Kade Elam wins SOAR Student-Athlete of the Year Award

STAFF REPORT
BSN

 The 2025 SOAR Inspires Awards were announced during the Summitt held at Corbin, Aug. 26-29. The Appalachian Student-Athlete of the Year Award went to Kade Elam, a student at Corbin High School. He is the son of Bart and Jessica Michael Elam of Barbourville.  

This award recognizes a high school or college athlete who exemplifies excellence both on the field and in the classroom and celebrates individuals who lead by example— balancing academics, athletics, and community involvement with discipline, determination, and pride in their Appalachian roots, and is sponsored by

the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Kade is a 2025 graduate of Corbin High School and is attending the University of Louisville on a baseball scholarship. He was the 2025 Kentucky Mr. Baseball Recipient and is the all-time passing yards leader in Corbin Football History. He was a four-year all state shortstop in baseball and two year all state quarterback in football.

His mother, Jessica is a 2000 graduate of Lawrence County. His grandparents are also Louisa residents, Eddie and Sue Michael. Kade has two sisters, Masyn Elam, which is a freshman at Corbin High School and Karsyn Elam, who attends Corbin Middle School as a 6th grader.