Zachary Clifton, who has affectionately dubbed himself as “the 2023 version of Anthony Michael Hall’s nerd character in ‘The Breakfast Club’ — the one who procured a fake ID so he could vote,” is a youth leader and recent graduate of Corbin High School.
Through his academic and professional achievement, Clifton was selected as a 2024 Coca-Cola Scholar and admitted as a student of Ethics, Politics, and Economics (EP&E) to Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut.
Clifton serves the Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT) as a senior advisor and board member — formerly, as the legislative policy coordinator. Clifton’s leadership with KSVT led to presentations with international audiences, including attorneys from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and students from Harvard Law School.
Clifton is a graduate of The School of The New York Times, where he studied opinion writing. Following his graduation from The School, Clifton returned as a program counselor and guest speaker.
With respect to his media engagements, Clifton has contributed his opinion to the largest news organizations in Kentucky, including the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader. On a national and international scale, Clifton has contributed to The New York Times, New York Magazine, National Civic Review, USA Today, NBC News’ Today Show, and The74.
His published work has received critical acclaim from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards. Academically, Clifton graduated in the top 1 percent of his graduating class at Corbin High School — landing in the top 1 percent nationally, as well, with an ACT Score in the 99th percentile.
Clifton will continue studying the economic and political systems underlying our social fabric at Yale College this fall, prior to working towards pursuing a J.D.-M.B.A. dual degree program.
