Congratulations to junior Alexis Loveless, recipient of the Kentucky Governor's Service Award. Alexis is the fifth Valkyrie since 2021 to be recognized by Governor Beshear for exceptional volunteerism and service. (Tara Singh '22, Amelie Beck '24 and Jacqueline Teague '23 were awarded in 2021; Arianna Martinelli '23 in 2023.) This award speaks volumes about Sacred Heart's mission to holistically educate and empower young women to Lead with Heart, becoming servant leaders who live out the Ursuline Core Values of reverence, service, leadership, and community throughout their lives.
After being diagnosed with congenital heart disease in grade school, Alexis has become passionate about advocating for children with similar conditions, spreading awareness, and advocating for CPR education and AED access.
During her sophomore year at Sacred Heart Academy, she created a CPR awareness video as part of her IB Personal Project. Last year, she and her SHA YClub members wrote a mock bill, originally for Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA), to require Kentucky middle and high schools to be equipped with AED equipment at sporting events and practices. She shared the bill with Kentucky legislators and was able to follow the bill as it went through the Kentucky state legislature and signed into law. Loveless stood next to Gov. Beshear as he signed House Bill 331 and was guest speaker for the Go Red for Women Foundation luncheon in 2023. The luncheon raised money to provide AEDs and CPR training for schools and campuses. In February 2024, she spoke at the Capitol to legislators, the Senate caucus and a press conference during Heart month to advocate for funding for HB331 and support for a new bill (HB169) to get AEDs and emergency response plans into elementary schools in Kentucky. She even got to share the importance of these measures in several interviews for the news media.
In the fall of 2023, Loveless partnered with Who We Play For to provide heart screenings for teens. The two-day event was held at Sacred Heart Academy and provided a five-minute electrocardiogram (EKG) that can increase the detection of underlying heart conditions by 94%. Loveless has been named a Kentucky Youth Heart Ambassador for the American Heart Association.
Alexis has an exciting summer ahead, when she will attend the McConnell Center’s Young Leaders Academy (YLA) at the University of Louisville. She has also been selected to attend the American Heart Association’s Hearts on the Hill Fly In in Washington, D.C. where she will continue advocating for AED access in schools on Capitol Hill.
Keep up with Alexis' advocacy for healthy hearts here:
SHA hosts first community heart screening event for teens
YMCA 2023 Youth Character Award
Alexis makes CPR video for her sophomore IB Personal Project
Alexis is voted YMCA KYA Speaker of the House
Alexis on Great Day Live advocating for AHA Kids Heart Challenge
Courier Journal teen heart screenings
