Ivanna Adames

Sidney Bennett

In her time at the University of Tennessee, Sidney had amazing opportunities because of how much the Haslam Leadership Scholars invested in her. She served as an undergraduate teaching assistant in an anatomy lab at UT and works for UT Medical Center as a nurse technician. These experiences were so enriching to her education and future career. She also loves investing back in the Knoxville community. She volunteers in the Montgomery Village neighborhood at both the Boys and Girls Club and with a ministry in the neighborhood. She has come to love this community so much, and she loves helping young students with their reading skills and by doing crafts with them! She worked at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital with the Child Life department as a holiday intern. She has volunteered at Vanderbilt Children’s since she was 16 years old, so working there to bring joy to the children and families there was an honor and a dream come true. In the future, she hopes to earn a DNP in pediatric acute and primary care and work in underserved communities to provide children with high quality, holistic care.

Andrew Bonsted

Andrew Bonsted is a senior with a computer science major and data science minor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Through his classes at UT, he became proficient in C++, C, JavaScript and Python and utilized frameworks like React and Vite. Andrew created a Learning Management System similar to Canvas but more intuitive and visually/graphically oriented. He interned with the Tennessee Valley Authority over the summer. After graduation, he plans on jumping into his career as a Software Engineer.

Laura Dixson

Laura is majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and minoring in Wildlife and Fisheries. While at UTK, she is involved in undergraduate research studying Desmognathus imitator salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. In previous work, Desmognathus imitators are shown to have a different color morph at the cliffs of Balsam Mountain Range, just outside the park. She is studying other cliff faces within the park to explore the possibility of other Desmognathus imitator morphs. Additionally, at some localities, Desmognathus imitator and Desmognathus occoe look nearly indistinguishable. Using DNA analysis, Laura explores the possibility of belly color being a character that could be used to identify the species.

Haylee Ferguson

As an undergraduate student with a variety of interests, Haylee is studying Agricultural Economics with minors in Geographic Information Science and Entrepreneurship. Leveraging her leadership abilities and knowledge gained from involvement in various extracurriculars and research projects, Haylee is committed to providing evidence-based solutions for connecting consumers to the agriculture industry and promoting student success.

Haylee serves as President of the American Junior Shorthorn Association where she alongside 8 other board members represent over 6,000 youth across the country. At UT, through her biometrics research, which evaluates producer decisions. Haylee has publications in the Applied Animal Science journal as well as Southern Ag Today. She has also presented at various Agricultural Economics conferences. Aside from her research, Haylee enjoys sharing her love for the University of Tennessee and the agriculture industry by serving as President of the Block and Bridle Club, Events Co-Chair in Student Alumni Associates, an Ambassador for the Anderson Center, and competing at the National Agri-Marketing Association contest with her peers

Her goal is to collaborate with not only like-minded individuals, but those with different perspectives, to drive innovation in higher education to make impacts on a local, regional and international level.

Amelya Fox

Amelya Fox is a rising senior in biomedical engineering (BME) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is passionate about the intersection of service and scholarship, and in pursuing this passion she is heavily involved on campus and in the community. She serves as a volunteer program coordinator for Girls Inc. of Tennessee Valley, secretary for UTK’s chapter of Biomedical Engineering Society, an upperclassman mentor for the Society of Women of Engineers, and an editor of Pursuit Undergraduate Research Journal. She values her coursework, and her academic success has allowed her induction into Tau Beta Pi, the world’s longest-standing engineering honor society. These organizations allow her to develop professionally, practice leadership, and network within the engineering industry. She plans on pursuing a PhD in biomedical engineering following graduation, which she is preparing for by participating in undergraduate research on biomedical imaging and cardiovascular health under Dr. Colleen Crouch. Her graduate and career research interests lie within the realm of reproductive health technology.

Cassie Griffin

Throughout her time here at UTK, Cassie has worked with incredible organizations. When she arrived at UTK, she immediately knew she wanted to be involved with the Society of Human Resource Management. This club has helped her grow professionally and allowed her to be more connected to her major and the people in it. At UTK, she explored her passions for music and travel. Cassie has been working at the WUTK radio station and is putting on a battle of the bands with her music business classmates. UTK has incredible opportunities for studying abroad. So far, she has traveled to Ireland, Germany, and Chile with the University studying leadership, German, and international business. She has been extremely happy with how her time has gone at UTK thus far, and is excited to see what comes next with her time here.

