This fall, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will welcome 16 first-year students as the 2026 class of Haslam Leadership Scholars. Established in 2008 with a gift from Jimmy and Dee Haslam and Jim and Natalie Haslam, the scholarship program honors the Haslam family’s legacy of developing community-minded and intellectually gifted young leaders. The program’s mission is to attract, cultivate and retain future Tennessee leaders.
“What stands out about this class is not just how talented they are but how they approach the world,” said Patrick Akos, associate vice provost for student success and executive director of University Honors. “From students who have already led statewide initiatives and registered hundreds of their peers to vote to those founding organizations and building ventures that serve their communities, they are asking better questions — about people, systems and the future of Tennessee. Students like these are a core reason we are a top 10 honors college — and why we are so confident in the impact they will have across our state.”
Haslam Leadership Scholars receive an endowed scholarship covering tuition, fees, and room and board, as well as a paid internship and a study abroad experience.
Meet the 2026 Haslam Leadership Scholars
Amelia Ainsworth of Knoxville plans to major in business management. A dancer since age 3, she spent six years with the Knoxville-based nonprofit Go Contemporary Dance Works, performing in schools and collaborating with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra to expand the arts throughout Tennessee. A member of the National Dance Honor Society, Ainsworth was selected for the All-East Tennessee Choir in 2023 and 2024, All-State Choir in 2024, and the Belmont Summer Vocal Intensive. At school, she formed a student-led worship band where she sings and plays guitar. Serving as spirit co-leader, she strengthened the school community through creative leadership and social media engagement. While serving as a counselor-in-training at Camp Marymount, she discovered her love for helping young girls build confidence and responsibility, a passion she hopes to continue in her career. In her free time, she enjoys Pilates and playing country music on her guitar.
Sofia Bailey of Franklin, Tennessee, has a strong interest in biochemistry and political science and plans to pursue the university exploratory track. She enjoys learning from new experiences, including serving as a party delegate at Girls State and studying Alzheimer’s disease in a rigorous university course. Bailey is a founding member and third-year president of her school’s Speech and Debate Club, where she fosters conversation and understanding. She focuses on service through academics by serving as president of her school’s National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society as well as vice president of Mu Alpha Theta international mathematics honor society and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. Bailey has developed her school’s band community as captain of the marching band and winter percussion ensemble. She represents the students of Franklin on the city’s Youth Advisory Council, meeting with the mayor to plan civic engagement initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys playing music, making earrings, hiking and spending time with her sister.
Aubrynne Bean of Gallatin, Tennessee, plans to major in public affairs and economics. During high school, she earned an associate’s degree in political science, served as president of the National Honor Society and played four years on her school’s soccer team, winning the state championship twice. She also attended the American Legion Auxiliary’s Volunteer Girls State, where she was elected as her party’s gubernatorial candidate. Bean founded a club to promote civic engagement in politics, registering more than 100 students to vote in state and national elections. She worked at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development as a policy research intern, focusing on attracting and relocating companies to Tennessee, and at Launch Tennessee as a capital investment intern, managing due diligence processes for prospective and portfolio companies. Passionate about music, Bean has served as a worship leader in five ministries over seven years at her church. She aspires to attend law school and pursue a career in public service.
Henry Casey of Knoxville intends to major in public affairs and economics with a minor in American civics. He aspires to pursue a Juris Doctor degree and work at the intersection of law and policy. This passion stems from his education in the International Baccalaureate diploma program and its emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Casey has served as a junior commissioner for Knox County, a state officer at Model UN and Youth in Government, and a member of the VolunTeen Leadership Council at Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. In high school, he held leadership roles in the Student Council, Interact Club, National Honor Society and varsity swim team. Having played piano for 11 years, he recently earned membership into the National Fraternity of Student Musicians. Casey helped found an organization for International Baccalaureate students to extend their experience beyond the classroom, reducing academic burnout and fostering a unique community. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, skiing, playing piano and spending time with friends.
