Kingston, TN – The Roane County Chamber of Commerce and Roane County Schools have recognized sixty-five graduating seniors as Tennessee Scholars. Award ceremonies were held at each of the five Roane County high schools between May 6-12, 2022. Each Tennessee Scholar received a medallion and certificate during the school ceremonies, and a Tennessee Scholars seal will adorn their diploma and academic transcript.
Tennessee Scholars is a four-year high school program. The program requires students to complete a rigorous course of study, maintain an overall "C" average, have 95% or higher attendance, pass all end-of-course tests, have no out-of-school suspensions, and a minimum of sixty hours of community service.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment for these sixty-five students," said Allen Lutz, the Roane Alliance's Director of Education and Workforce. "With so many restrictions on interactions and volunteer opportunities, these students made a concerted effort to meet the Tennessee Scholars requirements, especially during the pandemic."

The pandemic brought many challenges for our schools and students through restrictions, social distancing, and the closing of many volunteer activities beginning in March 2020 and into this school year. Yet, rising to the challenge, the sixty-five Tennessee Scholars represent 15.9% of the Roane County Graduating Class of 2022.

Six of the sixty-five Scholars received Tennessee Scholar Scholarships, each worth $200, to support their education and career goals. The students receiving the scholarships and their high schools are Olivia Babb, Roane County HS; Alyssa Emory, Roane County HS; Emmett Hegland, Midway HS; Kaiden Hicks, Harriman HS; Kylie Johnson, Oliver Springs HS; and Zane Laughlin, Rockwood HS.

A Roane County United Way grant provided the funds for the six scholarships. The United Way's support of the Tennessee Scholars program is a part of its education efforts which engage students and parents to increase their involvement in setting high educational goals and help them better understand the value of higher education.

Roane State Community College awarded $500 Tennessee Scholars Scholarships, one for a Scholar from each of the five high schools, to attend Roane State in the fall. The RSCC scholarship recipients are Christen Chaston, Oliver Springs HS; Alicia Goney, Rockwood HS; Kaiden Hicks, Harriman HS; Timothy Morgan, Roane County HS; and Macie Young, Midway HS.

"The goal of Tennessee Scholars is to increase the percentage of Tennessee high school graduates prepared for post-secondary education, the workforce, or the military, said Allen Lutz, Director of Education and Workforce with the Roane Alliance. "Tennessee Scholars is about workforce preparedness, and workforce preparedness is the number one factor businesses consider when looking to locate in a community. Businesses will not come to Roane County if we don't have a skilled workforce."

The Tennessee Scholars is a Roane County Chamber of Commerce program conducted in partnership with local businesses and Roane County Schools. The Chamber is a partner in The Roane Alliance.

The Roane Alliance's mission is to create an environment and a unified voice that promotes job creation, economic development, enhanced quality of life, education, and workforce.  To learn more about the Alliance and its partners, please call 865.376.2093 or visit www.roanealliance.org.
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2021-2022 Tennessee Scholars
(not all students named are pictured)

Harriman High School

Brittany Brown, Anna Cox, Sara Gunter, Kaiden Hicks, Brooke Jenkins, Layken Kemp, Sydney McCullum, Abigail Roberts, Matthew Scarbrough, Madison Thompson, and Katelyn Wright.

Midway High School

Kaelyn Adams, Lexus Curtis, Erica Davidson, Zane Edwards, Emmett Hegland, Ty Mason, Robert Melton, Halena Shirran, and Macie Young.

Oliver Springs High School

Christen Chaston, Ella Hampton, Jacob Hileman, Maggie Jenkins, Kylie Johnson, Haley Ladd, and Keegan Melhorn.

Roane County High School

Olivia Babb, Emily Barger, Reaghan Bell, Adrianna Beyea, Autumn Browder, Audrey Conley, Carson Donathan, Alyssa Emory, Reagan Guillemet, Catherine Hackett, Madison Herrell, Colby Johnson, Jonathan Latham, Annabeth Layne, Taylor Mathews, Cheyenne McAbee, Autumn McBrien, Timothy Morgan, Wesley Morgan, Lydia Nabors, Olivia O'Shell, Jackson Puckett, Kade Roberts, Joslyn Ruff, Seth Strahan, Alyson Wheeler, Lance Young, and Kooper Webb.

Rockwood High School

Montana Barnes, Paige Boles, Kelly Brashears, Alicia Goney, Aidan Lankford, Zane Laughlin, Mackenzie Minnick, Kara Patterson, Rhylie Poland, and Abby Worth.