Tim Held

Tim hails from Cleveland, TN, and is a third generation legacy student at the University of Tennessee. However, he has formulated a unique path and experience in his time on Rocky Top. Tim recently completed his junior year in the Haslam College of Business where he studies Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, and Data Science. Beyond the classroom, Tim currently interns with Tennessee Men’s Basketball through the Melton Scholars program, and is a part-time Business Intelligence intern at Tennessee Valley Authority. Tim strived to be involved on campus his freshman year, and today serves as President of Student Alumni Associates, on advisory councils for the college of business and the office of the provost, and is a member of multiple major-oriented clubs. Tim hopes to stay in East Tennessee and work to cultivate economic growth in the best way he knows how, through data.

Allison Hunnicutt

Allison is a senior at the University of Tennessee Knoxville studying sustainability with a minor in nutrition, and plans to attend pharmacy school after graduation. She hopes to combine her interests of sustainability and reducing food waste with nutrition and holistic medicine in her pharmacy career. She enjoys being involved on campus, especially with Alpha Omega Epsilon which is a STEM sorority where she has found a community of positive and motivating women. She also enjoyed helping with the Food4Vols program where volunteers make meals with leftover campus food to give away for free. Off-campus, she will begin working as a pharmacy technician to gain experience in her selected career field, and experience what her job could be like in the future.

Abigail Lee

Abigail Lee from Knoxville, TN is a Chemical Engineering major at the University of Tennessee in the 2025 Cohort of the Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program and the 2021 cohort of the Haslam Leadership Scholars. She currently serves as a Tickle College of Engineering Ambassador, the recruitment strategist for the Women in Engineering Program, and an undergraduate researcher studying battery technology. She is an optimistic and success-oriented pragmatist that excels in competitive, structured, and high-pressure environments. She utilizes precision, routine, and detail to maintain progress and drive productivity in my day-to-day life. Her areas of personal emphasis include self-imposed discipline, forward looking growth that can be measured over a long period of time, and the interplay between aesthetic appearance and quality substance. She hopes to leave a legacy as someone who is constantly encouraging spirits of joyous gratitude, consistency, and personal duty in others.

Ella Miller

Ella Miller is a senior at UT studying Global Studies and Psychology with a minor in Hispanic Studies.She cares deeply about thinking globally while interacting with the local community, and she plans to continue pursuing education in the realm of psychology. She has participated in undergraduate social psychology research and is involved in various organizations that align with her passions on campus including Leading Women of Tomorrow and Student Alumni Associates.

Tyler Myers

Tyler is pursuing a double major in microbiology and Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Public Health. During his time at UTK, he has worked as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Heidi Goodrich-Blair in the Department of Microbiology where he studies how gut microbial activity influences host animal development and behavior in nematodes. For this research, he has been awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and has presented his research at Posters at the Capitol, the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, and the American Society of Microbiology. In the future, he hopes to pursue an MD-PhD in the field of translational neuroscience and work with patients as a physician-scientist by studying the gut microbiome and its impacts on mental health and neurological development. Outside of school, he works at a local clinic for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as well as volunteering at community gardens in Knoxville. In his spare time, Tyler enjoys whitewater kayaking, backpacking, rock climbing, cooking, and reading.

Obinze Nwokochah

Obinze is a fourth year nursing student with a minor in Business Administration at The University of Tennessee Knoxville and has loved every second being at this school. He is a Haslam Leadership Scholar, an undergraduate teaching assistant, a member of his campus’s student alumni association, Vice President of the Brothers United for Excellence organization, African Student Association public relations/social media representative, a UT Success Academy Peer Mentor, an NEAT (Nutrition, Education, Activity, and Training) Educator for Knox County elementary schools, and a Peyton Manning Scholar. He is passionate and has an interest in increasing access to healthcare for all people by constructing hospitals in medical/health care deserts, beginning with Nigeria. He is Nigerian and wants to give back to the country that has influenced and shaped his identity. He has future plans to get his doctorate of nursing and change the world forever.

