This fall, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will welcome at least 94 first-year students from across the state as its newest class of Distinguished Tennessean Scholars. Their selection reflects UT’s ongoing commitment to providing Tennessee students with scholarship opportunities and pathways to higher education.
“Since 2022, we have awarded the Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship to hundreds of scholars from Tennessee who embody the Volunteer Spirit in their academic achievements and community service,” said Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Kari Alldredge. “In May, UT graduated Volunteers from our first cohort of scholarship recipients. Each academic year brings with it an opportunity to recognize more inspiring scholars from across Tennessee who are prepared to light the way for others during their time on Rocky Top and as proud alumni.”
The Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship program aims to recognize one student from each Tennessee county for outstanding academic performance, demonstrated community involvement and dedication to the Volunteer spirit. The scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees and is renewable for four years. Since the program’s establishment in 2022, the university has awarded a total of more than $13 million to 467 Distinguished Tennessean Scholars.
Meet the 2026 Distinguished Tennessean Scholars
- Anderson County: Devyanshi Nayi, Oak Ridge High School
- Bedford County: Aidan Roberts, Community High School
- Benton County: Donavin Claus, Camden Central High School
- Bledsoe County: Addison Brown, Bledsoe County High School
- Blount County: Dante Gomez, Alcoa High School
- Bradley County: Ava Robbins, Cleveland High School
- Campbell County: Haiden Sammons, Campbell County Comprehensive High School
- Cannon County: John Robison, Webb School
- Carroll County: Tobey Brooks, McKenzie High School
- Carter County: Piper Bennett, Elizabethton High School
- Cheatham County: Jazalyn Nichols, Sycamore High School
- Chester County: Elizabeth Knoell, Chester County High School
- Claiborne County: Shelby Drummonds, Claiborne High School
- Clay County: Ella Eads, Clay County High School
- Cocke County: Serenity Boyette, Cocke County High School
- Coffee County: Margaret Lynch, Tullahoma High School
- Crockett County: Marlee Kellough, Crockett County High School
- Cumberland County: Taylor Deck, Cumberland County High School
- Davidson County: Connor McGarr, Hume Fogg Academy High School
- Decatur County: Izsabella Zeznanski, Riverside High School
- DeKalb County: Chase Vaughn, DeKalb County High School
- Dickson County: Elizabeth Nesbitt, Creek Wood High School
- Dyer County: Ethan Riggs, Dyer County High School
- Fayette County: Aubrey Frye, Lakeland Preparatory School
- Fentress County: Miley Fordham, York Institute
- Franklin County: Ruby Metcalf, Franklin County High School
- Gibson County: Boyan Xu, Madison Academic Magnet High School
- Giles County: Addison Shelton, Giles County High School
- Grainger County: Caleb Roach, Grace Christian Academy
- Greene County: Jamie Jackson, Greeneville High School
- Grundy County: Jace John, Grundy County High School
- Hamblen County: Ava Kelly, Lakeway Christian Academy
- Hamilton County: Nishta Sidella, Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts
- Hancock County: John Everett Martin, Berean Christian High School
- Hardeman County: Samuel Anderson, Bolivar Central High School
- Hardin County: Addie Whitten, Hardin County High School
- Hawkins County: Nadeen Aglan, Cherokee High School
- Haywood County: Buchanon Pennel, Haywood High School
- Henderson County: Taylor Franklin, Lexington High School
- Henry County: Drew Pack, Henry County High School
- Hickman County: Kathryn Qualls, Hickman County High School
- Houston County: Connor Rissman, Houston County High School
- Humphreys County: Keely Melton, McEwen High School
- Jackson County: Anna Williams, Jackson County High School
- Jefferson County: Madison Kisabeth, Jefferson County High School
- Johnson County: Julia Crews, Johnson County High School
- Knox County: Michael Bonanno, Christian Academy of Knoxville
- Lake County: Mariah Valentine, Lake County High School
- Lauderdale County: Nicole Tims, Tipton Christian Academy
- Lawrence County: Avaree Holden, Summertown High School
- Lewis County: Ashlee Wilson, Lewis County High School
- Lincoln County: Kate Henry, Lincoln County High School
- Loudon County: Chloe Tinker, Lenoir City High School
- Macon County: Megan Cothron, Macon County High School
- Madison County: Madeline Eldridge, University School of Jackson
- Marion County: William Pemberton, Marion County High School
- Marshall County: Josie Brown, Forrest High School
- Maury County: Caroline Holden, Zion Christian Academy
- McMinn County: Gabrielle Cresswell, Walker Valley High School
- McNairy County: Briley Weatherly, Hardin County High School
- Meigs County: Yehlena Calaycay, Meigs County High School
- Monroe County: Kinley Holt, Sweetwater High School
- Montgomery County: Grace Hanna, Northwest High School
- Moore County: Tristyn Gray, Moore County High School
- Morgan County: Evan Crouch, Central High School
- Obion County: Carson Homra, Obion County Central High School
- Overton County: Myla Dailey, Livingston Academy
- Pickett County: Ella Bilbrey, Pickett County High School
- Polk County: Carder Kimsey, Copper Basin High School
- Putnam County: Audrey Taubert, Cookeville High School
- Rhea County: Elijah Mickel, Rhea County High School
- Roane County: Ellen Layne, Roane County High School
- Robertson County: Willis Jepson, East Robertson High School
- Rutherford County: Aiden Haynes, Blackman High School
- Scott County: Hannah Foster, Oneida High School
- Sequatchie County: Daniel Medina, Notre Dame High School
- Sevier County: Caden French, Sevier County High School
- Shelby County: Daphne Arendt, University High School
- Smith County: Kacie Chiapperini, Gordonsville High School
- Stewart County: Glory Malone, Stewart County High School
- Sullivan County: Dominic Shipley, Tennessee High School
- Sumner County: Kate McDonald, Merrol Hyde Magnet School
- Tipton County: Emma Waits, Brighton High School
- Trousdale County: Kaleb Featherston, Trousdale County High School
- Unicoi County: Abigail Petterson, Unicoi County High School
- Union County: Valentina Moshe, Union County High School
- Van Buren County: McKenzie Greene, Van Buren County High School
- Warren County: Lauren Sparkman, Warren County High School
- Washington County: Meghan Morse, Science Hill High School
- Wayne County: Emma Dicus, Collinwood High School
- Weakley County: Emily Scott, Westview High School
- White County: William Walker, White County High School
- Williamson County: Christopher Peck, Fred J. Page High School
- Wilson County: Lily Boulineau, Green Hill High School
Scholarship candidates from Perry County are still in review.
Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship selection
Admitted first-year in-state students are automatically considered for the Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship. To receive priority consideration, students must complete their admission application by Nov. 15 of their senior year of high school. Recipients must be admitted to the university and enroll for the fall semester immediately following their graduation from a Tennessee high school.
In addition to the Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship, the university offers the Tri-Star Scholarship program, the Volunteer Scholarship, the Orange and White Scholarship and other institutional scholarships to Tennessee residents. Information on scholarship opportunities and application deadlines can be found on UT’s One Stop website.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, [email protected])