Fifteen students, including fourteen from Tennessee and one from Florida, have been named as the 2014 class of Haslam Scholars.
The Haslam Scholars program is UT’s premier four-year scholarship program. Each year, it admits a maximum of fifteen first-year students and supports them with the university’s most prestigious and generous named scholarship.
Program benefits include a $1,500 laptop computer and a study-abroad experience valued at $4,000, as well as up to $5,500 to support students’ honors thesis research and travel to present their work. In addition, each Haslam Scholar will receive a scholarship package that totals around $22,300.
The Haslam Scholars selection process begins with nominations of high school seniors. From the nominees, sixty are selected and offered interviews. Of those interviewed, thirty are invited to campus for an interview weekend in early March. Selection criteria include scholastic achievement, leadership potential, maturity, and seriousness of purpose.
The new Haslam Scholars are:
- Amany Alshibli–From Farragut High School in Knoxville, Alshibli plans to major in biomedical engineering. In addition to completing research at UT’s environmental carcinogenic lab, she is a skilled artist who had a piece featured in the Knoxville Museum of Art Student Exhibit.
- Kimberly Bress–From Melbourne High School in Melbourne, Florida, Bress plans to major in neuroscience. She is a National Merit finalist and was the captain of the varsity swim team and principal oboist at her high school.
- Josh Brown–From Gibbs High School in Corryton, Tennessee, Brown plans to major in political science. He is a Global Seeds ambassador and was president of his school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America chapter. He also participated in several political organizations throughout high school.
- Alex Crockett–From Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute in Jamestown, Tennessee, Crockett plans to major in food science. He has served as the county, regional, and state president of Tennessee 4-H and as his class president for four years. He founded, served, and led Students Helping Students, a program that provides needy students with toiletries and school supplies.
- Daniel Enciso–From Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, Enciso plans to major in computer engineering. He enjoys playing soccer and has a passion for exploring and embracing diversity.
- Geoffrey Hervey–From White Station High School in Memphis, Hervey plans to major in psychology. He made a 35 on his ACT, and his interests span from fencing to feminism.
- Tyler Hounshell–From Sevier County High School in Sevierville, Tennessee, Hounshell plans to major in electrical engineering. He coaches an Upward basketball team, tutors middle school students, and contributes to Youth Giving Back to Youth.
- Elle Johnson–From Sequatchie County High School in Dunlap, Tennessee, Johnson plans to major in chemical engineering. She was the statewide winner of the Tennessee Electric Cooperatives Association’s Washington Youth Tour Writing Contest and is a youth ambassador for the Tennessee Donor Services’ Donate Life Initiative.
- David Marsh–From Merrol Hyde Magnet School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Marsh plans to major in mechanical engineering. He attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for Engineering and is an Eagle Scout.
- Jeremy McDuffie–From Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee, McDuffie plans to focus on pre-med studies. He coaches a middle school cross-country team and is a counselor at a summer camp for underprivileged youth.
- Miles Ownby–From Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Ownby plans to major in civil engineering. He was captain of the cross-country team, valedictorian, and president of his senior class.
- Avanti Rangnekar–From Farragut High School in Knoxville, Rangnekar plans to focus on pre-med studies. Her interests include politics, health care, and education.
- Cody Sain–From Humboldt High School in Humboldt, Tennessee, Sain plans to focus on pre-med studies. He was the student council president, Health Occupations Students of America vice president, and Relay for Life team captain at his high school. He is also involved in 4-H and a mentoring program at Boys and Girls Club.
- Regina Tisdale–From Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School in Nashville, Tisdale plans to major in political science. She held leadership roles in her school’s student government and is involved in Girl Scouts.
- Gus White–From Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, White plans to major in bioinformatics and public policy. He was involved in Technology Student Association, Model United Nations, and School Leadership Council.
The program was created in 2008 with $2.5 million from Jimmy and Dee Haslam. Jimmy Haslam is president and CEO of Pilot Flying J. Dee Haslam is CEO of RIVR Media.
Jim and Natalie Haslam contributed an additional $2.5 million to support the program. Jim Haslam is founder of Pilot Corp.
For more information about the Haslam Scholars Program, visit the website.
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C O N T A C T :
Sylvia Turner (865-974- 2479, sturne31@utk.edu)