Natalie Smith

Natalie is a fourth-year student at the University of Tennessee studying Microbiology and Public Health on the pre-med track. She is very involved both on campus and in the Knoxville community, and the interactions she has had with members of her community as a result of this involvement have led her to develop a strong interest in the intersections between the fields of public health and medicine, and she is very interested in working in a community health setting. Her research interests broadly include host-microbe interactions, infectious diseases, and maternal-fetal health. Her ultimate goal is to work in the field of women’s health as both a physician and a scientist. Her campus involvement includes Honors Ambassadors, Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity, and Pursuit Journal of Undergraduate Research. In her free time, Natalie enjoys serving as a volunteer medical assistant at the Kim Health Center, hiking, and trying every coffee shop in Knoxville!

Olivia Upchurch

Olivia is a senior studying majoring in psychology and minoring in child and family studies. She is an undergraduate research assistant with the Behavior and Learning Clinical Psychology Laboratory. In the lab, she studies trauma, executive function, and ADHD. Through implementing weekly sessions of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy with elementary aged students, Olivia has found a passion for trauma-informed therapy, and she is currently in the process of applying to clinical mental health masters programs across the country. She has worked on multiple published papers with the lab and presented at undergraduate research presentation symposiums. Olivia has a variety of internship experiences including working as the Public Policy Intern for the City of Knoxville, an Equine Therapy Intern for Harmony Family Center, a Recess Vols mentor, and a Resident Assistant for the TRIO Upward Bound Summer Programs. Furthermore, after studying Spanish throughout her time at UT and going abroad to Seville, Spain in Spring 2024, she is working to gain fluency to make it possible to counsel bilingually. Olivia is excited to finalize her plans to further her education in counseling through a clinical mental health masters program.

Maddie Williams

Maddie Williams is a fourth-year senior at the University of Tennessee double majoring in Psychology and Public Relations. During her time at UT, she has participated in undergraduate social psychology research, worked in various student-led social media outlets, and completed internships both in Knoxville and abroad. She currently works as a Well-being and Benefits Intern at Pilot Company, where she helps create and execute health and wellness campaigns for Pilot’s nationwide workforce. In the future, she plans to get a master’s degree in health communications and work to bring accessible health information to rural communities. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with animal shelters, creating new recipes in the kitchen, and finding new hiking trails in Knoxville.

Moorea Artaza

Moorea Artaza is a Haslam Scholar and Nursing student at the University of Tennessee. Throughout her time at the University, Moorea has been involved in the Student Government Association humbly serving as the Programming Chair and she is looking forward to serving her Volunteer community as the Nursing Senator and Deputy Chief of staff. In addition to Student Government, Moorea works at Cruze Farms on Gay Street and exhibits their Motto of “Work Hard, Love Harder” through the joy of serving her customers. When Moorea is not in the classroom, she enjoys baking, going on long hikes, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and going to her small group at the Walk. Moorea has a passion and love for learning and is eager to help others.

Alice Grace Beavers

Alice Grace Beavers, of Athens, TN is a junior studying Food Science on the PreProfessional track. She is heavily involved through her major in classes and through research in the Herbert College of Agriculture. Sometimes you can find Alice Grace volunteering at UT medical center helping patients, nurses, and Doctors with various tasks. If not there, Alice Grace most likely is downtown working for Cruze farms. In her free time, Alice Grace loves to read, play music, hang out with her volunteer family, and help the Student Alumni Association with so many wonderful Big Orange Events.

Keegan Collins

Keegan is a third-year Haslam Scholar and Smith Global Leadership Scholar pursuing a double major in Finance and Management with a concentration in International Business and a minor in Studio Art. He is involved with the Honors Student Advisory Council for the Haslam College of Business, where he is the Vice President of Engagement. He is also a member of Student Alumni Associates and a Volunteer Student Leader at Christian Student Fellowship. Over the summer, he interned in the finance department for Worthington Industries near Columbus, Ohio. He enjoyed gaining his first experience in the finance field and a better understanding of his future career aspirations.

Caleb DeLong

Caleb is a junior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville majoring in Music Performance with a concentration in Brass. In the fall, he is a member of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, along with Student Alumni Associates. He is active in the UT Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Honors Horn Octet, always looking for more opportunities to learn and perform. He gained experience teaching some area high school bands, and looks forward to teaching more in the future. As a performance major, he is always seeking out new, different environments to perform in, including brass ensembles, woodwind ensembles, and even pit orchestras for musicals. Research is always on the mind as well, with many topics spreading from the impact of a quality music education to the effect of chamber music on the brain.

