna Soden attending University of Louisville
🎉Gabrielle Stacy Brandenburgh attending Centre College
🎉Lucas Howard attending University of Kentucky
🎉Alex Simms attending University of Louisville
🎉Breanna Turner attending Hazard Community & Technical College
🎉Chasity Bartsch attending Morehead State University

04/20/2026

Our students made a huge impression at the Celebration of Student Scholarship! 🎉✨
From impactful research to creative, innovative projects, they showcased what makes our academy so special. Even more exciting, several students earned awards for Merit and Exceptional Merit in their presentations! 👏
At Craft Academy, we’re all about exploring new ideas, pushing boundaries, and celebrating student success, and this event was the perfect example of that. We couldn’t be prouder! 💙💛

04/20/2026

04/16/2026

The Craft Academy just celebrated our 2026 Masquerade Prom! It was an unforgettable night filled with music and laughter.

Congratulations to our prom court:
Prom Queen: Jayden Bradley
Prom King: Ellis Kidwell
Prom Princess Ada Valentine
Prom Prince: Jude Durbin
Prom Couple: Megan James and Katherine Smith

Here are just a few moments from a night our students won’t forget.