Hector Centeno of Memphis, a bilingual native of Venezuela, plans to pursue a degree in electrical engineering and start his own business. His passion began early, when he spent a summer building his first PC, sparking a lasting interest in electrical engineering. He continues that interest today through his research into small-scale windmills and their power production. In high school, Centeno blended engineering with community engagement through leadership and service. He served as student activities coordinator and committee head for Student Council and as treasurer of Crafts-for-a-Cause and French Club. He also plays on the football team, participates in the Technology Student Association and National Honor Society, and volunteers with his local fire department. Centeno has earned AP Scholar with Distinction honors, engineering awards, a Fire Department challenge coin, All-Region recognition and his team’s all-time power clean weightlifting record. In his free time, he enjoys working out and spending time with friends.
Shamyu Dinkakurthy of College Grove, Tennessee, plans to major in mechanical engineering with a focus on energy and sustainability. A passionate climate activist, she volunteers with the Middle Tennessee chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby as the state media manager and a Tennessee leader, learning about climate policy and communication methods while experimenting with traditional and social media to bring a more personal touch to social activism. Since starting her own sustainable fashion business, Dinkakurthy has created a community of artists and strives to integrate her observations of the world into her art, emphasizing the importance of individuality and expression while pursuing conscious consumption. As president of her school’s Environmental Club and social media manager for Green Team, a local nonprofit, she aims to teach others easy and creative ways to pursue sustainable living. Dinkakurthy is a National Merit Commended Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction.
Gautham Giri of Franklin, Tennessee, intends to pursue a degree in supply chain management. A Boy Scout for over a decade, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and served his troop as senior patrol leader while holding numerous other leadership roles. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and traveled to Belize on an international service trip with his Venture Scout troop, donating books and toys to underprivileged schools. Giri’s passion for business grew at the Governor’s School for Technological Innovation and Business Leadership, where he helped lead his team to place in the final startup business pitch competition. A three-time Mid-State bassoonist, Giri played first chair in a top-10 nationally ranked high school band at the Music for All National Festival and has worked with United Sound to help students with disabilities learn to play instruments. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and playing volleyball and pickleball with friends.
Breanna Gonzalez of Smyrna, Tennessee, plans to major in marketing with a focus on international business. She has served as Student Council senior class secretary, a senior mentor, and an officer of her school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America chapter and Psi Alpha Psychology Honors Society. Gonzalez has made a meaningful impact on the DECA chapter by encouraging younger members, helping them prepare for competition and sharing insights from her own experience competing at both the state and international levels. She was awarded the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by the College Board and will graduate from high school with honors and distinction. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Gonzalez is passionate about global connection and cultural understanding. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, playing soccer, and exploring creative outlets such as scrapbooking, painting and digital art.
Matthew Greenwood of Knoxville plans to major in mechanical engineering. His interest in engineering came from his time as a member of the Tennessee Technology Student Association. A seven-year member of TNTSA, Greenwood served as chapter president and on the membership committee. Later he was elected as TNTSA’s state vice president and membership committee chair. The positions not only enhanced his interest in engineering but also sparked a passion for leadership and advocacy, leading him to serve as Knox County’s At-Large Seat 11 junior commissioner and provide insight on his school board’s Youth Strategy Council. Greenwood is dedicated to serving his community by balancing technical leadership and skill. In high school, he was a school ambassador and a member of Mu Alpha Theta.
John Hancock of Lebanon, Tennessee, intends to pursue a degree in natural resources and environmental economics. He is a member of 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Youth in Government and Maple Hill Church. Hancock has held various leadership positions in those organizations, including Tennessee 4-H state council secretary, Middle Tennessee FFA president and Tennessee YIG senate floor leader. He is the state 4-H Poultry Level I and II project winner and has owned and operated his own agribusiness, donating more than 500 dozen eggs to local ministries and food pantries. He works with church ministries and the First Lego League, helping package more than 1,500 Thanksgiving meals annually, packing Christmas gifts for children in Honduras and participating in three construction projects in Sneedville, Tennessee. Hancock enjoys playing the tuba and was selected as Middle Tennessee Honor Band Fourth Chair Gold Tuba. He plays in the Lebanon High School Wind Ensemble and the Wilson County Honor Band. By working on his family’s fifth-generation farm, Hancock developed a deep passion for agriculture and hopes to promote beneficial policies with agriculturalists across Tennessee and the U.S.
