Many pursue leadership for recognition. Trey Jackson understands that real leadership is closer to the opposite, in the unglamorous work most people would rather skip.
A member of the University of the Cumberlands chapter, Jackson recently graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was named the Most Outstanding Business Graduate for the Class of 2026. This fall, he begins law school at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, with his sights set on returning home to serve the people of Eastern Kentucky.
He compiled that record while running his own business and completing internships in public service, but the thread connecting all of it is simple: a conviction that leadership is measured by a willingness to serve and do the work others don't want to.
Jackson's undergraduate years would have been demanding for anyone. He carried a full course load toward his degree in accounting and finance, launched a company, and even reported to two state offices.
"Achieving these goals required strong time management, discipline, adaptability, and communication," he says.
None of it happened by accident.
"Balancing internships, running a business, and completing my degree required careful planning," he adds.
That planning produced results. Jackson finished at the University of the Cumberlands with a 4.0 GPA and earned recognition as the Most Outstanding Business Graduate for the Class of 2026. Along the way, he completed internships with the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, gaining a firsthand look at how public institutions operate.
The entrepreneurial side of his resume is still growing. Jackson founded Laurel Visuals Marketing Group and continues to build the business even as he begins law school. He is also a licensed real estate agent and serves on the Bluegrass REALTORS Governmental Affairs Committee.
Long before Jackson thought about law school or business awards, he learned what leadership looked like from someone who never sought the spotlight.
"One leader I have always looked up to is my former pastor, the late Greg Deaton," he says. "He embodied servant leadership, always putting others before himself and leading with humility."
That example gave Jackson a definition of leadership that hinges on humility and hard work.
"Leadership is about being willing to do the job no one else wants to do," he says. "Real leaders take on every responsibility with humility and are never above the smallest tasks."
The lesson stuck because Jackson watched him practice it daily.
"He led by serving others and doing the work alongside them," Jackson says.
Jackson's ambitions point back to the region that raised him.
"My long-term goal is to graduate from law school and return to serve my hometown and the people of Eastern Kentucky as a federal prosecutor," he says. "I hope to spend my career pursuing justice and making a meaningful difference through public service."
For someone aiming that high, Jackson keeps a grounded view of how he got here. He credits a lesson he returns to after every milestone.
"One piece of advice that has always stayed with me is to remember that none of my accomplishments are mine alone," he says. "Every success I have achieved is the result of countless people who have intentionally invested their time and belief in me."
On campus, Jackson made a habit of stepping into roles that asked more of him. He served as Chief of Staff for the Student Government Association and co-president of his NSLS chapter, staying involved in both local leadership and the wider community.
The NSLS gave that momentum a steady push.
"NSLS has encouraged and motivated me to keep pursuing my goals while continuing to grow as a leader," he says.
That drive recently earned him a national platform. Jackson was selected to serve a two-year term on the Youth Advisory Council for the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, which brings together young leaders from across the country to shape programming, initiatives, and outreach. He sees the appointment as a chance to keep doing what he values most.
"My next goals are to continue seeking out opportunities to learn and serve and expand my leadership through Citizens & Scholars as a member of the Youth Advisory Council to help advance civic engagement initiatives," he adds.
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For anyone hoping to lead stronger, Jackson offers advice grounded in experience.
"Take every opportunity you can to learn and grow," he says. "You have to understand the work from the ground up before you can effectively lead others."
Start small. Take opportunities as they come. Lead for the impact, not the credit. Jackson is already proof of how far that philosophy can take you.
Meet Abigail Ramaley next, a full-tuition scholarship winner from the National Online Chapter whose own calling to serve is steering her toward a career in constitutional law.