Monica's Life

Monica was born and raised in Versailles. She has one older sister, Heather, and many, many close friends and relatives. Monica attended St. Leo’s Elementary School, Woodford County Middle School, and graduated from WCHS in 1997. During her high school career she was a class officer, member of the WCHS Jacketfish Swim Team, Track and Cross Country Teams, a member of Student Council, Jacketfest Queen, Homecoming Attendant, and a member of many other clubs and organizations. She went on to run Cross Country at Flagler College, finishing in the NAIA finals before transferring to swim for Western and earn her degree from Western Kentucky University.

Monica, an avid traveler, studied abroad in Europe during college and decided after college to continue her love of teaching and traveling by participating in the JET program. With the JET program she worked as an Assistant Language Teacher teaching English in Japan for one year. Upon her return home, it became evident that her true interest was in the area of helping others. She was a Certified Nursing Assistant at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington and was pursuing studies toward becoming an RN at the time of her death.

Her parents, sister and family along with several WCHS teachers, members of the 1997 graduating class and her friends from WKU, have established this scholarship in her memory. The Monica Combs Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a WCHS graduating senior who is selfless, genuine, a natural leader, willing to put the needs of others ahead of their own, someone not afraid to challenge the status quo and someone who is loyal, and dedicated to the value of friendship. In the search for applicants, Woodford County teachers and staff were asked to “think of a student that makes you smile at the end of the day”.

This is an annual award for a WCHS senior. Successful fundraising events have enabled the scholarship amount to grow tremendously to $3500 – the award that is given today. The scholarship award can be used for the recipient's post secondary school of choice (university, college, technical program etc).