Addie Heehs

During her time at the University of Tennessee, Addie has been studying Finance with a collateral in International Business as a Smith Global Leadership Scholar and plans to minor in Public Policy Analytics. She has found various ways to get involved on campus. One of the most impactful organizations has been the Student Alumni Associates, which aims to serve current students and alumni by facilitating events that bolster connection and involvement with UT. In addition to this, she is an Ambassador for the Haslam College of Business, member of the Tennessee Capital Markets Society, and involved in Student Government Association.

Frank Moser

Frank Moser is a third year at UT and is majoring in Industrial Engineering. He is part of the Haslam Scholars Program, Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program, as well as the Cook Grand Challenge Engineering Honors Program. He is involved in undergraduate research and recently completed an independent study about microplastics in fish. Frank is also on the Undergraduate Student Senate, representing the Tickle College of Engineering. He hopes to pursue a career as an industrial engineer, likely in the field of transportation or infrastructure.

Lisa Patel

Lisa Patel is a biomedical engineering major who hopes to have a concentration in brain computer interface. She hopes to pursue research on the topic and develop her understanding of its connection to music. In her time at UT, she has become a member of various organizations such as SAA, SWE, and Peer Mentors. She is excited to see what her future leads to here at UT!

Gabrielle “Gabby” Pence

Gabby is a third-year Haslam Leadership Scholar and Leadership Knoxville Scholar majoring in Biology of Global Health and minoring in Philosophy. On campus, she is involved in undergraduate research studying microglia and neurotoxicity with the Prosser lab of the BCMB department. She is also a clinical assistant at Genesis Neuroscience Clinic, where she performs neurocognitive testing and manages patient flow. In her free time, she loves to sing and play guitar/piano. She gets to use these skills to serve her campus ministry, CSF, as a worship leader. She hopes to attend medical school in the future and work as a pediatrician or family physician.

Tyler Porter

Tyler is a Business Analytics Major with a concentration in International Business from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He is a Smith Global Leadership Scholar and is involved within the Haslam College of Business, including the Haslam Student Advisory Board and Project Inspire, a podcast hosted by UT students that interviews successful alumni and friends of the university. Around campus, he is a member of the Student Alumni Associates and Student Government Association. He also works at the SEC Network here on Rocky Top to broadcast many different sporting events across ESPN’s networks.

Elijah Smith

Elijah Smith is a junior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is currently in the university exploratory major track but will be transferring into the Tickle College of Engineering within the next year. He plans on majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a Pre-Health minor. His current academic goals are to reach a place where he can decide between attending Med School or pursuing strictly Engineering. His goal either way is to do something in the health field. His time here at UTK has been filled with both fun and challenging experiences. He has had the privilege to attend the Student Alumni Associates, Campus Outreach UTK, and intramural and club sports. However, his favorite experiences have been attending the many sporting events here on campus.

Dylan Stewart

Dylan is a Physics major at UT. He can frequently be found working in the Space Bar in the Nielsen Physics Building or collaborating in the lab he works in at SERF. One of his recent projects involved developing small and discrete temperature and humidity sensors to monitor the labs and offices in Nielsen. In his free time, Dylan can be found playing piano at the Natalie Haslam Music Center or finding his inner peace with the Meditation and Mindfulness Club here at UT.

Kelly Su

Kelly Su is a third-year Haslam Scholar from Knoxville double majoring in Economics and Global Studies with a concentration in Global Politics and the Economy. She is particularly interested in the influence of the global economy on environmental initiatives and public policy and hopes to attend graduate school after college. Around campus, she is involved in environmental research at the Baker School and is co-vice president of the Economics Club. In her free time, she loves to volunteer at local elementary schools and spend lots of time outdoors. 

Satchel Vaughn

Satchel is from Nolensville, Tennessee majoring in Supply Chain Management with a concentration in International Business and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She is actively involved in the Haslam College of Business as a Smith Global Leadership Scholar, a member of the Haslam Student Advisory Council, a member of Women of Haslam, and a peer mentor. She has also been active in volunteering on and off campus. She is interested in logistics, cross-cultural business, and enhancing her foreign language proficiency and is eager to develop these skills throughout her time as an undergraduate.

