HOPKINSVILLE, KY – During Hopkinsville Community College’s Spring 2025 Commencement ceremony, the college honored students with special recognitions including the HCC Spirit Cup award and KCTCS Scholars.
The Spirit Cup Outstanding Graduate Award, given by the Alpha Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, is presented annually at HCC’s Spring Commencement ceremony. Olivia Lancaster of Hopkinsville was named the 2024-2025 Spirit Cup honoree. She received her associate of science degree this May and plans to transfer to Murray State University to major in management with a concentration in human resources.
Lancaster was active in the E-sports and Tabletop Gaming Club as well as Baptist Campus Ministries. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. During her time at HCC, Lancaster served as a Presidential Ambassador and as the vice president of the Student Government Association.
Presentation of the Spirit Cup is a tradition that began at Bethel College and has continued at HCC since 1967. The purpose of the award is to recognize the most outstanding graduate of HCC. Faculty and staff nominate students and a committee of faculty and staff chooses the recipient.
To be eligible for the Spirit Cup, the student must meet exacting criteria including, be graduating with an associate degree, be actively involved in the college, have at least a 3.0 GPA, have demonstrated leadership ability, and be positive and enthusiastic about HCC.
KCTCS Scholars
Each year, KCTCS recognizes 32 of our system’s most outstanding students from the 16 KCTCS institutions across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The KCTCS Scholars Team honors two students from each college – one student pursing the transfer associate degree and another student pursuing a technical/occupational program associate degree. Faculty members nominate the students who are selected by a committee made up of faculty.
Olivia Lancaster was named to the 2025 KCTCS Scholars Team representing transfer associate degree students. She graduated with an associate in science.
Tyler Couch, of Hopkinsville, was also named to the KCTCS Scholars Team representing technical/occupational program degree students. She graduated with an associate in applied science in medical information technology. Couch plans to work in medical administration or medical coding and pursue her bachelor’s degree. Couch is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success.