ERLANGER, Ky. — Destiny Owen is appropriately named… with a destiny to help others.
The senior at Lloyd Memorial High School in northern Kentucky has a 3.7 GPA and is an Northern Kentucky University Randolph Scholar and a St. Elizabeth Hospital NaviGo Scholar—all while overcoming health challenges.
She’s a role model for autism awareness and has been a Special Olympics athlete since age seven, competing in both track and art.
But it’s her sense of philanthropy that truly sets her apart. Kenton County Magistrate and Justice of the Peace Stephen Hoffman is a family friend and says “she’s been a dynamo for years, just volunteering and doing positive things.”
The list of her community service efforts is long and varied:
- Helped others through the Girl Scouts since she was four years old
- Volunteered at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for over a decade
- Made over 1,000 masks to distribute during COVID-19
- Organized an inclusive Art Advocacy showcase for students with and without disabilities
- Arranges an annual Holiday Outreach Celebration for kids and their families
- Coordinates a free formal wear giveaway for high school and college students
- Volunteers with Video Ministry, Community Food Outreach and Vacation Bible School
That dedication to others has led to her winning the LMHS Leadership & Philanthropy Award and being named a “Commonwealth Ambassador” by Secretary of State Michael Adams, R-Ky., in 2020. She also won the “Shining Bright Award” at the 2022 Redwood Celebration and was named “Miss Sweet Cincinnati” at the 2023 Midwest Black Expo for her outstanding community service.
Hoffman explained, “She’s extremely devoted to her mom and dad. She gets her values and her ideals from them. A lot of kids stand off, wait for things to happen. That’s not her. She’s gonna be able to do a lot of things that other kids are (not) going to be able to do because she went out there and took the time to put her foot in the door… and when it gets slammed in her face, she just said no, my hand’s in there. Now I’m gonna start coming through.”
Hoffman raves about what she’s already done, but is convinced that the best is yet to come: “Everywhere she goes, she’s gonna touch something that’s gonna help somebody out. Knowing that there’s some really good young people out there makes things a lot brighter for our Commonwealth.”
Owen is only 18 years old but has already made an impact for a lifetime. That makes her a deserving Spectrum News 1 High School Scholar.