Danville High School senior Rayquan Masterson has earned a $1,000 scholarship, sponsored by McDonald's, for being a high school senior Black History Maker! He had an interview with WTVQ on Tuesday about his plans for college and why he earned this recognition, which is based on leadership within the community and among his peers, as well as academics. The interview will air in February. 

For his extracurriculars, Rayquan plays basketball and has also been involved with soccer and tennis. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and he’s on the DHS esports team. 

Rayquan’s guidance counselor, Tracy Wright, nominated him for the award. He told WTVQ that he plans for the money to go toward coursework at Bluegrass Community and Technical College or the University of Kentucky, depending on his future plans. 

“I was literally in shock because I had no idea I was going to earn this award, and it just makes me happy,” he told WTVQ. 

When asked why he thought he got the scholarship, he said, “I believe it’s all the hard work I’ve been doing for my school year ... I started making a lot of good grades and I’ve been studying a lot more.”

Staying positive is a large part of Rayquan’s focus. “I think being positive is the most important thing in our lives, to stay happy, to be sure to have good things happen in our future.”

Rayquan told WTVQ that he wants to study food and nutrition in college. 

“I think it’s something I’m interested in because it gives me an opportunity to learn how to cook and … help people with food,” he said after the interview.