2025 Young Leader Award Application Form

2025 Young Leader Award
About this award:

The Paducah Sun, in partnership with the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, is seeking nominations for the area's best Young Leaders.

The deadline for nominations for the Young Leader Award is Friday, January 2, 2026.

A selection committee will review all applications submitted by the deadline. Ten finalists will be chosen. Finalists will be featured in a January 2026 issue of The Paducah Sun, and will be invited to attend the Paducah Chamber’s Annual Dinner and Celebration Gala on January 30, 2026, to be recognized.

From the finalists, one will be named Young Leader of the Year and will receive an award on stage during the Paducah Chamber’s Annual Dinner and Celebration Gala and a $1,000 scholarship for professional development. A profile of the award winner will be featured in The Sun in February.

For more information, email: youngleaders@paducahsun.com
Application Form
Criteria to apply:

The nominee must be between the ages of 25-40 and either live or work in McCracken County.

The nominee’s application should demonstrate that they made a difference in 2025 within their profession and community and highlight their accomplishments and their role in the future of the local community.

It is preferred that the nominee’s current employer be a Paducah Chamber member, but it is not required.

Applicants may self-nominate or, to nominate a young leader, send their name and email address to youngleaders@paducahsun.com

The nominee can’t be a former recipient of the Young Leader award but can have been a past finalist. Current elected officials or those running for office are not eligible.
Application Instructions: Please fill out the form in its entirety. If you are selected as one of the ten finalists for this award, your answers to the following questions will be published in The Sun, as written.
Name:*

First NameLast Name
Current Title:*
Current Employer:*
Email (This information will not be published in The Sun, but will be used to contact you if you are selected as a finalist):*
example@example.com
Phone Number (This information will not be published in The Sun, but will be used to contact you if you are selected as a finalist):*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Age:*
Education (List degree level obtained, major/minor, and name of school as a list):*
Please list up to three professional accomplishments (i.e. awards/recognitions, certificates, training, etc. as a list):*
Please list up to four organizations you have been involved in, past or present (Name of organization, years of service, etc. as a list):*
Essay Questions (Each answer should be 200 words or less):
1. What is the biggest challenge for a young leader in today’s workplace?*

0/200
2. What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?*

0/200
3. What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?*

0/200
Attach a high resolution photo to this application form*

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2025 Young Leader Award

Application Form

Essay Questions (Each answer should be 200 words or less):