The Academy for Global Scholars (AGS), a program that provides first-year students with a unique opportunity for global engagement and individual growth, has welcomed 23 students into its inaugural class.
Participants join AGS by invitation and engage as a cohort in a summer workshop, service activities, general education courses, and a study abroad experience. The academy is a collaboration between the Division of Enrollment Management and the Center for Global Engagement.
“The academy provides scholars with opportunities for academic success and prepares them for the global workplace,” says Doug Terry, teaching associate at the English Language Institute and AGS coordinator. “As we enter into a new normal of campus life, we are excited about exploring new ways to build community and engage in compelling programming with this inaugural AGS cohort.”
Meet the 2020 AGS participants:
Natalia Acuna, a first-generation student, has received many honors including an AP Scholar award, Tri-Star Scholar award, and a Work Ethic Diploma for her high school graduation. She was involved in organizations and clubs such as Beta Club, National Honors Society, French Honors Society, and art club. While in high school, Acuna served her community by tutoring middle and elementary school students and completing a summer internship at a law firm through her school district’s web-based learning program.
Lauren Boles, of Greeneville, Tennessee, plans on majoring in global studies. She enjoys listening to music, thrift shopping, and hanging out with friends.
Boles was a member of the cheerleading team in high school and her hobbies include doing makeup and researching true crime cases.
Adrianna Nicole Brown, a first-generation student, plans to study an exploratory path with interests leaning toward the arts. She loves animals, theater, and nature.
Brown was extremely involved with her high school’s drama department and was an officer in the French club.
Bryan Bustamante, of Nashville, Tennessee, plans to major in political science. He was a student in the International Baccalaureate program at his school. Bustamante served as vice president of his school’s Latino Achievers and Best Buddies programs. He participated in other clubs that fueled his interest in law including Youth Court, Model United Nations, and Youth in Government. Bustamante enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures. He hopes to study abroad during his time at UT and to meet people from other parts of the world.
Megan Byrd, of Cleveland, Tennessee, graduated from Cleveland High School in 2015 with straight A’s and honors. Shortly afterward, she went to boot camp and served for five years in the U.S. Marine Corps. While stationed in Hawaii, Byrd accumulated 450 hours of volunteering over the past four years. She was on several committees to host bake sales, local soup kitchen volunteer events, and outreach programs for children.
Byrd recently completed her military contract and participated in the Warrior-Scholar Project, a rigorous college-prep course through Texas A&M, with other motivated and educationally minded individuals. She has a passion for traveling to different places to experience and learn about people, cultures, and areas. Byrd believes there is always something to learn from other people, even if she cannot speak the same language. She enjoys hiking and adventuring outside.
Jaiva Chandler, of Knoxville, Tennessee, plans to study psychology and has a passion for assisting underprivileged children through school. She served as a middle school tutor for children struggling with mathematics. Chandler plans to be a criminal psychologist, profiling in the FBI. She hopes to start a nonprofit organization in her community that would help create educational equity. Chandler was the Student Government Association president at her school. She participated in the Senior Committee, Project Grad, Interact Club, National Achievers Society, National Society for High School Scholars, and many more programs throughout her high school experience.
Haylie Daugherty, of Knoxville, Tennessee, plans on majoring in child and family studies. She hopes to one day be a kindergarten teacher.
Daugherty loves meeting new people and learning new things.
Madaline Dople, of Rocky Top, Tennessee, plans to major in English and minor in Hispanic Studies or American Sign Language. She is a first-generation college student and a member of the Chancellor’s Honors Program. She was a member of various clubs throughout high school including Interact, creative writing club as president, book club as vice president, and Spanish club as secretary. She was a member of both the National Honors Society and the National Spanish Honors Society and is a member of her local Rotary Club. She loves dogs, her friends and family, and writing. She is also a strong advocate for civil rights and hopes to use her passions to make the world a better place for people from all walks of life.
Corina Fultz, of Kingsport, Tennessee, plans to double major in French and Francophone studies and Hispanic studies. Her dream is to one day teach high school or university, either domestically or abroad. Additionally, she hopes to participate in linguistic research, focusing on a variety of topics. In high school, Fultz served as president of Beta Club and student representative of the World Language Honor Society. She was also selected to participate in both the Tennessee All-East and All-State Women’s Choir during her senior year. During Fultz’s leisure time, she enjoys knitting, watching her favorite television show “Doctor Who,” learning foreign languages, and singing. She hopes to one day use her language skills to make a difference in the world.
