Rockcastle County Schools is proud to celebrate RCHS alumna and Brodhead native Ella Bussell, a junior at the University of Notre Dame, who has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service.

The scholarship provides financial aid, leadership development, and a unique Summer Voyage experience for students pursuing careers in public service.

For Bussell, the opportunity connects directly to her Rockcastle County roots. Her experiences growing up in a rural community have inspired her to study structural isolation and explore how rural communities around the world address challenges related to access, education, and resources.

Through her Summer Voyage, Bussell plans to visit rural communities in several countries to continue this work and learn directly from the people who call those communities home.

“There are really beautiful parts of coming from a place like that, but also places where there’s room for improvement,” Bussell shared. “And I don’t think there’s much better of a calling than being able to give back to a community that has given you so much.”

Congratulations to Ella on this outstanding accomplishment! We are proud to see a former Rocket Learner continuing to grow as a Rocket Leader while carrying her Rockcastle County roots around the world.