Ava Russell

Ava Russell, of McCracken, Ky., is a member of the McConnell Scholar Class of 2030 at the University of Louisville. She studies political science with a minor in Spanish.

Honors Societies 

• University of Louisville Honors Program

Scholarships & Awards

• University of Louisville Yum! Scholar 
• University of Louisville Henry Vogt Scholarship 
• University of Louisville Woodford R. Porter Scholarship

Campus & Extracurricular Activities

• Interact Club, President 
• Orchestra, Concert Master 
• Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society, President 
• School News “PTTV," Head Anchor and Editor 
• Future Problem Solvers, Captain 
• Beta Club, Senior Representative 
• Varsity Soccer 
• Student Council
• Academic Team
• Student Ambassador 
• Speech Team
• Pep Club
• National Honor Society 

Community Service

• Seven humanitarian/service trips to El Salvador
• Volunteer at Starfish Orphan Ministries
• Community Kitchen Volunteer 

Favorite Books

• Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall 
• As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom 
• She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb 
• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

High School

Ava Russell is a graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School, where she served as president of the Interact Club and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and concert master of the school orchestra. She was also the captain of Future Problem Solvers, head anchor and editor of PTTV and a member of the varsity soccer team.

I am ecstatic to be alongside driven, compassionate individuals who will encourage me to grow as a person so that I may use the privilege of an education to contribute to the well-being of others. It’s truly an honor!