Madison Gray, a first-generation college student, is a member of the Key Club and writing club. She is also serving in the Ignite Serves program at UT this fall.
She has a passion for traveling, four wheeling, mission trips, and serving the community.
Aislin Gue, of Nashville, Tennessee, loves running, trying new things, and watching movies.
She is patient about helping others who are sick.
Emma Hartsook, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, plans on majoring in language and world business, focusing on Hispanic studies.
During high school, she was in the Spanish Club and the National Honor Society. She has also been taking guitar lessons all through high school and continues to play music. She also loves reading, watching movies, listening to records, and traveling.
Autumn Large, of Rogersville, Tennessee, plans to major in biology and follow a pre-health track, either pharmacy or dentistry. She will possibly minor in Spanish as well. In high school, Large was a member of the Health Occupations Students of America and the SkillsUSA chapter within her school. Additionally, she was a member of Douglas-Cherokee Upward Bound, Key Club, Spanish club, and the bowling team. Outside of school, Large tutored students in math and volunteered at a local humane society and the Shepherd’s Center in her hometown. She enjoys swimming, bike riding, and spending time with friends. Large is passionate about helping others.
Morgan Malugin, of Dickson, Tennessee, was a member of the Beta Club and the varsity bowling team during high school. She created a platform to speak out against parental drug use and won the interview award at a Miss Tennessee scholarship pageant. In 2019, she was on the first mission team from Kentucky to go to Havana, Cuba, where she served in a drug rehabilitation center.
Kaitlyn Marek, of Clarksville, Tennessee, plans on majoring in psychology and double minoring in Africana Studies and women, gender, and sexuality studies. She aspires to be a clinical psychologist with concentrations in transgender therapy and personality disorders. Marek would like to be involved in nonprofits that use cultural education to make the world a more peaceful and productive place. She held leadership positions at her high school’s Computer and Information Technology Academy, National Honor’s Society, and Gay-Straight Alliance club. She was a member of her school’s National Technical Honor Society and attended the Governor’s School for Prospective Teachers at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Kailee Messer, of Clarksville, Tennessee, enjoys traveling and experiencing new things all the time. She was co-captain of her school’s drill team and captain of the academic team for a season. She is passionate about speaking out for societal and environmental issues in hopes of positive change.
Sophie Pauti, of Memphis, Tennessee, plans on majoring in psychology and possibly minoring in Spanish. She served three years on the advisory board for student council in high school and was president during her senior year. Pauti has also been inducted into the National Honor Society as well as the National Spanish Honor Society.
She loves listening to music, playing soccer, eating, and hanging out with friends and family. Pauti also volunteers to lead a book club with fourth-sixth grade girls whose first language is not English at an after school program called Multi-National Memphis.
Mary Roark, of Knoxville, Tennessee, plans to major in political science and minor in Spanish. She was the National Honor Society president and Key Club vice president at her high school. Roark was involved in student government and Young Life and hopes to continue participating in college. She is a member of the Chancellor’s Honors Program and a Ned McWherter Scholars Program scholarship recipient. After college, Roark hopes to attend law school to pursue a career as an immigration attorney.
Chloe Taylor was head drum major of her high school marching band, as well as the president of all bands. She was involved in many clubs, including Young Democrats and #MeToo.
Anna Trevathan, of Dandridge, Tennessee, plans to major in English literature with a minor in secondary education. She is a proud Mexican-American woman and a first-generation college student. In high school, Trevathan was in the advanced placement program and dual-enrolled at Walters State Community College. She was involved in various organizations such as Mock Trial, Beta Club, National Science Honors Society, Model United Nations, and the Upward Bound program. Trevathan advocates for growth in the nation, as she is an activist for diversity, immigration reform, gender equality, and LGBT rights. In the future, she plans on using her degree to teach English as a second language in low-income communities to share the American dream she grew up with.
Jordan Williams enjoys weight lifting, music, and helping others with their fitness/health goals. He was vice president of his school’s National Honor Society.
Williams was very involved in the National Future Farmers of America Organization, which allowed him to develop teamwork and leadership skills.
Two other students (not pictured) are in the AGS: Landon C. Ragsdell, a sociology major, and Ivan Delgadillo.