Recipe for success: Dual grad sets sights on culinary career
Published on May 29, 2025
By Rachel Adkins
At just 18 years old, Katy Linville has already accomplished what many don’t achieve
until they are in their 20s: she graduated from both high school and college simultaneously.
Linville achieved this milestone by enrolling as a dual credit student at Maysville Community and Technical College as a Harrison County High School (HCHS) student.
“It’s pretty crazy. Most kids that are seniors, they get to leave (school) early because they don’t have to take as many credit classes, but I’m doing that while also taking college classes on my own time,” she remarked.
According to Linville, she first found herself interested in the dual credit program when talking about the possibility of finishing her general education courses before graduating from HCHS.
Linville’s mom, Katherine Linville, said that her daughter liked the idea of getting a fast-tracked college education and being able to choose courses that were tailored to her interests.
In her high school years, Linville balanced her primary courses, post-secondary courses, and several academic and extracurricular activities.
Among those extracurricular activities are Beta Club, Phi Theta Kappa, peer tutoring, and culinary arts.
Linville served as vice president in her sorority at HCHS.
“It’s not really something you realize how challenging it is to be in charge of something until you really are,” she explained. “You’re trying to get everybody involved, we try and find things to do that will help the community and help better those around us.”
For Beta Club, Linville would often volunteer for and participate in community events. She noted that community service was a large aspect of her role in the club.
“It (serving in the community) definitely has helped me grow, and it’ll help me keep growing as I get older because I’ve experienced so much and been able to see how the world is, but also how we can help it,” she remarked.
Linville has also been recognized as a Central Kentucky Youth Salute participant, KHSAA Academic All-State First Team in both of her sports, served as a counselor aide, and has been employed as a chef assistant at Ashford Acres Inn in Cynthiana since she was 15 years old.
“I was able to use my free time, and then I’d go to sports, I’d come home, I’d do all the things I needed to do and get my stuff ready for the next day,” she said.
Linville noted she also participated in a co-op program where she was permitted to leave her high school campus to fulfill her duties as a peer tutor and complete her coursework between sessions.
Despite her demanding schedule, Linville has also maintained a 3.9 GPA and was in the top 15 percent of her graduating class at HCHS.
For her hard work and dedication, she was selected as the 2025 recipient of MCTC’s President’s Award of Excellence. Linville was one of four students chosen for this award, representing Licking Valley Campus.
“It’s truly an honor. Of all the kids that graduated from all of the MCTC campuses, to be one of the few selected, it’s a little mind-blowing to me,” she began. “I didn’t expect it. From someone who’s just a senior in high school and works hard, it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around that they truly felt that I was the one from our campus. I’m honored to have received it (the award).”
As someone who has a passion for cooking and baking, Linville anticipates attending Sullivan University to pursue a career in culinary arts.
She speculated on what her plans are for after.
“I’ve contemplated the idea of opening up my own something…For now, I want to go to school, I want to get my degree, and I want to see where that takes me,” Linville said.
For other high school students who are considering going the route that she did, Linville shared some words of advice.
“It never hurts to try. You think that college classes are this big, scary milestone, but really, they’re not that bad,” she began. “Your high school classes are truly leading you up to that (collegiate) level, so by the time they allow you to start taking them (college courses), you really are truly prepared for it.”
She continued, “It’s just something you've got to take the leap and not be scared and just do it. I never thought I would be a college graduate before I graduated high school, but here I am.”