Jahneulie Weste

Jahneulie is a Knoxville native pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in user experience design. She is a first-generation college student and a first-generation American. She plans to be the CEO and founder of her own IT company specializing in application development on the for-profit side and education on the non-profit side. She participated in two undergraduate research positions at UT and numerous student organizations. In addition, she completed two internships, one with The Restoration House of East Tennessee as a Social Media and Data Entry Intern and another with CGI Federal as a STEM@CGI Bridge Intern. She returned to CGI Federal as an intern for the summer of 2023. She is interested in positions related to software development, entrepreneurship, education, business operations, and any fields where those intersect.

Eliza Abston

Emily Adams

Emily plans to double major in environmental studies and journalism to pursue a career as an environmental lawyer and advocate. As an IB Diploma candidate and active member of her school’s community, she has started her school’s Mock Trial Club, served as a member on the Environmental Club council, organized local volunteering opportunities with the school’s Key Club, and represented student interests on the Student Advisory Council for the district school board. She enjoys volunteering with environmental nonprofits, such as Keep Knoxville Beautiful and Beardsley Community Farm, and aspires to lobby for policies that encourage conservation and sustainability. During her free time, she loves spending time outdoors with her family, reading books, and baking vegan desserts.

Joshua Adedokun

Joshua is double majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience. He has always been fascinated by the ways that people think and feel. Joshua is particularly interested in using his education to address mental health in new ways, and he is pursuing a career in emerging areas of alternative therapy. With music being another one of his passions, he is a member of the UT Symphonic Band. In the near future, he plans to conduct research in a psychology lab.

Coleman Bain

Coleman plans to major in mechanical engineering and pursue a career in sustainable energy. He served as the captain of his high school tennis team and was the 2021 Elk Valley Times Tennis Player of the Year and 2021 Doubles Tennis Region Champion. He was the president of both the First National Bank Youth Advisory Board and the Leadership Lincoln Youth Board, as well as the captain of his high school Scholar’s Bowl team. Coleman’s passion for guiding younger students has led him to weekly mentor 8th-grade boys in Men of Virtue, teach the gospel to elementary school students in Good News Club, tutor algebra 2 and pre-calculus students, and give tennis lessons to younger players. In his free time, he enjoys playing the violin, sculpting, snowboarding, and reading.

Sam Barbour

Sam plans to major in mechanical engineering and pursue a career in automotive technology. He discovered his interest in automotive engineering when conducting a vehicle maintenance study in his AP Capstone course. He enjoys the game of golf and has participated in The First Tee, a non-profit volunteer organization for over 10 years. Through this organization, he has helped young golfers learn important life skills on and off the golf course. He is organizing a collaboration of his high school’s Beta Club, The First Tee, and Kingsport’s local YMCA to provide this opportunity to elementary school students. Alongside his four varsity seasons in high school golf, he has also completed four years of varsity tennis. He is active in his high school’s National Honors Society, Beta Club, and STEM tutoring club. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, automotive racing, and spending time with his friends.

Scotty Brown

Scotty plans to major in Economics and Political Science and study Italian. He attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga where he was a coaching intern with the Public Speaking Program and Photography Editor for the school yearbook. He is a member of the McCallie School Chapter of the National Honor Society and the McCallie senior leadership and service organization. He is a National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction. Outside of school, he is Director of Operations for the Cultural Value Leadership Institute, a nonprofit which he co-founded to provide educational scholarships and resources. He is also a summer camp counselor at Bridge Scholars of Chattanooga. He is motivated to advocate for educational resources for students in traditionally underserved communities throughout Tennessee and the United States. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, photography, youth group, and chatting about the latest developments in politics.

Emma Collard

Emma intends to major in Geographic Information Science and minor in Meteorology. Passionate about weather from age seven, she hopes to pursue a fulfilling career as an aviation meteorologist. As a senior, she serves as Student Council and National Honor Society president. She serves as a member of the Bedford County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, Leadership Bedford, and the Tennessee Department of Education’s Student Engagement Council. She advocated for the student voice and worked to improve her school and community. She is an active leader and strengthened her leadership abilities as a Girl’s State delegate and ambassador to the Hugh O’Brian World Leadership Congress. In her free time, she loves volunteering at food drives, recording new episodes for her weather podcast, practicing for swim meets, and playing her piano. At her core, Emily has a deep love for God and for people; this love runs into every aspect of her life, and it defines everything she is.

