Bryan Station High senior Alima Sylva has been awarded the $5,000 Superintendent of the Year Student Scholarship following the selection of FCPS leader Demetrus Liggins as Kentucky’s 2026 statewide honoree. Alima has served Fayette County Public Schools on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. 

Liggins shared that Alima has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to amplifying student voice in our district. “Alima will continue to make Fayette County very proud in her years ahead as a neuroscience major at Centre College,” he said.  

The Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA) has sponsored the scholarship since 1988 in partnership with American Fidelity. Traditionally it goes to a student in the home district of the state’s Superintendent of the Year. This year’s award celebrates both Liggins’ leadership and the exceptional contributions of students like Alima. 

The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council is a vital bridge between district administration and the student body. It includes up to 30 representatives from all six high schools, as well as Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, The Learning Center, STEAM Academy, and Carter G. Woodson Academy. The council ensures student perspectives drive district-level decision-making. 

In her winning essay, Alima reflected on how the experience transformed her perspective.

“My time on this council has shaped me not only as a student but as a person. It pushed me to move from a passive observer to someone active in the engagement. It gave opportunities to let my voice be heard and advocate for fellow classmates,” she wrote. “I will carry these skills with me by embracing discomfort, using my voice to make a difference, and continuing to reach out for opportunities that challenge me.”

During the 2025-26 school year, Alima and fellow council members spearheaded several major initiatives including: 

• The “Awareness is Care-ness” Campaign – a student-designed anti-hate and cultural sensitivity awareness initiative
• Enhancements to the Elevate platform – an FCPS initiative that promotes goal setting, decision-making, and self advocacy skills that support life-long learning
• Civic advocacy – engaging with local officials through Youth in Government Day with the mayor and LFUCG council

FCPS is committed to ensuring that every student is college and career-ready. Through leadership programs like the advisory council, Liggins continues to prioritize student voice and essential professional skills as part of our district’s Portrait of a Graduate mission.