Anthony Patterson - Mercer County Senior High School |
Anthony Patterson took on a mature set of responsibilities in seventh grade when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. But, even while making his own meals and planning his own schedule, Patterson had the bravery to get though the hard times by focusing on the positive.
“Until that point, you kind of think that your family is unbreakable,” he said. “Something like that happens and you realize it’s not, but it gives you an opportunity to come closer.”
That is exactly what Patterson, his sisters and his parents, Tony and Julie Patterson, did to win the fight against the disease, and Julie Patterson is cancer-free today.
Anthony Patterson still handles a heavy load of duties, though. He’s a First Team Academic All-State varsity soccer and baseball player and a member of the MCSHS National Honor Society, Mercer County Youth Leadership Program, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and MCSHS Student Advisory Panel.
This fall, the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar will attend the University of Kentucky to study mechanical engineering on a Presidential Scholarship.
At UK, he will continue to follow the example of his most important role model — his father.
“I see how attached he is to his family and his parents and how well known he is around the community, and it makes me want to be like him,” Patterson said.
