Billingsley Senior Kayden Bland Named APT 2026 Young Hero, Earns Scholarship

Kayden Bland carried a 4.09 GPA, captained two sports teams, led mission trips to Guatemala, and managed frequent medical appointments — all before Alabama Public Television named her one of three recipients of its 2026 Young Heroes scholarship.

The Billingsley School senior will receive a $10,000 scholarship, a laptop computer, and additional prizes when she is honored at a luncheon at The Club in Birmingham next month. The APT Young Heroes Awards, now in its 25th year, recognizes high school juniors and seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, active community involvement, and the courage to persevere through personal challenges.

Bland's record at Billingsley is defined as much by consistency as by achievement. She earned Honor Roll recognition every term of her high school career and was named Outstanding Student in Agriculture Education during her junior year. She served as president of the National Future Farmers of America chapter for three years, then stepped into the vice president role as a senior. She also co-captained the varsity cheer squad, captained the cross-country team, and served as a Campus Leader for First Priority.

Her service extends well beyond Billingsley's campus. As a member of Indian Grave Baptist Church, Bland traveled to Guatemala through the Autauga Baptist Association, helping lead Vacation Bible Schools and school assemblies for children in underserved communities. Locally, she helped plan and execute a playground renovation project at the Prattville YMCA through Youth Leadership Autauga County and participated in a group effort that raised more than $20,000 to fund the construction of a Vietnam Memorial at the American Village in Montevallo.

APT's profile of Bland captures the thread connecting those efforts: "Kayden channels that perseverance into service." The program's summary states that she "embodies courage, faith, and disciplined perseverance" and "has transformed personal adversity into purposeful service and leadership."

The Young Heroes program is sponsored by Harris Trust, Vulcan Park, and YellaWood. Billingsley School is part of the Autauga County Schools district, headquartered at 1315 Upper Kingston Road in Prattville.