Kate Faulkner

Kate Faulkner is a sophomore majoring in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Writing and plans to minor in Entrepreneurship and History. This past year, she has enjoyed serving current University of Tennessee students and alumni as a member of the SAA. Kate is also a member of Alpha Omicron Pi where she serves on the New Member Work Team. In her spare time, she loves reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Ava Foley

Ava plans to major in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. She is a dedicated member of her high school’s band program and student council as senior class co-president. She was elected Secretary-General at Model UN and Speaker of the House at Youth in Government. At Volunteer Girls State, she was selected as one of two senators to Girls Nation in Washington, DC, where she was elected Vice President. She volunteered on several local political campaigns and grassroots organizing efforts. She co-founded a youth advocacy organization that successfully lobbied for a county-wide mask mandate during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also organizes Her Drive, a drive for menstrual hygiene products that has collected over 22,000 products for women in need across Nashville. She is extremely passionate about social justice and equality, and hopes to use her education to become a compassionate leader who betters the lives of many in her community and across the world.

Ellie Housley

Ellie is a second-year Haslam Leadership Scholar majoring in Marketing. She is active in various student organizations like the American Marketing Association, AMAze Groups, and Women of Haslam. She recently became a Haslam Ambassador where she will give tours of the Haslam College of Business (HCB) to prospective business students. In addition to her involvement in student organizations, Ellie is a part-time student worker at the UT Creamery, where her duties consist of marketing, customer service, and food service. Ellie loves traveling, and she studied abroad over the 2024 Winter Mini-term with the HCB’s First Year experience in Costa Rica. She looks forward to studying abroad in Rwanda and Kenya over the Summer 2024 Mini-term with the Haslam Leadership Scholars. She anticipates going to London in her spring semester this year with the Smith Global Leadership Scholars. She also enjoys giving back to the Knoxville community through volunteering at the animal shelter and a local after-school program. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her cats and spending time with her friends.

Andrew Reynolds-Bailey

Andrew plans to major in Aerospace Engineering. He is the president and senior member of his school’s TJCL Chapter, and his goal is to restore the engagement in classics programs that was lost in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic. He is vice president of his school’s chess club, acts as a volunteer and mentor for the chess clubs of local elementary and middle schools, and is a member of the National Honor Society. He has been recognized with several awards for is academic and extracurricular achievements, including the Point of Pride for his contributions to developing district elementary and middle school-level robotics programs. Andrew is currently employed as a Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor, striving to teach basic swimming skills and increase water safety within his community. Whenever possible, he enjoys spending his free time in and around Tennessee’s beautiful natural waterways.

Sam Strong

Sam intends to double major in Architecture and Political Science. He aspires to become a practicing architect, aiming to manage and reduce the negative impacts of gentrification on impoverished areas. Samuel serves as student government vice president, Key Club vice president, New Hope Club secretary, and school ambassador. He helped reestablish the Knowledge Bowl Club and the Quiz Team at his high school as the club’s president and team captain. Samuel served as a leader on his high school’s varsity soccer and tennis teams and was in seven theater shows. He manages his photography business and leads church youth groups. He volunteers as a tutor through Las Americas, a local after-school program that exposed him to the disparities of neighboring communities. While a student at UTK, Sam hopes to participate in the Design/Build program offered by the College of Architecture and Design, where he can use the initiative to benefit the Knoxville community.

Ariel Thompson

Ariel plans to major in Computer Science with a Data Science minor. Through a career in software engineering in the entertainment industry, she will continuously work to diversify the STEM industry for black and brown technology producers. As president, she led the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. Memphis chapter and the Technology Student Association Middle College chapter in competitions. She placed 1st in the TSA state competition 3 years in a row for Promotional Design. She is treasurer and secretary of her senior class, a member of Academic Achievement committee, and on bowling and tennis teams. She received the College Board National African American Recognition Award and regional Young Masters Writers Program short story top prize. With CodeCrew, she built AR/VR for St. Jude Hospital and was in the Global Sports Tech Youth program with students from Tel Aviv. Through the Indie Memphis Crew-Up program, she is working to write, direct and produce a short film for the Indie Memphis Youth Film Festival.