Peyton Hicks of Clayton, Georgia, plans to major in animal science and pursue a pre-veterinary track. He was named an AP Scholar and recognized as a first-generation college student. Hicks was a state 4-H winner in veterinary science and gained hands-on experience in animal health and production by working on a cattle operation and exhibiting both cattle and hogs. He attended state leadership events such as the Youth LEAD Summit and served as president of his local 4-H and FFA chapters. Hicks serves as a District 2 Farm Bureau AGvocate, working to educate others about the importance of agriculture. He hopes to use his education, leadership and practical experience to serve the rural communities that shaped him, intending to return as a large animal veterinarian.
Gayathri Nair of Chattanooga plans to pursue a degree in neuroscience on the pre-medicine track. She served as founding president of her high school’s Health Occupations Students of America Future Health Professionals chapter, leading the organization during its inaugural year. Nair has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction and is an accomplished violinist of 13 years. She has performed as a chamber violinist with the Chattanooga Youth Symphony for three years, qualified for All-State, received the Virginia Swick Music Camp Scholarship and earned superior ratings for three consecutive years from the National Federation of Music Clubs. Nair volunteers as a tutor for students in Ukraine through the ENGin program and founding her own tutoring initiative to support students in her hometown in India.
Olamide Olakunle of Nashville plans to major in finance and later pursue a law degree. He has been a Boy Scout for nine years and demonstrated leadership across his school, community and extracurriculars. Olakunle earned the rank of Eagle Scout after leading a large-scale mural project for Stanford Elementary School and served as senior patrol leader for two consecutive years, mentoring younger scouts. Beyond scouting, Olakunle received the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award, an honor given to one student in each state who best exemplifies leadership and service. He serves as vice president of membership for his high school’s DECA chapter and has led his team to multiple top 10 finishes at the DECA state conference. He also helped lead his track team to All-State recognition. Olakunle continues to gain real-world experience through a paid internship with a software company and by organizing an annual youth conference for his church.
Soham Punjani of Chattanooga intends to pursue a degree in finance. Growing up in a family immersed in entrepreneurship, he built his own photography and videography company, creating award-winning films and media for nonprofit agencies, schools and local organizations. Punjani’s passion for robotics led him to compete at the international level, earning sixth place at the 2021 VEX IQ World Championship. He serves in leadership roles across his school and community including the Mayor’s Youth Council, Chattanooga Youth Sustainability Board, Model UN, Science Olympiad and his Ismaili religious center. In every leadership role he undertakes, Soham makes it his mission to cultivate talent in his community, whether by coaching robotics teams or teaching at his religious center.
Mikayla Shumpert was born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but proudly calls Knoxville her hometown. She plans to major in civil engineering, driven by a strong interest in connective infrastructure and solving real-world problems. Throughout high school, she has been involved in track and field, Student Council, Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society. Most of her time is dedicated to AeroHawks, her school’s rocketry club, where she leads her NASA Student Launch team in a nine-month high-power rocketry competition. She has also captained teams for the American Rocketry Challenge and the UAS4STEM drone competition, earning a third-place finish. Shumpert believes that science, technology, engineering and mathematics should be accessible to everyone and teaches rocketry as a volunteer at a local elementary school’s STEM nights. She also volunteers as a math tutor and serves at a diaper bank through her church. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her sisters and crocheting.
Janvi Vashishtha of Franklin, Tennessee, intends to pursue a degree in supply chain management. Her interest in business and healthcare operations has grown through her leadership and academic involvement. She serves as state treasurer of the Technology Student Association of Tennessee, where she helps lead statewide initiatives promoting STEM education and career readiness, and has attended Tennessee’s Governor’s School for Biological and Statistical Sciences. Vashishtha is the founder of the first national high school chapter of the American Brain Tumor Association, raising awareness and support for brain tumor research while mentoring students across the country. At her high school, she participates in DECA, HOSA and TSA, and is a member of the National Honor Society. In her free time, Vashishtha enjoys hiking, thrifting and spending time with family and friends.
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