UT alumnus and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning joined Chancellor Donde Plowman and other leaders from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, on Aug. 31 to honor the newest recipients of the Peyton Manning Scholarship, an elite four-year award given to four incoming students each year.
Hector Centeno-Lopez, Breanna Gonzalez, Olamide Olakunle and Mikayla Shumpert each received the highly competitive scholarship, awarded to academically successful incoming Vols who exemplify service, leadership and integrity.
The recipients also earned places in one of the most prestigious honors programs on campus, the Haslam Leadership Scholars.
“Peyton’s support for the university through his generosity and time continues to impact generations of Volunteers,” Plowman said. “The Manning Scholarship not only emphasizes academic achievement but also the service and leadership that come with being a Volunteer — the same qualities that Peyton has always embodied. I am proud of this year’s scholars and excited to see what they accomplish during their time on Rocky Top.”
Manning endowed the scholarship when he graduated in 1998. Now in its 29th year, it boasts 69 recipients to date.
“The growth of this program remains a point of pride for me,” Manning said. “This is just the beginning of the positive mark these students will leave on their community and this university. I hope they will leave UT with the same passion for this special place that I have.”
Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement Brian Broyles introduced Manning and congratulated the 2026 scholarship recipients.
“We’re grateful for Peyton’s investment in the university and our students,” Broyles said. “He continues to demonstrate the Volunteer spirit through his support of the best and brightest on Rocky Top.”
The four recipients have diverse backgrounds, academic interests and hopes for the future, but all hold a desire to lead and to leave UT better than they found it. All four students thanked Manning for his generosity during a ceremony honoring their accomplishments.
Hector Centeno-Lopez of Lakeland, Tennessee, plans to major in electrical engineering. A graduate of Arlington High School, he aspires to become a prominent businessperson, a philanthropist and a public servant.
“Thank you, Mr. Manning, for a scholarship that means that my dreams can remain as big as they were since I first moved here,” Centeno-Lopez said. “Thank you for a scholarship that allows me to begin climbing the mountain of my own career with the support of someone who has already reached extraordinary heights of his own. I am forever grateful.”
Breanna Gonzalez of Smyrna, Tennessee, is a graduate of Central Magnet High School who plans to study marketing.
“I am inspired by your willingness and commitment to continue to pour into the next generation year after year with this scholarship program, Mr. Manning, and to spare time out of your day to hear about our lives,” Gonzalez said. “Thank you again for this incredible opportunity.”
Olamide Olakunle of Antioch, Tennessee, plans to study finance. A graduate of John Overton High School in Nashville, Olakunle plans to attend law school.
“The Peyton Manning Scholarship specifically represents the incredible support the UT community offers,” Olakunle said. “The ability to not worry about financial issues during my time at UT will allow me to thrust myself into my studies. This is a gift I will never forget. Thank you for the opportunity and thank you to Mr. Manning.”
Mikayla Shumpert of Knoxville plans to study civil engineering. A graduate of Hardin Valley Academy, Schumpert will specialize in structural and transportation engineering with minors in city planning and leadership studies.
“Being named a Peyton Manning Scholar is an incredible honor that I’m so grateful for,” Shumpert said. “The Manning name represents integrity, leadership, service and a genuine commitment to the Volunteer community. I hope to carry these characteristics with me throughout my time at UT and my entire life. His generosity gives me the opportunity to pursue my goals with confidence, and more importantly, it challenges me to give back to the Knoxville community that has given so much to me.”
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