It's sad what people think when they hear 'Kentucky'.
I know many scholars up in here! I know people who were accepted to schools all over (whether for sports or academics), and I know MANY, MANY Grammarians, (my Mom being one of them). Just because Kentucky is below you, doesn't mean we're in the South, and it certainly doesn't mean we're rednecks or hillbillies.
Waddaya think about that?
PS I can talk without an accent (not that I have one to being with).