2026 Distinguished Hall of Fame

Name: 2026 Distinguished Hall of Fame
Start: 2026-04-30 07:30:00.0
End: 2026-04-30 09:30:00.0
Location: National Corvette Museum

When: Thursday, April 30, 2026

Where: National Corvette Museum

Time: 7:30 AM CT

This year's Distinguished Hall of Fame event, presented by Truist, will take place on Thursday, April 30th, 2026, from 7:30am-9:30am at the National Corvette Museum. We are inducting Michael Buchanon as our 2026 Laureate and Julie Denton-Price as our 2026 Trailblazer Award recipient. Breakfast will be served from 7:30am-8:00am and the event program will begin at 8:00am. We anticipate the event to conclude by 9:30am.

Event Breakdown:
7:00am: Doors open
7:30am: Breakfast begins
8:00am: Program Begins
9:30am: Event Concludes

In 1992, the Business Hall of Fame was created to honor the lives and accomplishments of extraordinary South Central Kentuckians. Hall of Fame honorees are nominated by members of the community and then selected by an independent committee.

Over the years, Junior Achievement has honored individuals who epitomize five key standards of excellence:

Entrepreneurial spirit and achievement
Exceptional role model for youth
Economic impact on area
Business leadership
Commitment to the goals of Junior Achievement

The Distinguished Hall of Fame, presented by Truist, is displayed at the Knicely Conference Center in Bowling Green, KY.

Limited seating is available for this event and seating must be secured in advance. To purchase a ticket or sponsor, email Aimee.Bettersworth@jaforkids.com!

Event Flyer

2026 Honorees

From the field of nominees, Mr. Michael (Mike) Buchanon, former Judge Executive of Warren County was chosen as the upcoming 2026 Laureate. This award recognizes individuals within the South Central Kentucky business community who epitomize five key standards of excellence: entrepreneurial spirit and achievement; exceptional role model for youth; economic impact on area; business leadership; and commitment to the goals of Junior Achievement. Julie Denton-Price, current co-owner of BlueCotton, was awarded the organizations’ 2026 Trailblazer Award. This award was created in 2024 to honor a mid-level professional who has achieved excellence in their career, shown a commitment to their community, and demonstrated leadership in the business community.

Become a Sponsor!

Sponsorships for these events are critical for Junior Achievement to continue providing life-changing programs to students in our community. These programs are delivered at no cost to students. You can make a difference in the lives of these students by participating in this world-class event!