University Honors is delighted to welcome 14 new scholars this fall to the 2025 class of Haslam Leadership Scholars at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The university’s premier undergraduate honors program, the Haslam Leadership Scholars program focuses on leadership, service, and scholarship. Founded in 2008 through a generous gift from the Haslam family, Haslam Leadership Scholars receive an endowed scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, fees, housing, and funding to support individual research.
In addition, these students participate in an exclusive leadership-focused curriculum, a fully funded collaborative study abroad program, and a Tennessee-based internship.
“Our scholars tend to jump in wholeheartedly, diving into research opportunities, joining clubs, and often take on leadership roles across campus and beyond,” said Mary Reid Martens, coordinator of the Haslam Leadership Scholars program. “Six of our scholars are currently involved in Leadership Knoxville, learning from local mentors while serving our local community.”
Selected from a competitive pool of over 1,600 applicants, this year’s cohort of Haslam Leadership Scholars value academic excellence and leadership. Throughout their four years on Rocky Top, they will develop relationships with their fellow scholars, perform meaningful research, and develop a richer understanding of what it means to be a leader.
“We are looking for scholars that are not just accomplished as students and young leaders but also bold and eager, whether that’s through expanding their perspective studying abroad in a foreign country or through solving complex problems through academic research,” said Martens.
At UT, Haslam Leadership Scholars are more than students. Scholars are molded into leaders on campus and beyond, building relationships and expanding their critical reasoning skills, entering their careers as future leaders within the state of Tennessee and beyond.
“Our scholars exhibit a genuine eagerness to learn and grow, combined with a selfless commitment to lifting others as they climb,” said Talisha Adams, director of University Honors. “They intentionally create a pipeline of support and success by mentoring younger cohorts and sharing their experiences. This culture of peer mentorship, alongside the support of dedicated faculty and staff, creates a strong foundation for continued success.”
Meet Our Newest Scholars
 |
Davis Baxter
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee Area of Study: Accounting Get to Know Our Scholar: David is a fifth-generation farmer on his family’s farm. |
 |
Keaton Cook
Hometown: Clinton, Tennessee Area of Study: Accounting, Finance Get to Know Our Scholar: Keaton established a sports “mixtape” page to showcase his school’s athletics. |
 |
Caroline Garrell
Hometown: Petersburg, Tennessee Area of Study: Natural Resources, Environmental Economics Get to Know Our Scholar: Caroline owns and exhibits Hereford, Black Hereford, and Simmental cattle on the state and national levels. |
 |
Ava Heuston
Hometown: Clarksville, Tennessee Area of Study: Public Affairs Get to Know Our Scholar: Ava was a Girl Scout for 13 years, earning her Gold Award for developing a website promoting Korean culture through education. |
 |
Izzy Hollman
Hometown: Gallatin, Tennessee Area of Study: Public Affairs Get to Know Our Scholar: While attending Governor’s School for Sciences and Engineering, Izzy founded a Women in STEM club and online research journal to elevate young girls pursing STEM interests. |
 |
Caleb Hooper
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee Area of Study: Industrial Engineering Get to Know Our Scholar: Caleb coaches a fourth and fifth grade basketball team with Upward Sports. |
 |
Chrishton King
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee Area of Study: Finance, Public Affairs Get to Know Our Scholar: Chrishton serves as a staff writer for the political outreach organization Strive, where he covers U.S. news. |
 |
Anushka Mathew
Hometown: Collierville, Tennessee Area of Study: Finance Get to Know Our Scholar: Anushka is a two-time All-State French horn musician, playing in the Memphis Youth Symphony. |
 |
Luke Payne
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia Area of Study: Business Management, Interdisciplinary Studies Get to Know Our Scholar: Luke helped raise $120,000 as co-leader of his school’s Habitat for Humanity Club, funding the construction of homes for families in need. |
 |
Tiago Phielipp
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee Area of Study: Biology, Public Affairs, Economics Get to Know Our Scholar: Tiago aspires to build a career in environmental law and government, interning at GE Vernova, a global energy company focused on building sustainable electric power systems, in Washington, D.C. |
 |
Ritisha Pradeep
Hometown: Brentwood, Tennessee Area of Study: Finance Get to Know Our Scholar: Ritisha was the president of her schools DECA chapter, producing a DEA Finance Operations Research project that received international finalist recognition. |
 |
Lexi Roth
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee Area of Study: Animal Science, Business Get to Know Our Scholar: Lexi aspires to open her own veterinary practice, attending a VetCamp hosted by North Carolina State University and shadowing local veterinary clinics to deepen her knowledge of the field. |
 |
Walker Smith
Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee Area of Study: Kinesiology (Pre-medicine Track), Business Get to Know Our Scholar: Walker is a certified United States Soccer Federation Referee. |
 |
Aubrey Spencer
Hometown: Brentwood, Tennessee Area of Study: Nursing Get to Know Our Scholar: Aubrey was a mentor in her school’s Heart 2 Heart program, providing accommodations for students in need of special education services. |