Jack Umsted

Jack plans to major in Supply Chain Management with a focus on Leadership and International Business. Jack’s passion for business started with the development of his home service business, JZ Services, and further solidified by his selection in 2022 to a Communications and Digital Marketing Internship with the Germantown Municipal School District. Jack partnered with local businesses to launch Youth Leadership Germantown, a program designed to help high school students explore different careers. Jack donates 20% of JZ Services’ profits, over $3000 to date, to St. Jude. He volunteers with Germantown Animal Shelter, Hope Student Ministries and St. Jude. At Houston High School, Jack served as president of Spanish Club and a member of Honors Academy, Beta Club and National Spanish Honors Society, while participating on Cross Country, Track and Golf teams. Jack is excited about the opportunities that the Haslam Scholars Program offers to expand his leadership capabilities further enabling him to drive positive change in his community.

Ellie Walker

Ellie plans to major in economics and pursue a career in the nonprofit sector. Ellie began exploring her passion for service by volunteering with Matthew 25, a transitional housing organization for people experiencing homelessness. As president of her school’s service club, she has had the pleasure of working alongside Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Homeless Education Resource Office. Her successful fundraising campaigns for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and Multiple Sclerosis Society piqued her interest in nonprofits’ financial operations and managerial economics. She also helped start a free tutoring program to supplement online learning during the pandemic. Beyond her commitment to community service, she enjoys serving as president of her school’s Fellowship Christian Athlete organization and captain of the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams. In her free time, Ellie enjoys the outdoors with her friends and dogs.

Noah Anderson

Noah Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee, intends to major in Food Science. Noah’s passion for the subject stems from his love for cooking and gardening, combined with his interest in innovative science. He founded and is co-captain of Middle College High School’s first chess team, which has competed in state and national tournaments. Noah is an officer of his school’s Technology Student Association chapter and a media representative for the Student Government Association. Noah has also participated in cross-country and served as a student ambassador. Outside of school, Noah participates in Bridges USA’s Bridge Builder Youth Leadership Program, volunteers as a chess coach, and volunteers with a non-profit focused on promoting urban gardening. Noah has been recognized by the College Board with the National African American Recognition Award. In his free time, Noah enjoys reading, music, and caring for his chickens, turkeys, and dogs.

Mallori France

Nicole Gann

Nicole Gann, of Harriman, Tennessee, intends on majoring in Biology with a Pre-Medicine track. With a passion for leadership and service, she has dedicated herself to volunteer work. In serving her community, she has spent over 150 hours volunteering at the Harriman Public Library, Oliver Springs Community Ministry Food Pantry, and in many other school, church, and community settings. Nicole has also been heavily involved with her school organizations. She has served as Oliver Springs High School’s senior class treasurer and as editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, as well as in Beta Club, Student Council, Scholar’s Bowl, and FCCLA. Nicole has also had the privilege of being a member of Roane County Youth Leadership’s Class of 2022 and serving as a delegate for the 2023 Tennessee Student Congress on Policies in Education. After college, she wishes to use her unique service and educational background to serve as a healthcare advocate for the Appalachian region.

Owen Graves

Callie Hudson

Kohen Kilburn

Anna LeMarbre

Gabriella Maitra

Oliver Nimon

Weston Ragan

Weston Ragan, of Franklin, Tennessee, plans to major in Supply Chain Management and minor in Spanish, so he can pursue a career in International Business. Weston’s passion for International Business stems from his cultural experiences as President of the National Spanish Honor Society and his time working at a UPS Store. By working at an essential business during Covid, he recognized the importance of distribution in daily life and aims to solve the industry’s inefficiencies that hinder society. In addition to global problem-solving, Weston is active in his community as a selected Youth Representative on his church’s Leadership Council and a recipient of the Volunteerism Diploma. At school, Weston leads as a Student Body Representative on the Student Council and as a Best Buddies leader. He is also an inducted member of the National Honor Society and a National Merit Finalist. In his free time, Weston enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and playing basketball with friends.

Ainsley Russell

Cade Simmons

Cade Simmons, of Spencer, Tennessee, plans to major in Public Policy and to utilize his education for a career in grassroots policy or lobbying work. Cade has served in national and statewide leadership roles throughout his high school career. He has focused his efforts on 4-H and is currently serving as the 4-H State President for Tennessee. He is also one of eight members of the National 4-H Congress Design Team. He is the current state winner for Leadership in Tennessee 4-H and has received Vol State distinction. Cade enjoys spending his time volunteering and has worked with community organizations such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Cade attended Van Buren County High School, where he served as FFA (Future Farmers of America) President and Vice President, as well as the Student Council Vice President, working toward making positive community impacts. Cade enjoys hiking and playing tennis in his free time.

Emi Taylor